List of most populous cities in the United States by decade
Population This list tracks and ranks the population of the top 10 largest cities and other urban places in the United States by decade, as reported by each decennial United States census, starting with the 1790 census.For 1790 through 1990, tables are taken from the U.S Census Bureau's "Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States: 1790 to 1990.The top 10 urban areas in 1790 consisted of various places designated as cities, towns and townships.This list generally refers only to the population of individual urban places within their defined limits at the time of the indicated census.Rankings based on population data from the second United States census.Rankings based on population data from the third United States census.Rankings based on population data drawn the fourth United States Census.Rankings based on data drawn from the sixth United States census.Rankings based on population data compiled in the seventh United States census.This is the first census where the Northeast does not hold a supermajority of the top ten largest cities.Many cities in the country peaked in population, but started a slow decline caused by suburbanization associated with pollution, congestion, and increased crime rates in urban centers, while the improved infrastructure of the Eisenhower Interstate System more easily facilitated car commutes and white flight of the white middle class.Bill made available low interest loans for returning World War II veterans seeking more commodious housing in the suburbs.Seven of the country's ten largest cities in 2010 were located in the Sun Belt region of the south and west, all of which have far lower population density than their earlier top-ranking counterparts.
List of United States cities by populationNew York CityUnited StatesCitiesPopulationDensityEthnic identityForeign-bornIncomeSpanish speakerscapitalsBy stateBy decade/stateUrban areasMetropolitan areas393 metropolitan statistical areas542 micropolitan statistical areasMegaregionsNorth American metro areasWorld citiesStates and territorieslogarithmic scaleUnited States census1790 censusU.S Census Bureau2010 censusurban placetownshipvillageboroughmunicipalityincorporated placesdefined limitsannexedboroughsPhiladelphiaNorthern Liberties, PennsylvaniaSouthwark, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia's 1854 consolidationdeclared independence in 1776first U.S. census countManhattanNew YorkPennsylvaniaCenter CityBostonMassachusettsCharlestonSouth CarolinaBaltimoreMarylandindependent cityNorthern Liberties Districtannexed in 1854NewportRhode IslandProvidenceMarbleheadSouthwarkNorthern LibertiesNorfolkVirginiaNew OrleansTerritory of OrleansThirteen ColoniesAlbanyUpstate New Yorkfourth United States CensusLouisianaLouisiana PurchaseWashingtonDistrict of Columbiafifth United States CensusCincinnatiMississippi RiverBrooklynFirst Industrial RevolutionSt. LouisMissouriSpring GardenAmerican Civil WarNortheastAct of ConsolidationPhiladelphia CountyChicagoIllinoisBuffaloGreat Chicago FireSan FranciscoCaliforniaGold RushComstock LodeSt. Louis CountyFive BoroughsNew York CountyManhattan IslandThe BronxTwelfthClevelandearthquakeNYC subwayEast RiverHarlem RiverPittsburghDetroitMichiganLos Angelessuburbanizationurban centersEisenhower Interstate Systemwhite flightG.I. BillWorld War IIseventeenthQueensHoustonDallasurban declineSun BeltWest South CentralSouth Westerntwentiethfinancial strains and near bankruptcySan DiegoPhoenixArizona