The Four Major U.S. Cities

[clonedude]

I figured Atlanta was just obvious as the #4.

There's no argument on the top 3... anyone who doesn't have NYC, LA, and Chicago is just plain wrong.

Atlanta was the first one that came to mind for me also as #4, so that's what I went with. I'm not sure why though? I think just because it's such a major airport hub, and maybe also because the Olympics has been held there too?

 

[pourcyne]

"Major" in terms of what?

Population? Size? Crime? Measles outbreaks? Manufacturing? Architecture? Museums? Life expectancy? Tourist attractions? Housing? Public transportation?

For example:

 

[MugNight]

If we’re talking culture, I think the 4 are:
New York
New Orleans
San Francisco
Chicago

 

[JM4CY]

Ames would be #1, major in terms of awesomeness. It probably was fighting for the 4th spot but the bridge catapulted it to the runaway favorite.

 

[nfrine]

Ames would be #1, major in terms of awesomeness. It probably was fighting for the 4th spot but the bridge catapulted it to the runaway favorite.

Ames is #1 just for the water....

 

[KnappShack]

Indianapolis doesn't even have an MLB team.

 

[SouthJerseyCy]

Basing it on geography feels arbitrary to me. Philly was the first major US city and still belongs in the top 4. I'd put 5/6 as Boston/DC and they aren't choices here either.

 

[AuH2O]

It’s got be DC, for better or worse.

A lot of the other big metros on the list like DFW, Atlanta, Houston, Indy, MSP just have a lot of people and aren’t exactly cultural meccas. They all have their interesting points, but some of the smaller cities are a lot cooler and more interesting in terms of history, landscape, culture, architecture, etc.

I also view the four major geological/landscape draws in the US are the two coasts, the Great Lakes and the Rockies (or more broadly mountain west). So having Denver up there as the gateway and hub to the Rockies has more significance than a lot of these other cities.

 

[Turn2]

Well, It's not Detroit. Historically...

Biggest US Cities in 1970 - Historical Population Data

A historical list of the largest cities in the United States from the 1970 census, ranked by population

www.biggestuscities.com

 

[drmwevr08]

Yeah, the question is goofy. 4 for what?
Largest, most important, most iconic?

 

[JHUNSY]

DC, Philly and Boston, I'll agree. But Phoenix?!

I’m not suggesting Phoenix is a top 4, these are just demonstrations of cities that would easily come ahead of Minneapolis and Indianapolis- both of which should never be included in this discussion realistically.

 

[2122]

The Big 3 and DC, where I spent 25 years. DC for its metro-area size, history, affluence, role as capital. It is one of the key cities not just in US, but on the planet. I'd rank DC 2nd behind NYC.

 

[NoCreativity]

DC didn't even make the poll? This is obviously the #4 city in the country.

 

[CycloneEggie]

Agree with everyone else, DC Philadelphia and Boston need to be on the list. Without them on the list I sort of didn't think about them, but now that everyone mentioned those 3 they are 4,5,6 in some order. I picked SF because of the ones listed I thought what would be most iconic to represent the US with the Golden Gate Bridge etc. I think you should update the poll and at least remove MSP and Indy and replace them with the other 3

 

[cyclones500]

I went with Houston as 4th, it makes sense having a Texas city on list and first to come to mind and 4th population (I think DFW is larger as a metro unit?).

Others I could see as "HM" are Atlanta, Philly, SF.

Phoenix represents the "southwestern sprawl," but even ranking high in population might go below all of the above.

I'm using a lot of populace-based determinance, I don't know enough about the full culture/dynamics to make some in-depth analysis.

 

[ScottyP]

I can't go with Dallas, because Ft. Worth is only two spots behind in population. I went with Houston, strictly based on population. Population-wise, it is almost as big as Chicago.

 

[dahliaclone]

Everyone agrees on three. It's that fourth where it goes off the rails. I am surprised D.C. wasn't one of your options. I probably would have put it fourth just because it's the capital and a tourist destination.

 

[clone52]

Straight up by population it’s NYC, Chicago, LA, and DFW.

Houston is not too far behind DFW by just over half a million, and similar in regional location and economic impact so I think you could debate it if you wanted to.

Could maybe argue Miami, ATL, or San Fran if you’re looking at broader categories- but on what planet would Minneapolis or Indianapolis be in this debate?? DC, Philly, Phoenix, and Boston easily beat them out.

Dallas and Fort Worth are 2 cities. If you're comparing metropolitan areas, Houston has a slightly higher population than DFW.

 

[CyCoug]

If Indianapolis is on the list, so should about 20 other cities. Seattle, San Diego, Nashville, Charlotte, Memphis, Orlando are a few that I haven’t seen mentioned that come to mind.

 

[BMWallace]

I like the concept of Megaregions. Each region is defined by common characteristics such as geography, core economic pillars, and history.

None of the cities stand alone, but are often a hub of a larger regional culture. Its why in the context of this question, cities like Boston and Philly are hard to call top 4, because they share so much in common with NYC.