List of most populous cities in the United States by decade

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Population as a function of time for cities that have appeared in the top 10 since 1790. Note that the logarithmic scale means that the observed slope gives the percentage growth, not the absolute growth. Largest US cities graph.png
Population as a function of time for cities that have appeared in the top 10 since 1790. Note that the logarithmic scale means that the observed slope gives the percentage growth, not the absolute growth.
Linear visualization of population of the United States cities only when they are among the top 10 Largest cities in the United States by population by decade Visualization.png
Linear visualization of population of the United States cities only when they are among the top 10

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." [1] For year 2000 rankings, data from the Census Bureau's tally of "Cities with 100,000 or More Population Ranked by Selected Subject" is used. [2] The 2010 rankings are based on the 2010 census results. [3]

Contents

The Census Bureau's definition of an "urban place" has included a variety of designations, including city, town, township, village, borough, and municipality. The top 10 urban areas in 1790 consisted of various places designated as cities, towns and townships. The top 10 urban areas in 2010 are all separate incorporated places.

This list generally refers only to the population of individual urban places within their defined limits at the time of the indicated census. Some of these places have since been annexed or merged into other cities. Other places may have expanded their borders due to such annexation or consolidation. For example, after the 1898 consolidation of New York City, the Census Bureau has defined all the boroughs within its city limits as one "urban place". Similarly, Philadelphia's population has included the census counts within both the former urban areas of Northern Liberties, Pennsylvania and Southwark, Pennsylvania ever since Philadelphia's 1854 consolidation.

1790

When the United States declared independence in 1776, Philadelphia was its most populous city. By the time the first U.S. census count was completed in 1790, New York City had already grown to be 14% more populous than Philadelphia (though Philadelphia still had the larger metropolitan population in 1790). Note that, in 1790, New York City consisted of the entire island of Manhattan and that Philadelphia only included the most central neighborhoods of the city.

RankCityStatePopulation [4]
1 New York New York 33,131 (includes rural areas of Manhattan)New York has ranked as the city with the highest population in every census count. [lower-alpha 1]
2 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 28,522 (excludes urban neighborhoods outside city proper)Prior to 1854, the City of Philadelphia only governed the oldest parts of the city, now referred to as Center City.
3 Boston Massachusetts 18,320Listed as a town in the 1790 census; now a city since 1822 and is the capital of Massachusetts since 1632.
4 Charleston South Carolina 16,359
5 Baltimore Maryland 13,503Existed as a town during the time; now an independent city.
6 Northern Liberties District Pennsylvania 9,913A neighborhood of Philadelphia annexed in 1854.
7 Salem Massachusetts 7,921Listed as a town in the 1790 census; now a city.
8 Newport Rhode Island 6,716Listed as a town in the 1790 census; now a city. Only appearance in the top 10.
9 Providence Rhode Island 6,380Listed as a town in the 1790 census; now a city.
10 Marblehead Massachusetts 5,661Still a town. Only appearance in the top 10.
Southwark Pennsylvania 5,661A neighborhood of Philadelphia annexed in 1854.

The total population of these 11 cities was 152,087.

1800

Rankings based on population data from the second United States Census.

RankCityStatePopulation [5] Notes
1 New York New York 60,514
2 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 41,220(Present-day Center City.)
3 Baltimore Maryland 26,514
4 Boston Massachusetts 24,937Listed as a town and still the capital of Massachusetts, would become a city in 1822.
5 Charleston South Carolina 18,824
6 Northern Liberties Pennsylvania 10,718A neighborhood of Philadelphia annexed in 1854.
7 Southwark Pennsylvania 9,621A neighborhood of Philadelphia annexed in 1854.
8 Salem Massachusetts 9,457Listed as a town. Today, Salem is a city.
9 Providence Rhode Island 7,614Listed as a town. Last appearance in the top 10.
10 Norfolk Virginia 6,926Only appearance in the top 10, and only appearance of a city in Virginia in the top 10. Listed as a borough. Now an independent city.

The total population of these 10 cities was 216,346.

1810

Rankings based on population data from the third United States Census.

RankCityStatePopulation [6] Notes
1 New York New York 96,373
2 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 53,722(Present-day Center City.)
3 Baltimore Maryland 46,555
4 Boston Massachusetts 33,787
5 Charleston South Carolina 24,711
6 Northern Liberties Pennsylvania 19,874A neighborhood of Philadelphia annexed in 1854.
7 New Orleans Territory of Orleans 17,242First entry in the top 10 list not located in one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
8 Southwark Pennsylvania 13,707A neighborhood of Philadelphia annexed in 1854.
9 Salem Massachusetts 12,613Listed as a town.
10 Albany New York 10,762First appearance in the top 10, and first city in Upstate New York to make the top 10.

The total population of these 10 cities was 329,346.

1820

Rankings based on population data drawn the fourth United States Census.

RankCityStatePopulation [7] Notes
1 New York New York 123,706First city in the US to surpass 100,000.
2 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 63,802(Present-day Center City.)
3 Baltimore Maryland 62,738
4 Boston Massachusetts 43,298
5 New Orleans Louisiana 27,176Booming trade post, bought through the Louisiana Purchase.
6 Charleston South Carolina 24,780
7 Northern Liberties Pennsylvania 19,678A neighborhood of Philadelphia annexed in 1854.
8 Southwark Pennsylvania 14,713A neighborhood of Philadelphia annexed in 1854.
9 Washington District of Columbia 13,247First appearance of the new capital in the top 10. Would disappear from the list by next census and not reappear on top 10 until 1950.
10 Salem Massachusetts 12,731Last appearance in the top 10. Listed as a town.

The total population of these 10 cities was 405,869. Last time Massachusetts has two cities in the top ten.

1830

Rankings based on population data from the fifth United States Census.

RankCityStatePopulation [8] Notes
1 New York New York 202,300First city in the US to surpass 200,000.
2 Baltimore Maryland 80,800Baltimore is the second city to rank number two.
3 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 80,462(Present-day Center City.)
4 Boston Massachusetts 61,392
5 New Orleans Louisiana 46,082
6 Charleston South Carolina 30,289
7 Northern Liberties Pennsylvania 28,872A neighborhood of Philadelphia annexed in 1854.
8 Cincinnati Ohio 24,831Listed as a town. First Midwestern city in top 10.
9 Albany New York 24,209
10 Southwark Pennsylvania 20,581A neighborhood of Philadelphia annexed in 1854. Last appearance in top 10.

The total population of these 10 cities was 599,927.

1840

Rankings based on data drawn from the sixth United States Census.

RankCityStatePopulation [9] Notes
1 New York New York 312,710First city in the US to surpass 300,000.
2 Baltimore Maryland 102,313Second city in the US, after New York, to surpass 100,000.
3 New Orleans Louisiana 102,193New Orleans' rapid growth shows the increasing importance of Mississippi River trade before the advent of the railroad.
4 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 93,665(Present-day Center City.)
5 Boston Massachusetts 93,383
6 Cincinnati Ohio 46,338Listed as a town.
7 Brooklyn New York 36,233At this time, Brooklyn was a city.
8 Northern Liberties Pennsylvania 34,474A neighborhood of Philadelphia annexed in 1854. Last appearance in top 10.
9 Albany New York 33,721
10 Charleston South Carolina 29,261Last appearance in top 10. First ever population drop for Charleston.

The total population of these 10 cities was 884,291.

1850

By 1850, the United States was in the midst of the First Industrial Revolution. Rankings based on population data compiled in the seventh United States Census.

RankCityStatePopulation [10] Notes
1 New York New York 515,547First city in the US to surpass 400,000 and 500,000.
2 Baltimore Maryland 169,054
3 Boston Massachusetts 136,881
4 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 121,376(Present-day Center City.)
5 New Orleans Louisiana 116,375
6 Cincinnati Ohio 115,435
7 Brooklyn New York 96,838
8 St. Louis Missouri 77,860First Top 10 appearance of any city west of the Mississippi River.
9 Spring Garden Pennsylvania 58,894Now a neighborhood of Philadelphia. Only appearance in the top 10. Last census where Spring Garden was an independent city.
10 Albany New York 50,763Last appearance in top 10.

The total population of these 10 cities was 1,459,023.

1860

Rankings based on data drawn from the eighth United States Census, the last national decennial census conducted before the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861. This is the first census where the Northeast does not hold a supermajority of the top ten largest cities.

RankCityStatePopulation [11] Notes
1 New York New York 813,669First city in the US to surpass 600,000, 700,000, and 800,000.
2 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 565,529The large jump in population between the seventh and eighth censuses is due to the 1854 Act of Consolidation, which greatly expanded the City of Philadelphia to be coterminous with Philadelphia County, and abolished all other local governments in the county. The "Philadelphia" prior to 1854 is present-day Center City.
3 Brooklyn New York 266,661
4 Baltimore Maryland 212,418
5 Boston Massachusetts 177,840
6 New Orleans Louisiana 168,675
7 Cincinnati Ohio 161,044
8 St. Louis Missouri 160,773
9 Chicago Illinois 112,172First appearance in top 10. In the previous census, it was the 24th largest American city with a population of 29,963. At one point, Chicago would be the world's fastest growing city.
10 Buffalo New York 81,129First appearance in top 10. Would not re-appear until 1900.

The total population of these 10 cities was 2,719,910.

1870

This was the ninth United States Census. This is the first census where the Northeast does not hold a simple majority of the top ten largest cities (briefly returns to 6 in the 1910 census). This is also the first census in which every city in the top 10 has a population of over 100,000.

RankCityStatePopulation [12] Notes
1 New York New York 942,292First city in the US to surpass 900,000. Included present-day Manhattan only.
2 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 674,022
3 Brooklyn New York 396,099
4 St. Louis Missouri 310,864

The 1870 St. Louis Census total may have been slightly boosted by fraud. [lower-alpha 2]

5 Chicago Illinois 298,977Census was taken one year before the Great Chicago Fire, which burned down a large portion of the city.
6 Baltimore Maryland 267,354
7 Boston Massachusetts 250,526
8 Cincinnati Ohio 216,239
9 New Orleans Louisiana 191,418
10 San Francisco California 149,473First West Coast city in top 10. Its population boom began after 1848 with the Gold Rush and continued with silver discoveries such as the Comstock Lode in 1859. The first transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869.

The total population of these 10 cities was 3,697,264.

1880

This was the tenth United States Census.

RankCityStatePopulation [13] Notes
1 New York New York 1,206,299First city in the US to reach 1 million+ population milestone. Municipal boundaries encompassed present-day Manhattan and the West Bronx only.
2 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 847,170
3 Brooklyn New York 566,663
4 Chicago Illinois 503,185The Great Chicago Fire destroyed approximately one-third of the city in 1871, yet the city still experienced extreme growth by this census count.
5 Boston Massachusetts 362,839
6 St. Louis Missouri 350,518The city of St. Louis seceded from St. Louis County in 1876. [lower-alpha 2] The population of St. Louis City and St. Louis County during the Census was ~386,000. [14]
7 Baltimore Maryland 332,313
8 Cincinnati Ohio 255,139
9 San Francisco California 233,959
10 New Orleans Louisiana 216,090Last appearance in top 10.

The total population of these 10 cities was 4,874,175.

1890

The 1890 Census was the Eleventh. Four Midwest cities occupied the top ten spots, with two cities from Ohio in the top ten for the first time.

RankCityStatePopulation [15] Notes
1 New York New York 1,515,301This is the last census before New York was consolidated into its present-day Five Boroughs municipal arrangement (therefore the figure is that of New York County, which at the time consisted of Manhattan Island and the western part of what later would become The Bronx).
2 Chicago Illinois 1,109,850Third city in the US to reach 1 million. Chicago overtakes Philadelphia as the nation's second most populous city shortly after they both pass the 1 million mark.
3 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1,046,964Second city in the US to reach 1 million.
4 Brooklyn New York 806,343This is the last census where the City of Brooklyn is counted as an independent city. Brooklyn would be politically absorbed into New York City in 1898 and have its population counted as a component of the latter city's figure from the Twelfth census onward.
5 St. Louis Missouri 451,770
6 Boston Massachusetts 448,477
7 Baltimore Maryland 434,439
8 San Francisco California 298,997
9 Cincinnati Ohio 296,908
10 Cleveland Ohio 261,353First appearance in top 10.

The total population of these 10 cities was 6,660,402.

1900

The 1900 Census was the Twelfth.

RankCityStatePopulation [16] Notes
1 New York New York 3,437,202First city in the US to surpass 3 million residents. This is the first census after the creation of the Five Boroughs.
2 Chicago Illinois 1,698,575
3 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1,293,697
4 St. Louis Missouri 575,238
5 Boston Massachusetts 560,892
6 Baltimore Maryland 508,957
7 Cleveland Ohio 391,768
8 Buffalo New York 352,387First appearance since 1860.
9 San Francisco California 342,782Last appearance in top 10. Last census before earthquake and fire.
10 Cincinnati Ohio 325,902Last appearance in the top 10.

The total population of these 10 cities was 9,487,400.

1910

The 1910 Census was the Thirteenth.

RankCityStatePopulation [17] Notes
1 New York New York 4,766,883First and only city in the US to surpass 4 million residents. Manhattan reached its historical high of over 2.3 million while Brooklyn had 1,634,351. However, the other three less populated boroughs began to grow rapidly as a result of then-recent transportation improvements, including the expansion of the NYC subway system into the city's formerly rural hinterland and the opening of new East River and Harlem River crossings, which provided a demographic escape valve for Manhattan and Brooklyn's densely populated tenement districts.
2 Chicago Illinois 2,185,283Second city in the U.S. to reach 2 million.
3 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1,549,008
4 St. Louis Missouri 687,029
5 Boston Massachusetts 670,585
6 Cleveland Ohio 560,663
7 Baltimore Maryland 558,485
8 Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 533,905First appearance in top 10.
9 Detroit Michigan 465,766First appearance in top 10.
10 Buffalo New York 423,715Last appearance in top 10.

The total population of these 10 cities was 12,401,322.

1920

The 1920 Census was the Fourteenth. Only time three Midwestern cities occupy the top five.

RankCityStatePopulation [18] Notes
1 New York New York 5,620,048First and only city in the US to surpass 5 million residents. Brooklyn passes 2 million with 2,018,356 of this total.
2 Chicago Illinois 2,701,705
3 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1,823,779
4 Detroit Michigan 993,069The rise of the automobile industry in the Detroit area propelled its growth substantially between 1910 and 1920, doubling its population in only 10 years.
5 Cleveland Ohio 796,841Only census where Cleveland makes the top 5.
6 St. Louis Missouri 772,897
7 Boston Massachusetts 748,060
8 Baltimore Maryland 733,826
9 Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 588,343
10 Los Angeles California 576,673First appearance in top 10.

The total population of these 10 cities was 15,355,250.

1930

The 1930 Census was the Fifteenth.

RankCityStatePopulation [19] Notes
1 New York New York 6,930,446First and only city in the US to surpass 6 million residents. Brooklyn accounts for 2,560,401 of the total.
2 Chicago Illinois 3,376,438Second city in the U.S. to surpass 3 million.
3 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1,950,961
4 Detroit Michigan 1,568,662Fourth city in the U.S. to surpass 1 million.
5 Los Angeles California 1,238,048Fifth city in the U.S. (and first in California) to surpass 1 million. First West Coast city to make the top 5.
6 Cleveland Ohio 900,429
7 St. Louis Missouri 821,960
8 Baltimore Maryland 804,874
9 Boston Massachusetts 781,188
10 Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 669,817

The total population of these 10 cities was 19,042,823.

1940

Four of the ten cities here would have their first ever population drop in 1940. Though slight, they would presage a precipitous decline that started in 1950. The 1940 census was the sixteenth. This is also the first census in which the total population of the 10 largest cities combined increased by less than 10% from the last census, 10 years ago (<1% per year).

#CityStatePopulation [20] Notes
1 New York New York 7,454,995First and only city in the US to surpass 7 million residents.
2 Chicago Illinois 3,396,808
3 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1,931,334First ever population drop for Philadelphia.
4 Detroit Michigan 1,623,452
5 Los Angeles California 1,504,277
6 Cleveland Ohio 878,336First ever population drop for Cleveland.
7 Baltimore Maryland 859,100
8 St. Louis Missouri 816,048First ever population drop for St. Louis.
9 Boston Massachusetts 770,816First ever population drop for Boston.
10 Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 671,659Last appearance in top 10.

The total population of these 10 cities was 19,909,825.

1950

1950 was a watershed year for many cities in the United States. 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 inner cities, while the improved infrastructure of the Eisenhower Interstate System more easily facilitated car commutes and white flight of the white middle class. The G.I. Bill made available low interest loans for returning World War II veterans seeking more commodious housing in the suburbs. Of the eighteen most populous cities in the 1950 census, fifteen have declined in population as of the 2020 census, with the exceptions of New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Although populations within city limits dropped in many American cities, the metropolitan populations of most cities continued to increase greatly. The 1950 census was the seventeenth.

RankCityStatePopulation [21] Notes
1 New York New York 7,891,957 Brooklyn accounts for 2,738,175 of this total and Queens 1,550,849.
2 Chicago Illinois 3,620,962Population peaked this census.
3 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 2,071,605Population peaked this census. Third city in the U.S. to surpass 2 million.
4 Los Angeles California 1,970,358Los Angeles is one of the few cities to have nearly continuous growth since 1950.
5 Detroit Michigan 1,849,568Population peaked this census. To date, Detroit is the only city in the United States to have a population grow beyond 1 million and then fall below that figure.
6 Baltimore Maryland 949,708Population peaked this census.
7 Cleveland Ohio 914,808Population peaked this census.
8 St. Louis Missouri 856,796Population peaked this census.
9 Washington District of Columbia 802,178Population peaked this census. Re-appearance in the top 10 (last in 1820).
10 Boston Massachusetts 801,444Population peaked this census. Last appearance in top 10.

The total population of these 10 cities was 21,809,384.

1960

The 1960 Census was the Eighteenth. This was the first census (see also 1980) to show a decline in the combined total population of top ten cities, with Decrease2.svg 826,495 (Decrease2.svg 3.8%) fewer people than the 1950 Census' top ten cities.

RankCityStatePopulation [22] Notes
1 New York New York 7,781,984First ever population drop for New York City.
2 Chicago Illinois 3,550,404First ever population drop for Chicago.
3 Los Angeles California 2,479,015Los Angeles overtakes Philadelphia to become the nation's third-largest city. Fourth city in the U.S. (and first in California) to surpass 2 million.
4 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 2,002,512After 60 years as the nation's third-largest city, Philadelphia drops to the fourth spot on the list.
5 Detroit Michigan 1,670,144First ever population drop for Detroit.
6 Baltimore Maryland 939,024First ever population drop for Baltimore.
7 Houston Texas 938,219First appearance for a Texan city in the top 10.
8 Cleveland Ohio 876,050
9 Washington District of Columbia 783,956First ever population drop for Washington.
10 St. Louis Missouri 750,026Last appearance in the top 10.

The total population of these 10 cities was 20,982,889.

1970

The 1970 Census was the Nineteenth.

RankCityStatePopulation [23] Notes
1 New York New York 7,894,862
2 Chicago Illinois 3,366,957
3 Los Angeles California 2,816,061
4 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1,948,609
5 Detroit Michigan 1,511,482
6 Houston Texas 1,232,802Sixth city in the U.S. (and first in the South, or in Texas) to surpass 1 million.
7 Baltimore Maryland 905,759
8 Dallas Texas 844,401First appearance in the top 10.
9 Washington District of Columbia 756,510Last appearance in the top 10.
10 Cleveland Ohio 750,903Last appearance in the top 10. Cleveland is notably less dense in this census than in 1920.

The total population of these 10 cities was 22,028,346.

1980

By 1980, the population trends of urban decline and suburbanization that started in the 1950s were at their peak. This was the second census (see also 1960) to show a decline in the combined total population of the top ten cities, with 1,142,003 (5.2%) fewer people than the 1970 Census' top ten cities, mostly due to the large drop in population of New York City. This is the first census in which half of the top ten cities are in the Sun Belt, specifically the West South Central and South Western area of the country. [24] The 1980 census was the twentieth.

RankCityStatePopulation [24] Notes
1 New York New York 7,071,639New York City experienced the largest total population drop by a city up to this point in American history, recording 820,000 fewer people in 1980 than ten years before. The city government was crippled by severe financial strains and near bankruptcy as a result of its declining tax base during the 1970s, until being bailed out by the federal government later that decade.
2 Chicago Illinois 3,005,072
3 Los Angeles California 2,966,850
4 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1,688,210
5 Houston Texas 1,595,138Houston becomes the first (and to date, the only) Texas city to reach the top 5.
6 Detroit Michigan 1,203,339
7 Dallas Texas 904,078
8 San Diego California 875,538First appearance in the top 10.
9 Phoenix Arizona 789,704First appearance in the top 10. First (and to date, the only) city in the Mountain West to reach the top 10.
10 Baltimore Maryland 786,775Last appearance in the top 10.

The total population of these 10 cities was 20,886,343.

1990

The 1990 Census was the Twenty-first. Continued trends of western cities' growth and Northeastern cities' contraction now place a majority of the top ten cities in the western portion of the Sun Belt, a regional concentration not seen since Northeastern cities dominated the top of the first seven censuses. [25]

RankCityStatePopulation [25] Notes
1 New York New York 7,322,564New York City gained population during the 1980s after heavy losses in the 1970s.
2 Los Angeles California 3,485,398Los Angeles becomes the nation's second largest city. Third U.S. city (and first on the American West Coast, or in California) to surpass 3 million.
3 Chicago Illinois 2,783,726After nearly 100 years as the nation's second largest city, Chicago is surpassed by Los Angeles and becomes the third largest city.
4 Houston Texas 1,630,553Houston overtakes Philadelphia to become the nation's fourth largest city.
5 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1,585,577
6 San Diego California 1,110,549Seventh city in the U.S. (and second in California) to surpass 1 million.
7 Detroit Michigan 1,027,974Last census to have a population of over 1 million.
8 Dallas Texas 1,006,877Eighth city in the U.S. (and second in the South, or in Texas) to surpass 1 million.
9 Phoenix Arizona 992,551
10 San Antonio Texas 935,933First appearance in top 10.

The total population of these 10 cities was 21,872,554.

2000

The 2000 Census was the 22nd in U.S. history.

RankCityStatePopulation [26] Notes
1 New York New York 8,008,278First and only city in the US to surpass 8 million residents.
2 Los Angeles California 3,694,820
3 Chicago Illinois 2,896,016Chicago experienced population gain during the 1990s.
4 Houston Texas 1,953,631
5 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1,517,550
6 Phoenix Arizona 1,321,045Ninth city in the U.S. (and first and only in the Mountain West) to surpass 1 million, as well as the only Arizona city and only state capital to do so too.
7 San Diego California 1,223,400
8 Dallas Texas 1,188,580
9 San Antonio Texas 1,144,64610th city in the U.S. (and third in the South, or in Texas) to surpass 1 million.
10 Detroit Michigan 951,270First (and to date, the only) city ever to drop back under 1 million. Last appearance in top 10.

The total population of these 10 cities was 23,899,236.

2010

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. A different ranking is evident when considering U.S. metro area populations which count both city and suburban populations. The 2010 census was the twenty-third.

RankCityStatePopulation [3] Notes
1 New York New York 8,175,133
2 Los Angeles California 3,792,621
3 Chicago Illinois 2,695,598
4 Houston Texas 2,099,451Fifth city in the U.S. (and first in the South, or in Texas) to surpass 2 million.
5 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1,526,006First population gain since 1950.
6 Phoenix Arizona 1,445,632Phoenix briefly experienced population decline during the recession but rebounded slowly.
7 San Antonio Texas 1,327,407San Antonio overtakes Dallas as Texas' second-largest city.
8 San Diego California 1,307,402
9 Dallas Texas 1,197,816
10 San Jose California 945,942First appearance in the top 10.

The total population of these 10 cities was 24,513,008.

2020

2020 is the first census in which all ten of the largest cities have populations of over one million. It is also the first census since 1940 in which no cities entered or left the top ten, and the first census since 1950 in which all ten cities gained population. This was the twenty-fourth census.

RankCityStatePopulation [27] Notes
1 New York New York 8,804,190
2 Los Angeles California 3,898,747
3 Chicago Illinois 2,746,388
4 Houston Texas 2,304,580
5 Phoenix Arizona 1,608,139Phoenix overtakes Philadelphia to become the first city in the Mountain West to reach the top 5.
6 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1,603,797For the first time, Philadelphia drops out of the top 5.
7 San Antonio Texas 1,434,625
8 San Diego California 1,386,932
9 Dallas Texas 1,304,379
10 San Jose California 1,013,24011th city in the U.S. (and third in California) to surpass 1 million.

The total population of these 10 cities was 26,105,017.

Totals

YearTotal populationChange
1790 152,087NA
1800 216,346Increase2.svg 42.25%
1810 329,346Increase2.svg 52.23%
1820 405,869Increase2.svg 23.23%
1830 599,927Increase2.svg 47.81%
1840 884,291Increase2.svg 47.40%
1850 1,459,023Increase2.svg 64.99%
1860 2,719,910Increase2.svg 86.42%
1870 3,697,264Increase2.svg 35.93%
1880 4,874,175Increase2.svg 31.83%
1890 6,660,402Increase2.svg 36.65%
1900 9,487,400Increase2.svg 42.44%
1910 12,401,322Increase2.svg 30.71%
1920 15,355,250Increase2.svg 23.82%
1930 19,042,823Increase2.svg 24.02%
1940 19,909,825Increase2.svg 4.55%
1950 21,809,384Increase2.svg 9.54%
1960 20,982,889Decrease2.svg -3.79%
1970 22,028,346Increase2.svg 4.98%
1980 20,886,343Decrease2.svg -5.18%
1990 21,872,554Increase2.svg 4.72%
2000 23,899,236Increase2.svg 9.27%
2010 24,513,008Increase2.svg 2.57%
2020 26,105,017Increase2.svg 6.49%

See also

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The 1830 United States census, the fifth census undertaken in the United States, was conducted on June 1, 1830. The only loss of census records for 1830 involved some countywide losses in Massachusetts, Maryland, and Mississippi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1860 United States census</span> Eighth US census

The 1860 United States census was the eighth census conducted in the United States starting June 1, 1860, and lasting five months. It determined the population of the United States to be 31,443,321 in 33 states and 10 organized territories. This was an increase of 35.6 percent over the 23,191,876 persons enumerated during the 1850 census. The total population included 3,953,760 slaves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1870 United States census</span> Ninth US census

The 1870 United States census was the ninth United States census. It was conducted by the Census Office from June 1, 1870, to August 23, 1871. The 1870 census was the first census to provide detailed information on the African American population, only five years after the culmination of the Civil War when slaves were granted freedom. The total population was 38,925,598 with a resident population of 38,558,371 individuals, a 22.6% increase from 1860.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1900 United States census</span> 12th US national census

The 1900 United States census, conducted by the Census Office on June 1, 1900, determined the resident population of the United States to be 76,212,168, an increase of 21.01% from the 62,979,766 persons enumerated during the 1890 census. It was the last census to be conducted before the founding of the permanent United States Census Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1910 United States census</span> 13th US national census

The 1910 United States census, conducted by the Census Bureau on April 15, 1910, determined the resident population of the United States to be 92,228,496, an increase of 21 percent over the 76,212,168 persons enumerated during the 1900 census. The 1910 census switched from a portrait page orientation to a landscape orientation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1920 United States census</span> 14th US national census

The 1920 United States census, conducted by the Census Bureau during one month from January 5, 1920, determined the resident population of the United States to be 106,021,537, an increase of 15.0 percent over the 92,228,496 persons enumerated during the 1910 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1930 United States census</span> 15th US national census

The 1930 United States census, conducted by the Census Bureau one month from April 1, 1930, determined the resident population of the United States to be 122,775,046, an increase of 13.7 percent over the 106,021,537 persons enumerated during the 1920 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1950 United States census</span> 17th US national census

The 1950 United States census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 151,325,798, an increase of 14.5 percent over the 131,669,275 persons enumerated during the 1940 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1960 United States census</span> 18th United States national census

The 1960 United States census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 179,323,175, an increase of 19 percent over the 151,325,798 persons enumerated during the 1950 census. This was the first census in which all states recorded a population of over 200,000. This census's data determined the electoral votes for the 1964 and 1968 presidential elections. This was also the last census in which New York was the most populous state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1970 United States census</span> 19th United States national census

The 1970 United States census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 203,392,031, an increase of 13.4 percent over the 179,323,175 persons enumerated during the 1960 census.

The District of Columbia is a federal district with an ethnically diverse population. In 2020, the District had a population of 689,545 people, with a resident density of 11,515 people per square mile.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Jackson, Kenneth T. (1985), Crabgrass Frontier: The Suburbanization of the United States , New York: Oxford University Press, ISBN   0-19-504983-7 , Chapter 8: "Suburbs Into Neighborhoods: The Rise and Fall of Municipal Annexation."
  2. 1 2 Arenson, Adam (2011). The great heart of the republic: St. Louis and the cultural Civil War. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. p. 191-192. ISBN   0674052889.

Sources

  1. ↑ "Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States: 1790 to 1990"
  2. ↑ "Cities with 100,000 or More Population Ranked by Selected Subject"
  3. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 10, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Population of the 24 Urban Places: 1790"
  5. ↑ "Population of the 33 Urban Places: 1800"
  6. ↑ "Population of the 46 Urban Places: 1810"
  7. ↑ "Population of the 61 Urban Places: 1820"
  8. ↑ "Population of the 90 Urban Places: 1830"
  9. ↑ "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1840"
  10. ↑ "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1850"
  11. ↑ "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1860"
  12. ↑ "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1870"
  13. ↑ "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1880"
  14. ↑ "Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places In The United States: 1790 to 1990". Census.gov. 2012-05-21. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  15. ↑ "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1890"
  16. ↑ "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1900"
  17. ↑ "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1910"
  18. ↑ "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1920"
  19. ↑ "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1930"
  20. ↑ "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1940"
  21. ↑ "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1950"
  22. ↑ "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1960"
  23. ↑ "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1970"
  24. 1 2 "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1980"
  25. 1 2 "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1990"
  26. ↑ "Cities with 100,000 or More Population in 2000 ranked by Population, 2000 in Rank Order "
  27. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved August 16, 2021.
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