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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]

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.

Rank	City	State	Population^[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.^[a]
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	18,320	Listed 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	13,503	Existed as a town during the time; now an independent city.
6	Northern Liberties District	Pennsylvania	9,913	A neighborhood of Philadelphia annexed in 1854.
7	Salem	Massachusetts	7,921	Listed as a town in the 1790 census; now a city.
8	Newport	Rhode Island	6,716	Listed as a town in the 1790 census; now a city. Only appearance in the top 10.
9	Providence	Rhode Island	6,380	Listed as a town in the 1790 census; now a city.
10	Marblehead	Massachusetts	5,661	Still a town. Only appearance in the top 10.
10	Southwark	Pennsylvania	5,661	A 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.

Rank	City	State	Population
1	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	81,009
2	Essex	Massachusetts	61,196
3	Worcester	Massachusetts	61,192
4	New York	New York	60,489
5	Baltimore	Maryland	59,030
6	Charleston	South Carolina	57,480
7	Dutchess	New York	47,775
8	Middlesex	Massachusetts	46,928
10	Rockingham	New Hampshire	45,427
9	Lancaster hillsborough nh	Pennsylvania	43,899

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

1810

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

Rank	City	State	Population
1	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	111,210
2	New York	New York	96,373
3	Baltimore	Maryland	75,780
4	Essex	Massachusetts	71,888
5	Worcester	Massachusetts	64,910
6	Charleston	South Carolina	63,179
7	Lancaster	Pennsylvania	53,927
8	Middlesex	Massachusetts	52,789
9	Dutchess	New York	51,363
10	Rockingham	New Hampshire	50,175

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

1820

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

Rank	City	State	Population
1	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	137,097
2	New York	New York	123,706
3	Baltimore	Maryland	96,201
4	Charleston	South Carolina	80,212
5	Essex	Massachusetts	74,655
6	Worcester	Massachusetts	73,625
7	Lancaster	Pennsylvania	68,336
8	Middlesex	Massachusetts	61,472
10	Rockingham	New Hampshire	55,246
9	Cumberland	Maine	49,445

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.

Rank	City	State	Population
1	New York	New York	202,589
2	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	188,797
3	Baltimore	Maryland	120,870
4	Charleston	South Carolina	86,338
5	Worcester	Massachusetts	84,355
6	Essex	Massachusetts	82,859
7	Middlesex	Massachusetts	77,961
8	Lancaster	Pennsylvania	76,631
9	Suffolk	Massachusetts	62,163
10	Cumberland	Maine	60,102

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

1840

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

Rank	City	State	Population
1	New York	New York	312,710
2	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	258,037
3	Baltimore	Maryland	134,379
4	Middlesex	Massachusetts	106,611
5	Orleans	Louisiana	102,193
6	Suffolk	Massachusetts	95,773
7	Worcester	Massachusetts	95,313
8	Essex	Massachusetts	94,987
9	Lancaster	Pennsylvania	84,203
10	Charleston	South Carolina	82,661

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.

Rank	City	State	Population
1	New York	New York	515,547
2	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	408,762
3	Baltimore	Maryland	210,646
4	Middlesex	Massachusetts	161,383
5	Hamilton	Ohio	156,844
6	Suffolk	Massachusetts	144,517
7	Kings	New York	138,822
8	Allegheny	Pennsylvania	138,290
10	Essex	Massachusetts	131,300
9	Worcester	Massachusetts	130,789

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.

Rank	City	State	Population
1	New York	New York	813,669
2	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	565,529
3	Kings	New York	279,122
4	Hamilton	Ohio	216,410
5	Middlesex	Massachusetts	216,354
6	Baltimore	Maryland	212,418
7	Suffolk	Massachusetts	192,700
8	St. Louis	Missouri	190,524
9	Allegheny	Pennsylvania	178,831
10	Orleans	Louisiana	168,675

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.

Rank	City	State	Population
1	New York	New York	942,292
2	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	674,022
3	Kings	New York	419,921
4	St. Louis	Missouri	351,189
5	Cook	Illinois	349,966
6	Middlesex	Massachusetts	274,535
7	Suffolk	Massachusetts	270,802
8	Baltimore	Maryland	267,354
9	Allegheny	Pennsylvania	262,204
10	Hamilton	Ohio	260,370

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

1880

This was the tenth United States Census.

Rank	City	State	Population
1	New York	New York	1,164,674
2	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	847,170
3	Cook	Illinois	607,524
4	Kings	New York	599,495
5	Suffolk	Massachusetts	387,927
6	Allegheny	Pennsylvania	355,869
7	St. Louis	Missouri	350,518
8	Baltimore	Maryland	332,313
9	Middlesex	Massachusetts	317,830
10	Hamilton	Ohio	313,374

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.

Rank	City	State	Population
1	New York	New York	1,441,216
2	Cook	Illinois	1,191,922
3	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	1,046,964
4	Kings	New York	838,547
5	Allegheny	Pennsylvania	551,959
6	Suffolk	Massachusetts	484,780
7	St. Louis	Missouri	451,770
8	Baltimore	Maryland	434,439
9	Middlesex	Massachusetts	431,167
10	Hamilton	Ohio	374,573

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

1900

The 1900 Census was the Twelfth.

Rank	City	State	Population
1	New York	New York	1,850,093
2	Cook	Illinois	1,838,735
3	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	1,293,697
4	Kings	New York	1,166,582
5	Allegheny	Pennsylvania	775,058
6	Suffolk	Massachusetts	611,417
7	St. Louis	Missouri	575,238
8	Middlesex	Massachusetts	565,696
9	Baltimore	Maryland	508,957
10	Cuyahoga	Ohio	439,120

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

1910

The 1910 Census was the Thirteenth.

Rank	City	State	Population
1	Cook	Illinois	2,405,233
2	Kings	New York	2,331,542
3	New York	New York	1,634,351
4	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	1,549,008
5	Allegheny	Pennsylvania	1,018,463
6	Suffolk	Massachusetts	731,388
7	St. Louis	Missouri	687,029
8	Middlesex	Massachusetts	669,915
9	Cuyahoga	Ohio	637,425
10	Baltimore	Maryland	558,485

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.

Rank	City	State	Population
1	Cook	Illinois	3,053,017
2	New York	New York	2,284,103
3	Kings	New York	2,018,356
4	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	1,823,779
5	Allegheny	Pennsylvania	1,185,808
6	Wayne	Michigan	1,177,645
7	Cuyahoga	Ohio	943,495
8	Los Angeles	California	936,455
9	Suffolk	Massachusetts	835,522
10	Middlesex	Massachusetts	778,352

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

1930

The 1930 Census was the Fifteenth.

Rank	County	State	Population
1	Cook	Illinois	3,982,123
2	Kings	New York	2,560,401
3	Los Angeles	California	2,208,492
4	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	1,950,961
5	Wayne	Michigan	1,888,946
6	New York	New York	1,867,312
7	Allegheny	Pennsylvania	1,374,410
8	Bronx	New York	1,265,258
9	Cuyahoga	Ohio	1,201,455
10	Queens	New York	1,079,129

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).

Rank	County	State	Population
1	Cook	Illinois	4,063,342
2	Los Angeles	California	2,785,643
3	Kings	New York	2,698,285
4	Wayne	Michigan	2,015,623
5	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	1,931,334
6	New York	New York	1,889,924
7	Allegheny	Pennsylvania	1,411,539
8	Bronx	New York	1,394,711
9	Queens	New York	1,297,634
10	Cuyahoga	Ohio	1,217,250

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.

Rank	County	State	Population
1	Cook	Illinois	4,508,792
2	Los Angeles	California	4,151,687
3	Kings	New York	2,738,175
4	Wayne	Michigan	2,435,235
5	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	2,071,605
6	New York	New York	1,960,101
7	Queens	New York	1,550,849
8	Allegheny	Pennsylvania	1,515,237
9	Bronx	New York	1,451,277
10	Cuyahoga	Ohio	1,389,532

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 826,495 ( 3.8%) fewer people than the 1950 Census' top ten cities.

Rank	County	State	Population
1	Los Angeles	California	6,038,771
2	Cook	Illinois	5,129,725
3	Wayne	Michigan	2,666,297
4	Kings	New York	2,627,319
5	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	2,002,512
6	Queens	New York	1,809,578
7	New York	New York	1,698,281
8	Cuyahoga	Ohio	1,647,895
9	Allegheny	Pennsylvania	1,628,587
10	Bronx	New York	1,424,815

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

1970

The 1970 Census was the Nineteenth.

Rank	County	State	Population	Notes
1	Los Angeles	California	7,041,980
2	Cook	Illinois	5,492,369	Population peaked this census. Cook County has hovered around 5 million ever since.
3	Wayne	Michigan	2,666,751	Population peaked this census.
4	Kings	New York	2,602,012
5	Queens	New York	1,986,473
6	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	1,948,609
7	Harris	Texas	1,741,912
8	Cuyahoga	Ohio	1,721,300	Last appearance in top 10.
9	Allegheny	Pennsylvania	1,605,016	Last appearance in top 10.
10	New York	New York	1,539,233	Last Appearance in top 10.

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.^[5] The 1980 census was the twentieth.

Rank	County	State	Population	Notes
1	Los Angeles	California	7,477,421
2	Cook	Illinois	5,253,655	First ever population drop for Cook County.
3	Harris	Texas	2,409,547
4	Wayne	Michigan	2,337,843	First ever population drop for Wayne County.
5	Kings	New York	2,230,936
6	Orange	California	1,932,709
7	Queens	New York	1,891,325
8	San Diego	California	1,861,846	First appearance in top 10.
9	Miami−Dade	Florida	1,625,781	First appearance in top 10.
10	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	1,509,175	Last appearance in 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.^[6]

Rank	County	State	Population	Notes
1	Los Angeles	California	8,863,164
2	Cook	Illinois	5,105,067
3	Harris	Texas	2,818,199
4	San Diego	California	2,498,016
5	Orange	California	2,410,556
6	Kings	New York	2,300,664
7	Maricopa	Arizona	2,122,101	First appearance in top 10.
8	Wayne	Michigan	2,111,687
9	Queens	New York	1,951,598
10	Miami−Dade	Florida	1,937,094

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

2000

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

Rank	County	State	Population	Notes
1	Los Angeles	California	9,519,338
2	Cook	Illinois	5,376,741
3	Harris	Texas	3,400,578
4	Maricopa	Arizona	3,072,149
5	Orange	California	2,846,289
6	San Diego	California	2,813,833
7	Kings	New York	2,465,326
8	Miami−Dade	Florida	2,253,362
9	Queens	New York	2,229,379
10	Dallas	Texas	2,218,899	First 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.

Rank	County	State	Population	Notes
1	Los Angeles	California	9,818,605
2	Cook	Illinois	5,194,675
3	Harris	Texas	4,092,459	Third county in the U.S. to surpass 4 million.
4	Maricopa	Arizona	3,817,117
5	San Diego	California	3,095,313
6	Orange	California	3,010,232
7	Kings	New York	2,504,700
8	Miami−Dade	Florida	2,496,435
9	Dallas	Texas	2,368,139
10	Queens	New York	2,230,722	Last appearance in 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.

Rank	County	State	Population	Notes
1	Los Angeles	California	10,014,009	First county to ever surpass 10 million.
2	Cook	Illinois	5,275,541
3	Harris	Texas	4,731,145
4	Maricopa	Arizona	4,420,568
5	San Diego	California	3,298,634
6	Orange	California	3,186,989
7	Kings	New York	2,736,074
8	Miami−Dade	Florida	2,701,767
9	Dallas	Texas	2,613,539
10	Riverside	California	2,418,185	First appearance in top 10.

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

Totals

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

References

Notes

^ Jackson, Kenneth T. (1985). Crabgrass frontier: The suburbanization of the United States. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-504983-7. OCLC 11785435., Chapter 8: "Suburbs Into Neighborhoods: The Rise and Fall of Municipal Annexation."

Sources

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External links

United States, 1780-1789—discusses population size from 1780 to 1789
Largest Cities in the United States Over Time on YouTube
Visualization of Largest cities in the United States by population by decade on YouTube

[5] Jackson, Kenneth T. (1985). Crabgrass frontier: The suburbanization of the United States. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-504983-7. OCLC 11785435., Chapter 8: "Suburbs Into Neighborhoods: The Rise and Fall of Municipal Annexation."

[population1790-1990-1] "Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States: 1790 to 1990"

[citieswith100000ormore-2] "Cities with 100,000 or More Population Ranked by Selected Subject"

[2010list_by_ranking-3] "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2013.

[1790list-4] "Population of the 24 Urban Places: 1790"

[1980list-6] "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1980"

[1990list-7] "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1990"

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