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The largest city by population in every state

people crowd city times square new york
Crowds in New York City, the largest city in the US.

  • The 2020 US Census determined the largest city in every state.
  • New York City is the biggest US city, followed by Los Angeles and Chicago.
  • Some states’ most populous cities only have tens of thousands of residents.

Conducted every 10 years, the United States census counts every person living in the US and collects statistics such as age, sex, and household makeup.

A city’s population, along with other demographic data, is a key factor in determining its allocations for federal and state funding.

According to 2020 census data, some states’ most populous cities only have tens of thousands of residents, while others, like New York City, have more than 8 million.

Take a look at the largest city in every state.

ALABAMA: Birmingham
Aerial view of Birmingham, Alabama.
Birmingham, Alabama.

Population: 200,733

ALASKA: Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska.

Population: 291,247

ARIZONA: Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona.
Phoenix, Arizona.

Population: 1,608,139

ARKANSAS: Little Rock
A bridge across a river in Little Rock.
Little Rock, Arkansas.

Population: 202,591

CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California.

Population: 3,898,747

COLORADO: Denver
Nighttime skyline of Denver, Colorado
Denver’s forthcoming “Benefit Recovery Fund,” a permanent “wage-replacement” program for undocumented workers, is the first of its kind in the country.

Population: 715,522

CONNECTICUT: Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Population: 148,654

DELAWARE: Wilmington
Buildings and trees reflected on water.
Wilmington, Delaware.

Population: 70,898

FLORIDA: Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida.

Population: 949,611

GEORGIA: Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia.
Atlanta, Georgia.

Population: 498,715

HAWAII: Honolulu
Waikiki Beach, Honolulu
Honolulu, Hawaii.

Population: 350,964

IDAHO: Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise, Idaho.

Population: 235,684

ILLINOIS: Chicago
Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois.

Population: 2,746,388

INDIANA: Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana.
Indianapolis, Indiana.

Population: 887,642

IOWA: Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa.
Des Moines, Iowa.

Population: 214,133

KANSAS: Wichita
Wichita, Kansas.
Wichita, Kansas.

Population: 397,532

KENTUCKY: Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky.
Louisville, Kentucky.

Population: 246,161

LOUISIANA: New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana.

Population: 383,997

MAINE: Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine.

Population: 68,408

MARYLAND: Baltimore
Baltimore, Maryland.
Baltimore, Maryland.

Population: 585,708

MASSACHUSETTS: Boston
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts.

Population: 675,647

MICHIGAN: Detroit
detroit michigan 2017
Detroit, Michigan.

Population: 639,111

MINNESOTA: Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Population: 429,954

MISSISSIPPI: Jackson
An aerial view of downtown Jackson, with the Mississippi state capitol in the center.
Jackson, Mississippi.

Population: 153,701

MISSOURI: Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri.

Population: 508,090

MONTANA: Billings
Billings, Montana.
Billings, Montana.

Population: 117,116

NEBRASKA: Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska.
Omaha, Nebraska.

Population: 486,051

NEVADA: Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada.
Las Vegas, Nevada.

Population: 641,903

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Manchester
Manchester, New Hampshire.
Manchester, New Hampshire.

Population: 115,644

NEW JERSEY: Newark
Newark, New Jersey.
Newark, New Jersey.

Population: 311,549

NEW MEXICO: Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Population: 564,559

NEW YORK: New York City
Manhattan skyline from New Jersey at sunset, New York
New York City.

Population: 8,804,190

NORTH CAROLINA: Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina.
Charlotte, North Carolina.

Population: 874,579

NORTH DAKOTA: Fargo
The Fargo Theatre art deco movie theater downtown Fargo North Dakota
Fargo, North Dakota.

Population: 125,990

OHIO: Columbus
Columbus, Ohio.
Columbus, Ohio.

Population: 905,748

OKLAHOMA: Oklahoma City
The skyline of Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Population: 681,054

OREGON: Portland
Colorful houses in Portland, Oregon.
Portland, Oregon.

Population: 652,503

PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Population: 1,603,797

RHODE ISLAND: Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island.

Population: 190,934

SOUTH CAROLINA: Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina.
Charleston, South Carolina.

Population: 150,227

SOUTH DAKOTA: Sioux Falls
A river with buildings either side.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Population: 192,517

TENNESSEE: Nashville
Nashville Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee.

Population: 689,447

TEXAS: Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas.

Population: 2,304,580

UTAH: Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah.
Salt Lake City, Utah.

Population: 199,723

VERMONT: Burlington
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont.

Population: 44,743

VIRGINIA: Virginia Beach
virginia beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Population: 459,470

WASHINGTON: Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington.

Population: 737,015

WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia.
Charleston, West Virginia.

Population: 48,864

WISCONSIN: Milwaukee
milwaukee wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Population: 577,222

WYOMING: Cheyenne
Cheyenne, Wyoming's state capitol building
Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Population: 65,132

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