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I was wondering, what city does anyone here think would be considered the largest suburb in America?
I know on Wikipedia, they list Fort Worth, Texas as one of the world's largest suburbs and largest in America. However, I wouldn't consider Fort Worth to be a suburb of Dallas, since it seems to have its own economy and can thrive without Dallas. In fact, prior to the 2003 statistical area definitions, Fort Worth/Arlington was in a separate Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA) from Dallas, which they were grouped more loosely in a Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA). It wasn't until 2003 when they became one large MSA (the PMSA and CMSA terms were replaced by MSA and CSA-Combined Statistical Area in 2003).
I personally would consider Long Beach, California to be the largest suburb in the United States, followed by Mesa, Arizona as second.
Cities like Fort Worth and Long Beach are most definitely NOT suburbs. They are their own cities that happen to be part of a metro which is dominated by a larger city.
This is especially true of Fort Worth, which at one time not too long ago had it's own metro area that was separate from Dallas' metro. Ft. Worth has it's own freeway network (which ties in with Dallas), it's own distinct downtown and core area, and just feels like it's own distinct city (because it is). What St. Paul is to Minneapolis, Ft. Worth is to Dallas.
If we're talking actual suburbs here, then Mesa, AZ gets my vote for largest.
That is debatable, since Hempstead actually consists of multiple incorporated villages, each with their own local government.
Long Beach was always part of the Los Angeles MSA, since it has always been located in Los Angeles County.
Note that in the past there were several proposals to split Mesa from Maricopa County along with some other East Valley cities and towns. In addition to Mesa, most of these proposals also included the city of Chandler as well as the towns of Gilbert and Queen Creek. Some proposals also added the city of Tempe, and I think there was also one that even added the city of Scottsdale. I never heard of any such proposal for Long Beach to secede from Los Angeles County, so it seems that Long Beach is actually more integrated with Los Angeles than Mesa is with Phoenix.
Long Beach was always part of the Los Angeles MSA, since it has always been located in Los Angeles County.
Note that in the past there were several proposals to split Mesa from Maricopa County along with some other East Valley cities and towns. In addition to Mesa, most of these proposals also included the city of Chandler as well as the towns of Gilbert and Queen Creek. Some proposals also added the city of Tempe, and I think there was also one that even added the city of Scottsdale. I never heard of any such proposal for Long Beach to secede from Los Angeles County, so it seems that Long Beach is actually more integrated with Los Angeles than Mesa is with Phoenix.
None of these proposals (that never came to fruition, I might add) really mean anything when compared to Long Beach, since the East Valley in AZ is 100% suburban in nature and Long Beach is it's own distinct city, with it's own built up urban core and it's own separate economy, identity, and sphere of influence that transcends county lines. Much of the nearby areas in Orange County (Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, Huntington Beach, Cypress) are much more heavily influenced by Long Beach than they are by Anaheim or Santa Ana... much less L.A.
Long Beach looks and feels like it's own distinct city, different from the countless other LA/OC suburban cities.
There really isn't anything about Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, QC, or even Tempe (aside from the presence of ASU) that sets it apart from any other Valley suburb.
Long Beach may not be a traditional suburb, but it's certainly not a metro anchor. It's a satellite of Los Angeles, and grew large because of Los Angeles. As a satellite, Long Beach doesn't have suburbs.
Mesa should be considered the largest U.S. suburb, with Arlington (suburb of Fort Worth and Dallas) close behind.
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