Is this the list of the USA's most important cities? (2015, military)

[g500]

Considering urban area population, metro GDP, proximity to other large urban areas, government presence, military presence, transportation (airport, seaport, rail, trucking), and tourism draw (weakest factor), is this the correct current list of most important cities meaning if they were to disappear a la Independence Day movie explosion this would be the worst)? Just wondering because it is important for us to realize which cities are most important for national security reasons and also because it is interesting to compare/contrast the above factors. Ok, here's my best guess, please let me know if you disagree and why, and how you would change it:

1. New York, NY-NJ-CT
2. Washington, DC-VA-MD
3. Los Angeles, CA
4. Chicago, IL-IN
5. Houston, TX
6. Dallas, TX
7. San Francisco-San Jose, CA
8. Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD
9. Atlanta, GA
10. Miami, FL
11. Boston, MA-NH-RI
12. Seattle, WA
13. Detroit, MI
14. Pheonix, AZ
15. San Diego, CA
16. Minneapolis, MN-WI
17. Baltimore, MD
18. San Antonio, TX
19. Denver, CO
20. Virginia Beach, VA
21. Riverside-San Bernardino, CA
22. St. Louis, MO-IL
23. Charlotte, NC-SC
24. Pittsburgh, PA
25. Cleveland, OH
26. Portland, OR-WA
27. Las Vegas, NV
28. Orlando, FL
29. Sacramento, CA
30. Kansas City, MO-KS

These are the major cities of the USA (the Dow 30). Runner ups are Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Nashville, Tampa, and Indianapolis only.

[amirite]

I do. I think overall population and GDP matters first and foremost above all else.

People love to make arguments about smaller cities that punch above their weight, but human capital is more important, so in this case, bigger is better.

[Antny12]

Don't see Austin Texas

[manitopiaaa]

Your list:
1. New York, NY-NJ-CT
2. Washington, DC-VA-MD
3. Los Angeles, CA
4. Chicago, IL-IN
5. Houston, TX
6. Dallas, TX
7. San Francisco-San Jose, CA
8. Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD
9. Atlanta, GA
10. Miami, FL

Mine:
1. New York
2. Washington
3. Los Angeles
4. Chicago
5. San Francisco
6. Boston
7. Miami
8. Houston
9. Atlanta
10. Dallas
11. Philadelphia
12. Detroit

[g500]

manitopiaaa - I think Houston is higher up. Large port, 4th largest GDP, 5th largest urban area as of 2015 and will be 4th by 2020 with Dallas and Miami shortly behind. Major airports (2).

Antny12 - Austin is the state capital, large city, Ft Hood nearby. Yeah I'd say Austin might deserve on the runner up list after Indy in a few years or maybe even now honestly.

Also for the record for all these are not city proper, we are talking more urban areas in my list.

[OuttaTheLouBurbs]

I think you're giving too much weight to military presence-San Antonio and Virginia Beach big shouldn't be so high

[funtraveler1]

I'd put Nashville and/or Cincinnati in the top 30

[citylove101]

No mention of Columbus, Ohio. It's arguably as if not more influential nationally than KC or St Louis or Cleveland. And IIRC it also has more people than them. I'd put in the top 30 somewhere

[g500]

I don't agree with Nashville in the top 30. But I do agree it does feel weird not including Cincinnati. Maybe kick VA Beach off the list, move everyone up 1. Put Cincinnati at 30. I put VA Beach so high up on the list solely for its military bases/population/proximity to DC and Richmond. But 20th place is a bit high. Maybe move VA Beach to runner up.

[goat314]

Originally Posted by citylove101

No mention of Columbus, Ohio. It's arguably as if not more influential nationally than KC or St Louis or Cleveland. And IIRC it also has more people than them. I'd put in the top 30 somewhere

No it's not. Especially, not St. Louis or Cleveland, which are way more culturally significant. Not to mention the St. Louis Metro is notably larger than Columbus, by about a million people.