What constitutes a big City? A Megacity? (metro, Baltimore, suburban)

[theterribleone]

I notice that people tend to throw all cities into a pot and surburbs into another. My question is what constitutes a big city? small city? megacity?

Are there population limits for each one?

Is it based on just population? Or something more?

Could urban areas be combined? (e.g Milwaukee, Rockford, and Chicago)

[JKFire108]

My opinion is that there is only one megacity in the world right now, but soon there will be more mostly in the third world. Tokyo would be the megacity. China has some possibly going up, as well as Laos in Africa may become megacities.

If urban areas could be combined, that would be great as it would overall reduce taxes and increase services to poor African Americans and Hispanics in urban areas, but I don't think that would be allowed because it would cause some people to pay for others benefit through taxes.

[wburg]

They really belong in the same pots--without cities, there could be no suburbs. Suburbs don't exist without cities.

[k_s]

Originally Posted by theterribleone

I notice that people tend to throw all cities into a pot and surburbs into another. My question is what constitutes a big city? small city? megacity?

Are there population limits for each one?

Is it based on just population? Or something more?

Could urban areas be combined? (e.g Milwaukee, Rockford, and Chicago)

Megacity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think it makes sense to bunch the cities and suburbs together, as they make up the large cities' metropolitan areas.

Aside from population, what else do you think contributes to a city being "mega"?

As far as combining urban areas - Megalopolis

[ForStarters]

Originally Posted by wburg

Suburbs don't exist without cities.

Try telling people in Metro Detroit that.

[theterribleone]

Originally Posted by k_s

Megacity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think it makes sense to bunch the cities and suburbs together, as they make up the large cities' metropolitan areas.

Aside from population, what else do you think contributes to a city being "mega"?

As far as combining urban areas - Megalopolis

For me. I feel 10 million is a good standard. That is Urban/Metro Area not just city proper.

By that, Canada has zero and the US has two with two on the cusp

Megacities
New York City
Los Angeles

Almost there
Chicago (9.8 million, 11.5 with Milwaukee)
Washington(5.5 million, 8.6 with Baltimore and Hagerstown)

[k_s]

Originally Posted by theterribleone

For me. I feel 10 million is a good standard. That is Urban/Metro Area not just city proper.

By that, Canada has zero and the US has two with two on the cusp

Megacities
New York City
Los Angeles

Almost there
Chicago (9.8 million, 11.5 with Milwaukee)
Washington(5.5 million, 8.6 with Baltimore and Hagerstown)

I think the "almost there" candidates are closer to Megalopolis than to Megacity.

[xGrendelx]

Originally Posted by theterribleone

Almost there
Washington(5.5 million, 8.6 with Baltimore and Hagerstown)

I'd say more than two are on the cusp since many MSAs/CSAs are just as big as Washington.

Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

According to this list, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, and Miami all have larger metro areas than Washington. And places like Boston, Detroit, Phoenix, Atlanta, and San Francisco aren't too far behind when it comes to population growth.

I do agree that the metro area of a megacity is usually considered to be in excess of 10 mil. However I don't feel a "megacity" status determines that city's importance, so other than statistically speaking the term seems kinda useless.

[theterribleone]

I guess Megalopolis is a much better term.

[wburg]

Originally Posted by ForStarters

Try telling people in Metro Detroit that.

Try telling people in any suburb that. Part of the appeal of the suburbs is because it's easy to fool yourself into believing that you're a country squire in a little town that is economically independent from the city, when in fact suburbs are economically dependent on cities in a parasitic role. Detroit is just an example of a city whose parasites have become such a burden that there is little left of the city but a dried-out husk.

But suburban residents would never believe it, even as the destruction of their food source and garbage pit (the city) results in their own downfall. It's a bit like putting a bag over your head and thinking you're invisible.