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New York is a big city. Lawrence, KS is a small city. Where do we draw the line?
I'd like this thread to discuss this topic both conceptually and practically. For example, what are the abstract characteristics that make a city a "big city" instead of a "medium sized city" or small city. In turn, what are some cities that are on the cusp of categories.
I'll start off with a few things. First, a big city has a number (i.e. more than 2) neighborhoods OUTSIDE downtown that have a city feel. That is, they have high population density, neighborhood businesses, and an ease of foot transportation. Most cities have this feel in the central business district, but big cities also have it in the outlying neighborhoods. Second, big cities have well-formed public transit systems that make travel between neighborhoods easier, in the long run, than driving. Third, big city sidewalks are typically lined with walkers throughout the day. This list is not intended to be exhaustive.
City category need not be determined by population size exclusively. For example, I would consider Pittsburgh to be a big city and Tucson to be a medium sized city even though Tucson is far larger than Pittsburgh.
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