Smallest place in the US that feels like a real city (suburbs, metro)

[EckyX]

The first time I visited Burlington, I felt the same way. It's laid out very much like a city, just on a micro scale.

[RocketSci]

Albany metro area is >1M.
Charleston metro area is almost 800k
Harrisburg metro area is close to 600k.

That's a lot of people for "small" cities. Only reason they are "small" is that their surroundings weren't annexed.

[The_Quiet_One]

Originally Posted by RocketSci

Albany metro area is >1M.
Charleston metro area is almost 800k
Harrisburg metro area is close to 600k.

That's a lot of people for "small" cities. Only reason they are "small" is that their surroundings weren't annexed.

If that's the criteria, then I think Pittsfield, MA is a strong contender. City pop is about 43,000. MSA pop is 130,552:


wikimedia

[1greatcity]

Originally Posted by saybanana

Honolulu
So many tall buildings, dense, heavy traffic, brand name shopping, many tourists

For those reasons alone (high density and skyline), Honolulu is NOT a small city. It’s an international destination and the largest city in Polynesia (excluding New Zealand), with a metro population of nearly one million persons.

[nadnerb]

Originally Posted by RocketSci

Albany metro area is >1M.
Charleston metro area is almost 800k
Harrisburg metro area is close to 600k.

That's a lot of people for "small" cities. Only reason they are "small" is that their surroundings weren't annexed.

Metro Charleston has around 200k people. It definitely fits this thread.

[Surge0001]

Originally Posted by nadnerb

Metro Charleston has around 200k people. It definitely fits this thread.

They are talking about Charleston SC not WV

[BigLake]

Traverse City

[KansastoSouthphilly]

I have felt this way about lancaster PA.

[TheMarino]

Greenville, SC

It punches so far above its actual size and weight.

The nightlife and downtown area there felt larger and more fun than cities 2-3x its size.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Ithaca NY comes to mind. Harrisburg PA is another one.

Some examples via street view, Downtown/Commons: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4396...6!9m2!1b1!2i37

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4396...6!9m2!1b1!2i37

Collegetown: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4416...6!9m2!1b1!2i37

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4423...6!9m2!1b1!2i37

North of Downtown: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4418...6!9m2!1b1!2i37

South of Downtown: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4368...6!9m2!1b1!2i37

West of Downtown: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4392...2!9m2!1b1!2i37

Not bad for a city of just over 32,000 and a metro of just under 106,000(151,000 in the CSA).