How well do you know America's cities?
American cities have famous nicknames and some surprising records. Six questions, from easy to hard, with explanations.
Did you know?
- Houston is the largest US city without formal zoning laws. Homes, offices and shops can sit side by side, although private rules and other regulations still shape how land is used.
- Portland, Oregon, got its name from a coin toss in 1845. Its two founders each wanted to name it after their hometown, and the Maine native won, so the city became Portland instead of Boston.
- Kansas City, Missouri, is nicknamed the City of Fountains. It has around 200 fountains, and locals like to say that only Rome has more — a claim that has become part of the city's identity.
How American cities got their names and nicknames
Most Americans live in cities and their suburbs, and many US cities are known far beyond the country's borders. Their nicknames often reflect their history, geography or main industries, and many residents proudly use them. Knowing these names is a fun shortcut to understanding what makes each city distinctive.
Names from the land
Many city nicknames come from geography. Denver is the Mile High City, Seattle is the Emerald City for its green forests, and Chicago is sometimes called the Windy City. Phoenix is the Valley of the Sun because it sits in a broad desert valley.
Names from industry
Industry has shaped other nicknames. Detroit is the Motor City, Pittsburgh was the Steel City, Houston is Space City and Hershey, Pennsylvania, calls itself the Sweetest Place on Earth because of its chocolate factory.
Old and new cities
America's oldest European-founded cities date back to the 1500s and 1600s, including St. Augustine, Santa Fe and Jamestown. Other cities grew quickly much later; Las Vegas and Phoenix expanded rapidly in the second half of the 20th century.
Big by area, small by population
City size can be measured in different ways. Several Alaskan cities cover enormous areas because they combined city and borough governments, while Jacksonville, Florida, is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States.
Growing cities
In recent decades, many of the fastest-growing US cities have been in the South and West, in states such as Texas, Florida and Arizona. Warm weather, jobs and lower housing costs have attracted new residents from other parts of the country.
Twin cities
Some cities grow so close together that they are known as a pair. Minneapolis and Saint Paul in Minnesota are called the Twin Cities, and Dallas and Fort Worth form the heart of one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country.