This entry tracks and ranks the population of the largest cities in the United States by decade, starting with the 1790 Census. For 1790 through 1990, tables are taken from "Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States: 1790 to 1990." For year 2000 rankings, data from the Census Bureau's tally of "Cities with 100,000 or More Population Ranked by Selected Subject" is used. For further research on year 2000 urban population, the County and City Data Book might be instructive.

1790

By 1790, New York had overtaken Philadelphia as the largest city in the United States, a rank it continues to hold to this day. The source population numbers for this list come from the first United States Census Bureau.

• #df58248c414f342c81e056b40bee12d17a08bf61##Salem, Newport, and Marblehead are all far smaller than the largest 273 cities listed in List of United States cities by population in 2007, so exact ranking is unavailable.

1800

Source data for population is available from the Census Bureau.

1810

A list of the 46 largest cities from the 1810 census is available from the Census Bureau and the source of this information.

1820

A list of the 61 largest cities from the 1820 census is available from the Census Bureau and the source of this information.

1830

Source data for population is available from the Census Bureau.

1840

Source data for population is available from the Census Bureau.

1850

By 1850, the United States was in the midst of the First Industrial Revolution. A list of the hundred largest cities from the 1850 census is available from the Census Bureau and the source of this information.

1860

1860 was the eve of the American Civil War. A list of the hundred largest cities is available from the Census Bureau. This was the eighth United States Census.

1870

A list of the hundred largest cities is available from the Census Bureau. This was the ninth United States Census.

1880

The Census bureau provides a list of the 100 largest cities in the United States during this year.

1890

The 1890 Census was the Eleventh. The Census Bureau provides a list of the 100 largest cities in that year.

1900

The 1900 Census was the Twelfth. The Census Bureau provides a list of the 100 largest cities in that year.

1910

The 1910 Census was the Thirteenth. The Census Bureau provides a list of the 100 largest cities in that year.

1920

The 1920 Census was the Fourteenth. The Census Bureau provides a list of the 100 largest cities in that year.

1930

The 1930 Census was the Fifteenth. The Census Bureau provides a list of the 100 largest cities in that year.

1940

Four of the ten cities here would have their first ever population drop in 1940. Though slight, they would presage a precipitous decline that started in 1950. The 1940 Census was the Sixteenth. The Census Bureau provides a list of the 100 largest cities in that year.

1950

1950 was a watershed year for many cities in the United States. Many cities in the country peaked in population, and began a slow decline caused by suburbanization associated with pollution, congestion, and increased crime rates, while the improved infrastructure of the Eisenhower Interstate System more easily facilitated car commutes and so-called white flight, and the G.I. Bill made available low interest loans to returning World War II veterans seeking more commodious housing in the suburbs.

Eight out of the ten largest cities in 1950 never recovered their 1950 populations. New York and Los Angeles are exceptions.

The source document for these numbers is available from the United States Census Bureau.

1960

The 1960 Census was the Eighteenth. The Census Bureau provides a list of the 100 largest cities in that year.

1970

The 1970 Census was the Nineteenth. The Census Bureau provides a list of the 100 largest cities in that year.

1980

By 1980, the trends towards suburbanization started in the 1950s continued. Population shifts towards the west and south began.

For a more complete ranking, see the source material from the Census Bureau.

1990

By 1990, trends had continued that started during the 1970s. Northeastern cities generally lost population, and western and southwestern cities began to grow in size. Most western and southwestern cities were at an advantage because they had much larger municipal boundaries than older northern cities. -

2000

The 2000 census was the most detailed to date. The Census Bureau provides a list of all cities with populations over 100,000.

2007 Estimates

The United States has dozens of major cities, including 11 of the 55 global cities of all types—with three "alpha" global cities: New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

The figures expressed below are for populations within city limits. A different ranking is evident when considering U.S. metro area populations, although the top three would be unchanged. The ten largest cities, based on the United States Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, are as follows:

For a more extensive list of present population estimates see List of United States cities by population.