Bonus List

U.S. COUNTIES WITH THE MOST INCORPORATED CITIES*
The "average" county in the United States has around 10 incorporated cities (including incorporated towns, villages and boroughs). Counties with suburbs often have many more incorporated cities than average, especially in the Midwest, where suburbs are more likely to be incorporated, unlike some states like Virginia or Maryland (or to a smaller extent, California), which have many unincorporated suburbs.

Cook County, Illinois not only contains Chicago but also 134 other cities and villages (all suburbs). Jefferson County, Kentucky is #2 (94) due to Louisville having an abundance of very small suburbs (and having most of its suburbs in one county, at least those in Kentucky, versus nearby Indiana). However, the most populous county in the nation, Los Angeles County, California, is only tied for fourth place (at 88) because a substantial number of LA's suburbs are unincorporated (including East Los Angeles, which has over 100,000 people, as well as places like Altadena, Florence, Marina del Rey, South Whittier and Topanga).

A few counties (mostly with low populations) have no incorporated places. There are a few populous examples though; Chesterfield County, Virginia is the largest county to hold that status, with more than 1/4 million people (since Richmond is an independent city not associated with the county). Virginia also has the largest unincorporated city in the United States (Arlington), with almost 200,000 people.

COUNTY, STATE

1. Cook, Illinois
2. Jefferson, Kentucky
3. St. Louis, Missouri
4. Allegheny, Pennsylvania
4. Los Angeles, California
6. Nassau, New York
7. Bergen, New Jersey
8. Cuyahoga, Ohio
9. Lake, Illinois
10. Hennepin, Minnesota

NUMBER OF INCORPORATED
CITIES, TOWNS (ETC.)
135
94
92
88
88
66
61
57
53
45

* Includes all incorporated cities, towns, villages and boroughs. Does not include any unincorporated cities, towns, townships or CDPs ("Census Designated Places"). Includes all cities which lie partially within the county (and thus partially in a neighboring county).

Source of Data: U.S. Census (1999 data).

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