Largest U.S. City You Never Heard Of

In My Humble Opinion
61

C’mon, people! Aurora, Colorado is where Wayne’s World takes place! Gah! :D**

I got to #71, Henderson, NV, before I couldn’t conjure up a single pop culture reference or T-shirt I’d seen or anything. I have also never heard of Fort Wayne, ID. I used to live in Garland, TX. I was surprised to see it on the list.

How are they measuring these populations? The metropolitan area of Greenville, SC, has more than 600,000 people and it’s not on the list.

**ETA: Crap. Apparently, that’s Aurora, Ill. Nevermind. Maybe I haven’t heard of it then.

62

I made it down to Aurora Co. (58). I had never heard of it. There were a few larger cities that I wouldn’t have guessed were large on the list but I have heard of them.

63

The first I saw that didn’t ring any bells was number 160, Pembroke Pines, Florida, in Broward County. It appears to be another Santa Ana-esque overgrown suburb, this one of Miami.

ETA: And it appears that Pembroke Pines has already been said. Below that, my next one was Number 166, Palmdale, California, a suburb of Los Angeles.

64

Crazy. The Sterling Heights branch of my family are “the American cousins.” (We’re in Central/NE Ontario)

I drew a blank on #90; Garland, TX. Appears to be a Dallas suburb.

65

Upon hitting #38, Long Beach, California nothing came to mind. The wiki page doesn’t ring any bells either. Is this a sign that I am horribly, horribly ill-informed about the world or forgivable on the grounds that I’ve lived on the East coast all my life?

66

Another one for Aurora, Colorado, #58. I wonder what it’s like, that it’s slipped under so many people’s radar…

67

Aurora, Colorado. never heard of it!

Any Straight Dopers in other countries must wonder about this topic. It’s not necessarily that we don’t get much book learnin’, it’s just another example of how HUGE the U.S. is.

68

Yet another vote of ignorance on #58, Aurora, Colorado. I didn’t count, but I think it might be the winner so far.

69

You mean all of you dopers who went down past #70 KNEW about Plano, Texas ? :dubious:

70

I only made it to #58, but I’ve heard of Plano, Texas. Where I’ve heard of it, or why, I have no idea, but I know I’ve heard of it.

71

Wow, I lost at 31!

I mean, it doesn’t surprise me at all that there IS an Oklahoma City, I’ve just never come across it in a book or the news or whatever.

So, what is Oklahoma City supposed to be known for?

72

You must not have been watching the news much in 1995!

73

Same here. Although I’m not sure about #88, Chesapeake, VA - it’s such a common word in the area.

74

Shopping malls, gas stations, and subdivisions. Right next to Denver.

75

I guess you don’t follow the NFL.

76

Also the capital of the state. Fairly large, two major interstates crossing (I-35 & I-40) NBA team.

77

Me, too.

78

#92 - North Las Vegas. I didn’t realize this was a separate city and assumed it was pat of LV, so while technically I’ve head of it, it was only as part of Vegas. If that counts as hearing of it, then I’d have to go to #122, Fontana, CA for the next one I don’t know about, and that’s one where I’ve never head of it at all.
I benefit with all the Phoenix-area cities since I live in AZ - without that, I’d have stopped much earlier.

79

I was only peripherally aware of #13, Jacksonville FL, and couldn’t locate it on a map. But since I at least claim that I’ve heard of it (if you remind me), then I have to go down the list to #42, Virginia Beach VA. Never heard of it.

80

Yep. Thee was some Dateline story a number of years ago, I think - drugs or a cheerleader scandal or the like. My mind thinks drugs, so I’m going with that. I’ve never been there - but yes, heard of it.