# Think of a city in the United States (that isn't New York City) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 22, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299 "2015-11-22T19:44:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/1 "2015-11-22T19:44:19Z")
Oh, you knew this one was coming. Pretty much as the title - what’s the first American city that pops into your head, or the second if the Big Apple comes to mind first? Included the next 30 most populous, according to [wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population). I’ve been playing the hell out of Fallout 4 so it’s Boston for me. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/2 "2015-11-22T19:47:17Z")
Columbus, Ohio. (I lived there for 12 years.) ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/3 "2015-11-22T19:53:18Z")
San Francisco. ---
**Author:** ![desertmonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@desertmonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desertmonk)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/4 "2015-11-22T20:12:17Z")
Beason, Illinois ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/5 "2015-11-22T20:16:29Z")
Also Columbus, since I’m typing this from downtown. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/6 "2015-11-22T20:45:15Z")
My hometown popped in to my head first. Memphis, TN. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/7 "2015-11-22T23:12:23Z")
Crows Landing, Ca., Pop. 355, area 3.169 sq. mi. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/8 "2015-11-22T23:19:46Z")
Chicago, the 2nd best city after New York City. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/9 "2015-11-22T23:40:24Z")
Yes, definitely Columbus, Ohio. ---
**Author:** ![TheSpeculationElucidation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@TheSpeculationElucidation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheSpeculationElucidation)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/10 "2015-11-23T00:38:19Z")
Seattle, WA - I’m sure this is related to whatever large city is closest to you? Second choice would be Washington, DC - which I’ve also lived in. Maybe it’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/11 "2015-11-23T01:40:28Z")
Chicago, of course. Why do you think it’s called the “Second City?” 'Cause it’s the second one you think of after New York. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/12 "2015-11-23T01:59:20Z")
I was born and grew up in New York; Chicago was what first came to mind for me (though I’ve lived in Austin TX, another city on your list, for over 11 years…) ---
**Author:** ![Buttercup\_Smith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buttercup_smith/32/473_2.png) [@Buttercup\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttercup_Smith)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/13 "2015-11-23T02:13:33Z")
Atlanta cause it’s my home state. Miami cause it’s the nearest big city. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/14 "2015-11-23T05:48:48Z")
Youngstown, Ohio. It’s the largest city in the region, and only fifteen minutes away to the city limits. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/15 "2015-11-23T10:58:18Z")
Madison, WI, as a friend is there. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/16 "2015-11-23T11:10:18Z")
Boston, no idea why! ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/17 "2015-11-23T11:45:51Z")
When I read the question Houston just popped into my head. No idea why and I’m kind of surprised as I can’t think of any associations at all. It’s not a place I often think about. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/18 "2015-11-23T13:51:41Z")
L.A., because I was born and raised there. Isn’t that what anyone from the U.S. would do; think of their hometown (or the closest big city to it)? Of course that doesn’t explain **don’t ask’s** response. Weirdo. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/19 "2015-11-23T13:54:57Z")
Columbia SC, because it’s currently the closest city. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299/20 "2015-11-23T13:55:08Z")
Los Angeles. I don’t know why. I’ve never been there and I’m nowhere near it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-of-a-city-in-the-united-states-that-isnt-new-york-city/738299.md?page=2)