C-W City

Miami, Florida

Updated June 2017

The City of Miami is the center of a large urban area with a total population of about 5.5 million. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city proper had nearly 453,580 residents as of July 2016. Often referred to as “The Magic City” because it is the core of a region that grew from just 110 people in 1896, the city itself has experienced significant growth over the past several decades. Since 2000 it has gained more than 91,000 residents, a growth rate of about 25 percent.

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Baltimore, Maryland

Updated September 2016

Founded in 1729, Baltimore quickly grew thanks to its active port and role as a granary for sugar-producing colonies in the Caribbean.  Its growth was further fueled by the development of new rail lines in the 19th century which connected Baltimore to markets in the Midwest and established the City as a major shipping and manufacturing center.

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Atlanta, Georgia

Updated March 2017

Founded in 1837 at the intersection of two railroad lines, Atlanta quickly grew into a center of commerce and culture in the South.  While part of a larger metropolitan area of more than five million inhabitants, the city of Atlanta itself is relatively small with just under 464,000 residents. Read more about Atlanta, Georgia...

Durham, North Carolina

Updated December 2018

Durham was once best known for its textile mills and tobacco factories, including the “Bull Durham Tobacco and Company” and “Duke & Sons.” However, in the late 1980s Durham hit hard times, marked by the closure of Erwin Mills (Burlington Industries) in 1986 and, just one year later, the American Tobacco factory.

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Chicago, Illinois

Updated April 2017

The third largest city in the United States, Chicago had a population of nearly 2.7 million residents at the time of the 2010 census, and covers 237 square miles of land.  The city's population is 33% African American, 28% Hispanic, 5% Asian, and the remainder mostly non-Hispanic white.   It is also one of the most segregated cities in the country, with a black-white dissimilarity score of 75.9 percent according to a study of 2010 Census data, with African-Americans living primarily in the south and west side neighborhoods of the city. 

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Cleveland, Ohio

Now the 45th largest city in the United States, the City of Cleveland’s prime location on the Great Lakes made it one of our country’s key transportation hubs and commercial and manufacturing centers by the late 19th century.  In fact, due primarily to its strong economy, Cleveland became the fifth largest city in the United States in 1920, and reached a population high of 914,808 in 1949. Read more about Cleveland, Ohio...

Portland, Oregon

The city of Portland, Oregon has enjoyed an economic boom that was largely supported by growth in high technology industries. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, its population as of 2010 exceeded 583,000. The city's population is predominately white, but does have significant minority populations. Portland's population includes 9.4% who are Hispanic or Latino, 7.1% who are Asian American, 6.2% who are African-American and 1% who are American Indian. Read more about Portland, Oregon...

Oakland, California

Incorporated in 1852, Oakland experienced a wave of growth in the late 1860s after it was selected as the western terminal of the Transcontinental Railroad. Its growth continued over the next several decades as it became a thriving transport hub, with a port, shipyards, and booming automobile manufacturing industry.  The city’s population doubled to over 150,000 after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, when many San Franciscans who lost their homes moved to Oakland.  Read more about Oakland, California...