How and When does a Town become a City in the United States?
367347
The difference between towns and cities\nThe difference between towns and cities is differently understood in different parts of the English speaking world. There is no one standard international definition of a city: the term may be used either for a town possessing city status; for an urban locality exceeding an arbitrary population size; for a town dominating other towns with particular regional economic or administrative significance. Although city can refer to an agglomeration including suburban and satellite areas, the term is not usually applied to a conurbation (cluster) of distinct urban places, nor for a wider metropolitan area including more than one city, each acting as a focus for parts of the area.\n\nUnited Kingdom\nIn the United Kingdom, a city is a town which has been known as a city since time immemorial, or which has received city status by letters patent — which is normally granted on the basis of size, importance or royal connection (traditional pointers have been whether the town has a cathedral or a university). Some cathedral cities, for example St David's in Wales, are quite small, and may not be known as cities in common parlance. (See City status in the United Kingdom.) Preston became England's newest city in the year 2002 to mark the Queen's jubilee.\n\nA similar system existed in the medieval Low Countries where a landlord would grant settlements certain privileges (city rights) that settlements without city rights didn't have. This include the privilege to put up city walls, hold markets or set up a judicial court.\n\nAustralia and New Zealand\nIn Australia and New Zealand, city is used to refer both to units of local government, and as a synonym for urban area. For instance the City of South Perth [2] is part of the urban area known as Perth, commonly described as a city. On the other hand, Gisborne in New Zealand is known as the first city to see the sun, despite being administered by a district council, not a city council.\n\nUnited States\nAn interesting phenomenon in American English is the generalisation on forms and paperwork of the term city to all settlements. Britons may be bemused by forms with fields headed, not Town and Postal code, but City and ZIP, even though the person needing to fill it in could be living in a city, a town without city status, or even a village or hamlet. In most U.S. states, a city is designated by the election of a mayor and city council, while a town is governed by a town manager, select board, or open town meeting. Very large towns exist (such as Hempstead, New York, with a population of 755,785 in 2004), and the line between town and city varies from state to state.\n\nEven though Americans are well aware that "village" means something smaller than a town, the word has often been co-opted by enterprising developers to make their projects sound welcoming and friendly. The results are so-called villages with 20 and 30-story high-rises, like Westwood Village in Los Angeles.
1037866
Yes..we will see these cities and towns all across America adopting similar action. America wants to be a lawful society and we are seeing that it happens.
462335
how big do you define as a city?
524579
You are doing it all correctly.  It takes time as small towns are quiet, people are content with less, and to my knowledge small towns are not sizzling society parties.  I moved to just such a small town from a large city.  Lower your expectations.  Continue what you ar doing, keep a nice garden others will enjoy and complement upon.  Take a plate full of cookies or some fresh fruit to a neighbor( do not expect much other than thank you).  Smile at everyone, Join a local church. You must be patient as newbies in small towns are suspect(they think why did this person move to this small town?).  You are doing just fine.........
314128
Counties are never incorporated or not, they are simply subdivisons of the state.  Now a county can have unincorporated and incorporated areas.  The difference is that there is a local government for the incorporated areas.  (ie a city)  Now depending on the state there can be towns or villages that aren't considered "incorporated".  This means that it's basiclly just considered an area and there's no local government.  \n\nFor example I have a friend who lives in the "town" of McQueeny, and another who lives in the "city" of Seguin.  The "town" of McQueeny isn't really a government, there's no police, fire, elected officals, etc, and can not make laws.  The "city" of Seguin though is a government with elected officals, taxes, police, EMS, fire, etc, and the "city" can make laws.  \n\nIt's basiclly a defention written by the state, but most towns aren't incorporated and thus have no local government except the county.  Cities and villages (villages are mainly a New England area concept) are incorporated and thus have their own government.
120872
They are the city's form of government. They decide issues on city ordances, whether to pass them or not. They hear issues of the citizens of the city and make rulings on them. They decide the budget for the city.
944532
Can a city even have a Constitution?  States have constitutions, because they are outlined in the U.S. Constitution.  Cities seem to be somewhat independent of that process.\n\nIf you wish to check your cities leaders, I'd recommend that you look into amending your state's Constitution.  Just like how the U.S. Constitution can directly affect the states, a State Constitution can directly affect the cities.\n\nYour city probably has some sort of charter, which may or may not have the ability of being edited.  You should contact a city councilman, or your state's Attorney General's office to check into this more.
9468
If you don't have a mayor or city council, it sounds like your town is not an incorporated city. To incorporate the city and create a town charter, you would need to contact the seat of your county and ask them what the process is and if it would truly be beneficial to your community.
402110
to manage the city?  is this a trick question?
378166
It really depends on the city.\nSome cities elect their council -- others have the Mayor appoint them.\nSome cities have a citi-wide at large election for all their councils(Mobile, Alabama)\nOthers have districts(Philadelphia)\nHow long also varies greatly from 6 years in some places to as short as 1 year in some New England towns.
192589
The U.S. was founded and developed by people from England and the rest of Europe.  So when they came to name a town, they often used names from "the old country," in part because they were homesick, and in part because they simply liked that town in the old country.  That's why so many names in America start with New:  New York, New England, New Jersey, etc.  You can pretty much tell where the immigrants came from by the nature of the town names.  For example, guess where the immigrants in the Santa Cruz Mountains came from, with names like Bonny Doon, Ben Lomond, Loch Lomond, Highlands Park . . .
73163
depends what the local ordinances are in your town/city\nin nyc. its now illeagle
432068
Move to a bigger town.
1126321
It's been done before.  As absurd as it sounds, it ocassionally happens.  Usually it's a run down building owned by a municipality that costs more to upkeep and maintain than the value of the property itself, so the city sells it to an investor or 'someone else' for a dollar, with linking agreements that the new owner develop the property into a profitable, viable acquisition that results in taxes paid to the city, etc.  Each side gets something out of it.
1048396
If you have it planned, then it can be pretty easy according to me to establish a town. You need a large portion of land and an army of architects and engineer, to make the place more adaptable for human occupation. You have to be aware of criticism from environmentalists and social workers also.
211942
Through a State Constitution or through a local City Charter
969470
If you will be in plce in a town or city, you need to talk to the town council about the licenses you will need, each town/city has different rules regarding vendors.