10 Largest US Cities by Decade

1960

1. New York (NY) – population: 7,781,984
2. Chicago (IL) – population: 3,550,404
3. Los Angeles (CA) – population: 2,479,015
4. Philadelphia (PA) – population: 2,002,512
5. Detroit (MI) – population: 1,670,144
6. Baltimore (MD) – population: 939,024
7. Houston (TX) – population: 938,219
8. Cleveland (OH) – population: 876,050
9. Washington (DC) – population: 763,956
10. St. Louis (MO) – population: 750,026

After seeing Boston disappearing from the list last decade, St. Louis will fade from the list of 10 largest US cities by decade as well. Furthermore, all cities apart from LA and newcomer Houston have seen drops in population numbers between the years 1950 and 1960; even New York. 1960 census, however, is seen as a spark for the Sun Belt cities’ rise to prominence and aforementioned Houston is the first of many already established or soon-to-become over million inhabitants cities.