The U.S. Census Bureau revised the population estimates for the largest U.S. Cities based on July 1, 2006 data.  Phoenix became the nation’s fifth most populous city with a population of 1.5 million, moving ahead of Philadelphia, which is ranked in sixth place.  New York continues to be the nation’s most populous city, with 8.2 million residents.

In 1910, each of the 10 most populous cities were within roughly 500 miles of the Canadian border.  The recent 2006 estimates show that seven of the top 10 and three of the top five are in states that border Mexico.  Only three of the top 10 from 1910 remained on the list, New York, Chicago and Philadelphia.  Three of the current top 10 cities, Phoenix, San Jose, and San Diego were not even amount the 200 most populous in 1910, while three more, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, had populations of less than 100,000.

The estimates also reveal that many of the nation’s fastest – growing cities are suburbs.  North Las Vegas, Nev., had the nation’s fastest growth rate among large cities, increasing 11.9 percent from July 1, 2005 to July 1, 2006.

For more information about city populations visit the U.S. Bureau of Census website at www.census.gov