How many cities are in the U.S.?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 there are 19,540 "incorporated places" in the United States. Incorporated places include areas labeled as cities, towns and municipalities.

The number of incorporated places in the United States rose from 19,097 in 1980 to the official number noted in 2010, and the population grew by 51.7 million. The U.S. Census Bureau carries out a nationwide census every 10 years, and citizens are legally required to participate. The census counts the total population and collects demographic and geographic information, such as the populations of different races and ages in individual cities and states.