The federal government breaks down places where people live into a number of categories. The best known are states, metropolitan areas, and counties. Another, which is not as well known, is core-based statistical areas. There are 927 of them in the United States, and the smallest one is Vernon, Texas. (These are the 25 smallest countries and territories in the world.)
CBSAs include both metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas. Metropolitan statistical areas have at least one urbanized area of 50,000 or more population, while micropolitan statistical areas have at least one urban cluster with a population between 10,000 and 50,000. Each also includes the “adjacent territory that has a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured by commuting ties,” per the Census definition.
These were originally set up by the U.S. Office of Management.
Of the 12 smallest CBSAs, six are in Texas. Vernon is northwest of Dallas, near the Oklahoma border. It has a population of 12,552, which is down 7.26% from the 2010 census. The population has been shrinking since 1980. (This is the fastest shrinking city in America.)
Vernon’s population is 51% white and 34% Latino or Hispanic, according to the Census Bureau. The median annual household income is an unusually low $42,533, more than $20,000 below the U.S. median. The poverty rate is an extraordinarily high 21.8%. The city covers just under 8 square miles.
Despite its many economic struggles, Vernon describes itself as “Where the West Really Begins,” trying to promote the city as an attractive place to visit for business and tourism. The city is governed by a mayor and city commission but has a professional city manager who runs the city day-to-day.
50. Cordele, GA
> Population: 22,034
49. Sterling, CO
> Population: 21,974
48. Maryville, MO
> Population: 21,743
47. Clarksdale, MS
> Population: 21,564
46. Elk City, OK
> Population: 21,468
45. Beatrice, NE
> Population: 21,431
44. Worthington, MN
> Population: 21,400
43. Raymondville, TX
> Population: 21,161
42. Liberal, KS
> Population: 21,038
41. Port Lavaca, TX
> Population: 21,001
40. Price, UT
> Population: 20,760
39. Borger, TX
> Population: 20,677
38. Dumas, TX
> Population: 20,654
37. Grenada, MS
> Population: 20,610
36. Jamestown, ND
> Population: 20,498
35. Huron, SD
> Population: 20,498
34. Pierre, SD
> Population: 20,457
33. Pearsall, TX
> Population: 20,379
32. Evanston, WY
> Population: 20,215
31. Othello, WA
> Population: 20,027
30. Guymon, OK
> Population: 19,997
29. Ruidoso, NM
> Population: 19,939
28. Carroll, IA
> Population: 19,914
27. Storm Lake, IA
> Population: 19,772
26. Parsons, KS
> Population: 19,586
25. Fairmont, MN
> Population: 19,484
24. Los Alamos, NM
> Population: 19,462
23. West Point, MS
> Population: 19,352
22. Andrews, TX
> Population: 18,879
21. Portales, NM
> Population: 18,350
20. Fairfield, IA
> Population: 18,347
19. Hereford, TX
> Population: 18,277
18. Spirit Lake, IA
> Population: 17,549
17. Vineyard Haven, MA
> Population: 17,461
16. Helena-West Helena, AR
> Population: 17,299
15. Maysville, KY
> Population: 17,035
14. Brownsville, TN
> Population: 17,002
13. Winnemucca, NV
> Population: 16,962
12. Snyder, TX
> Population: 16,662
11. Fitzgerald, GA
> Population: 16,614
10. Pecos, TX
> Population: 16,130
9. Atchison, KS
> Population: 16,015
8. Spencer, IA
> Population: 15,976
7. Sweetwater, TX
> Population: 14,835
6. Vermillion, SD
> Population: 14,246
5. Zapata, TX
> Population: 14,172
4. Ketchikan, AK
> Population: 13,747
3. Craig, CO
> Population: 13,144
2. Lamesa, TX
> Population: 12,974
1. Vernon, TX
> Population: 12,552