smallest city

[enigma80]

what is the smallest city in the world?

[jenstar]

I suggest you're probably right. Though a lot depends on your definition of a "city" and how you decide its size - area or population? In the UK, a city has to be granted that status by the monarch (St Davids gained city status only in the last few years), but it's not impossible that somewhere in the world there is a settlement with a cathedral (or religious building of similar stature) and even fewer people than Davids or the Vatican, that might be considered a city by the local definition.

[enigma80]

The reason I posted the question is because I was told by a friend that London was the smallest city in the world as it is only 1 square mile in size, apparently he got that nugget of info from a trivia quiz. I disagreed and so here I am! Thanks for your input, seems there is no sure answer huh?

[mikewith]

Einstein is half-right - but actually quite wrong! (Sorry Einstein). It isn't Westminster but the City Of London that is a mile square (which is why it's also known as... the Square Mile!). London -- the great, heaving metropolis of over 7million people -- is huge in area as well as population. It consists of 33 local government authorities, most of them called boroughs (Kensington & Chelsea, Islington, Barnet, Bromley etc etc) as well as the City of Westminster (includes Parliament, Buckingham Palace, much of the West End) and the City of London (east of Westminster, also on the north bank of the Thames, centred around St Pauls Cathedral). It includes most of 'the City', London's financial district. The Corporation of London, which is over 800 years old and was a model for parliament itself, is the local government authority; the City also has it's own mayor (Dick Whittington held this post) and police force. In other words, while it's understandably easy to confuse the two, 'London' and the 'City of London' are quite distinct places!

[mikewith]

Well, enigma80, I hope we aren't boring you.... Einstein, between us we're both right, but I still reckon I'm *more* right than you ;-) The 'City of London' and 'City of Westminster' both exist as contemporary administrative units of London. In terms of size, though, there's no question that CoL is smaller than CoW - as your thorough listing of the latter's constiituent parts demonstrates. CoL's boundaries are the Thames/ Holborn/ Barbican/ Aldgate/ Tower of London. ie 'the Square Mile'. ie.the smaller of the two cities, which is what the question is about!

Talking of which... Parker City, Pennsylvania proudly calls itself 'The Smallest City in the United States' -- population 853, land area 2.839 sq. kilometres.

[enigma80]

Well thanks a lot guys, I appreciate your extensive insight to my conundrum. Before you two get your claws out I'll pull you apart and buy you both a pint, alright? Cheers again :o)