[identity profile] andrewhickey.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh I agree, and it's something I make fun of Holly for often. Looking at Wikipedia, the definition varies from State to State and is to do with incorporated status - apparently there was until 2002 a 'city' with 5 people, while there are 'towns' with over three-quarters of a million... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City#United_States
matgb: Artwork of 19th century upper class anarchist, text: MatGB (Default)

[personal profile] matgb 2010-08-04 02:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, so it is mostly to do with actual powers granted and the system of governance used. OK.

In which case, Paignton isn't a city by any definition whatsoever, doesn't even have its own town council. Stoopid Americans, use their own terminology and still get it wrong...