Major cities annexed by their neighbors

[empirestate]

It seems that many of the most important cities in the U.S., at one time in their history, annexed a neighboring city of comparable prominence (by the standards of the time). The most famous example, of course, is the 1898 annexation of Brooklyn by New York. Other notable examples are Charlestown by Boston (1874) and Allegheny by Pittsburgh (1911). What other examples are there of city pairs, at one point more or less equal, that became a single city by this process? Are there any major examples more recent than 1911?

Also, what are some instances that didn't happen? For example, San Francisco never annexed Oakland, probably because while cross-water examples are apparently the most frequent, the distance across SF Bay is too great, even by today's standards, to make for a logical consolidation.

Others didn't happen because the neighboring city is in a different state (Philadelphia, Camden) or country (Detroit, Windsor). Still others (DFW, MSP, Tampa/St. Pete) seem to have been avoided because the inclination to consolidate waned, or the process became to difficult practically, or the cities just grew to have enough prominence individually that one wasn't clearly poised to absorb the other.

Finally, are there cases where the annexed city was actually more populous or important than the one it's now a part of?

[agentsteel53]

Buda and Pest united in 1873.

[empirestate]

Buda and Pest united in 1873.

OK, a little far-flung from the U.S., but I'll take it. Plus it brings up another interesting case, where the new city has a new name that neither had before, whether by conflation of the old names or the contrivance of an unrelated new name.

In the U.S., this isn't too uncommon among smaller cities, particularly within larger urbanized areas, so perhaps let's limit these to the more important cities (like Budapest).

[agentsteel53]

Winston-Salem comes to mind.

[Brandon]

Several municipalities voted to be annexed into the City of Chicago in 1889.  The City had multiple annexations between 1837 and the 1920s.  These were incorporated townships - towns (similar in function to cities and villages).  These towns included: Hyde Park, Jefferson, Lake, and Lake View.  Only one town adjacent to Chicago remains: the Town of Cicero (not city, but similar in all functions, including council wards, to a city).  Cicero is an interesting case as several parts seceded from the town to become their own cities (Oak Park, Berwyn) or become annexed to Chicago (Austin) (that could be a thread all its own - municipalities that seceded from a larger municipality).

Other municipalities were annexed at different times, including Morgan Park.  Still others rejected annexation such as Blue Island and Oak Park.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Park_Township,_Cook_County,_Illinois
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Township,_Cook_County,_Illinois
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicero,_Illinois

[empirestate]

Several municipalities voted to be annexed into the City of Chicago in 1889.  The City had multiple annexations between 1837 and the 1920s.  These were incorporated townships - towns (similar in function to cities and villages).  These towns included: Hyde Park, Jefferson, Lake, and Lake View.  Only one town adjacent to Chicago remains: the Town of Cicero (not city, but similar in all functions, including council wards, to a city).  Cicero is an interesting case as several parts seceded from the town to become their own cities (Oak Park, Berwyn) or become annexed to Chicago (Austin) (that could be a thread all its own - municipalities that seceded from a larger municipality).

Other municipalities were annexed at different times, including Morgan Park.  Still others rejected annexation such as Blue Island and Oak Park.

Of the areas annexed by Chicago, was there one that was (or was poised to be) a prominent city in its own right? For example, NYC encompasses much annexed area besides the former city of Brooklyn, but only Brooklyn was, at the time of its absorption, a major separate entity. It never quite outpaced New York in growth of course, but in the mid-19th century, the two definitely constituted a notable city pair. Otherwise, there were smaller settlements like Williamsburg and Long Island City, but most of the annexed land was suburban or developing, or indeed still entirely rural. Chicago's annexations look to me to fit entirely into the second category, but I could be missing something.

[Brandon]

^^ These were, as was Chicago at the time, developing cities.  They were fully incorporated by the state legislature as municipalities.  Granted that Chicago was the larger of any it annexed, it did annex these pretty much all at once.  Had they not been annexed, they would still be fully incorporated municipalities with a much smaller Chicago in the middle.

[kphoger]

Others didn't happen because the neighboring city is in a different state

Kansas City and Kansas City. . .

[1995hoo]

The District of Columbia once contained multiple municipalities. Washington and Georgetown were independent of each other, but Georgetown was annexed into the City of Washington in 1895. Meanwhile, the City of Alexandria and a surrounding area then called "Alexandria County" was retroceded to Virginia in 1847, partly due to issues surrounding the slave trade.

In Quebec, the independent municipalities of Ville St-Jovite, Paroisse St-Jovite, Mont-Tremblant, and Lac-Tremblant-Nord consolidated into Ville de Mont-Tremblant in 2002, although Lac-Tremblant-Nord seceded again in 2006.

In Virginia, the City of Warwick was consolidated as part of the City of Newport News in 1958. Also in that area, in 1963 the City of South Norfolk consolidated with Norfolk County (itself separate from the City of Norfolk) to become the City of Chesapeake. The Chesapeake consolidation was undertaken in part to prevent the City of Norfolk from annexing Norfolk County.

[Brandon]

Others didn't happen because the neighboring city is in a different state

Kansas City and Kansas City. . .

Or a different country:

Sault Sainte Marie and Sault Sainte Marie.

[cpzilliacus]

In Virginia, the City of Warwick was consolidated as part of the City of Newport News in 1958. Also in that area, in 1963 the City of South Norfolk consolidated with Norfolk County (itself separate from the City of Norfolk) to become the City of Chesapeake. The Chesapeake consolidation was undertaken in part to prevent the City of Norfolk from annexing Norfolk County.

The City of Virginia Beach was once a small municipality (might have been a town and not a city, that distinction being very important in Virginia) that was literally along the beach, but in about 1964, the municipality merged with what was then Princess Anne County to create present-day Virginia Beach.  This removed Princess Anne County from the maps, but perhaps more important to residents of the new city, it prevented the City of Norfolk from annexing any of Princess Anne County (as I understand it, Virginia cities could only annex adjoining unincorporated lands in a county, but not if those lands were in a city or town - past tense used because most annexations have been subject to a moratorium unless both the city and the county agree to the annexation (this moratorium has been in place for many years)).

[Road Hog]

Oak Cliff, which is basically the half of Dallas south of the Trinity River, was annexed by the city of Dallas in 1903. Today's population: 290,000.

[Alps]

In Virginia, the City of Warwick was consolidated as part of the City of Newport News in 1958. Also in that area, in 1963 the City of South Norfolk consolidated with Norfolk County (itself separate from the City of Norfolk) to become the City of Chesapeake. The Chesapeake consolidation was undertaken in part to prevent the City of Norfolk from annexing Norfolk County.

The City of Virginia Beach was once a small municipality (might have been a town and not a city, that distinction being very important in Virginia) that was literally along the beach, but in about 1964, the municipality merged with what was then Princess Anne County to create present-day Virginia Beach.  This removed Princess Anne County from the maps, but perhaps more important to residents of the new city, it prevented the City of Norfolk from annexing any of Princess Anne County (as I understand it, Virginia cities could only annex adjoining unincorporated lands in a county, but not if those lands were in a city or town - past tense used because most annexations have been subject to a moratorium unless both the city and the county agree to the annexation (this moratorium has been in place for many years)).

By that same process, the City of Chesapeake created itself from other pieces of the next county over. I read that stuff with great fascination a few days ago.

At one point, Newark, NJ made a play at East Orange, Vailsburg, Irvington, and Belleville. It was able to grab Vailsburg, but the failure to take Belleville ended up killing the chances at absorbing the other two cities, and basically set the modern boundaries.

Finally, Quebec has done a lot of this. Hull and Aylmer into Gatineau, Chicoutimi and Jonquiere (along with smaller La Baie) into Saguenay, etc.

[cpzilliacus]

Buda and Pest united in 1873.

In the U.S., this isn't too uncommon among smaller cities, particularly within larger urbanized areas, so perhaps let's limit these to the more important cities (like Budapest).

Stockholm, Sweden  grew by a lot in the  20th century through some pretty large annexations.  Much of what are considered its "western" and "southern" suburbs (and  they mostly look like suburbs) were annexed, though some municipalities to the north of  "downtown" Stockholm (notably Solna and Sundbyberg) have not been annexed, and remain independent.  Analogy (strange as it may sound) is the City of Los Angeles, which has some pretty huge "suburban" areas within its corporate limits, yet close-by is the City of Vernon, which is definitely not L.A.

Speaking of the City of Los Angeles, that is a municipality that has grown - a lot - by annexation.  There's a great map from over 90 years ago that shows some of the L.A. annexations that are still recognizable today here.

There's also a more-recent official L.A. annexation map here (.pdf, 1.87 MB).

[hbelkins]

Wouldn't the municipality being annexed have to agree to become part of the other city, either by action by the legislative body or a vote of the residents, or both?

When Louisville and Jefferson County merged, which I know is a separate issue. not all the incorporated cities in Jefferson County agreed to the merger and remain independent.

[empirestate]

Oak Cliff, which is basically the half of Dallas south of the Trinity River, was annexed by the city of Dallas in 1903. Today's population: 290,000.

Interesting; what was its population at the time of annexation?

Speaking of the City of Los Angeles, that is a municipality that has grown - a lot - by annexation.  There's a great map from over 90 years ago that shows some of the L.A. annexations that are still recognizable today here.

There's also a more-recent official L.A. annexation map here (.pdf, 1.87 MB).

There must be a corollary for L.A. What was the Brooklyn to California's New York? Hollywood? Was Hollywood that much of a partner city to L.A. when it was annexed?

Wouldn't the municipality being annexed have to agree to become part of the other city, either by action by the legislative body or a vote of the residents, or both?

Not in the case of Allegheny, PA. Apparently, the vote was considered, and Allegheny did indeed object. However, its vote was counted cumulatively with that of Pittsburgh, which nullified the majority objection in Allegheny.

[US81]

Oak Cliff, which is basically the half of Dallas south of the Trinity River, was annexed by the city of Dallas in 1903. Today's population: 290,000.

I remember as a child having family members who referred to Oak Cliff as a completely separate entity from Dallas. They would address mail to Oak Cliff, or refer to someone as having been "from Oak Cliff, Texas."  I was puzzled, but knew better than to ask questions.

I understand that the annexation was pretty contentious at the time.

[Takumi]

In Virginia, the City of Warwick was consolidated as part of the City of Newport News in 1958. Also in that area, in 1963 the City of South Norfolk consolidated with Norfolk County (itself separate from the City of Norfolk) to become the City of Chesapeake. The Chesapeake consolidation was undertaken in part to prevent the City of Norfolk from annexing Norfolk County.

The City of Virginia Beach was once a small municipality (might have been a town and not a city, that distinction being very important in Virginia) that was literally along the beach, but in about 1964, the municipality merged with what was then Princess Anne County to create present-day Virginia Beach.  This removed Princess Anne County from the maps, but perhaps more important to residents of the new city, it prevented the City of Norfolk from annexing any of Princess Anne County (as I understand it, Virginia cities could only annex adjoining unincorporated lands in a county, but not if those lands were in a city or town - past tense used because most annexations have been subject to a moratorium unless both the city and the county agree to the annexation (this moratorium has been in place for many years)).

By that same process, the City of Chesapeake created itself from other pieces of the next county over. I read that stuff with great fascination a few days ago.

One more former county over, Suffolk comprises the former Nansemond County, including the short-lived City of Nansemond.

[Duke87]

Here's an oddity - how many cases are there where one municipality split in two and then later reunited?

The Town of Stamford, CT had a large portion carved out of it in 1893 to form the City of Stamford, CT. The city and town of Stamford for the next half century coexisted as two separate entities. Then, in 1949, the City of Stamford annexed the Town of Stamford and the two were reunited.

[Alps]

Here's an oddity - how many cases are there where one municipality split in two and then later reunited?

The Town of Stamford, CT had a large portion carved out of it in 1893 to form the City of Stamford, CT. The city and town of Stamford for the next half century coexisted as two separate entities. Then, in 1949, the City of Stamford annexed the Town of Stamford and the two were reunited.

The Borough of Princeton, NJ just rejoined the Township.

[Brandon]

Wouldn't the municipality being annexed have to agree to become part of the other city, either by action by the legislative body or a vote of the residents, or both?

In the case of the four plus a part of one that joined Chicago in 1889, it was a vote in each municipality, as it was for Morgan Park later on.  A few others voted and chose to stay independent.

[DandyDan]

I have to believe that when Omaha annexed South Omaha, Benson and Dundee in the early 20th century, Omaha wasn't much bigger than those three cities were.  Of course, by the time Omaha annexed Millard in 1971 and Elkhorn in 2005, Omaha was much bigger than either of those.

[Scott5114]

Others didn't happen because the neighboring city is in a different state

Kansas City and Kansas City. . .

Yes, but Kansas City, KS is actually an example of this. Most of what is Kansas City today were formerly independent towns. You might recognize some of their names: Argentine, Rosedale, Turner, Armourdale...

[Road Hog]

Oak Cliff, which is basically the half of Dallas south of the Trinity River, was annexed by the city of Dallas in 1903. Today's population: 290,000.

Interesting; what was its population at the time of annexation?

Oh, it was small, but in 1903 the population of Dallas was small too.

[D-Dey65]

If you're going to include New York annexing another city, you shouldn't leave Long Island City out.

Regarding Tampa annexing St Pete,  that's highly unlikely. Pinellas County separated from Hillsborough in 1912(over bad roads), so any cities outside of Hillsborough County are pretty much untouchable. That'd be like New York City trying to annex White Plains, Glen Cove, or Long Beach.