A city is a large town or incorporated municipal center. Cities often feature teeming populations, a local government led by a mayor or group of aldermen, an organized structural layout, and sometimes a distinct culture. The term "urban" describes things related to cities.

 

The first cities evolved as agriculture let humans adopt more sedentary and specialized lifestyles, eventually becoming religious, administrative and industrial epicenters. The city of Jericho is arguably the oldest city to hold a continuous population since its founding — in 7000 BCE, the city had 2,000 residents, a thriving metropolis for its time. Ancient Rome was the first city to break the 1 million mark; today, Tokyo is the most populous city with 35 million people. (Photo: Ghassan Tabet/Flickr)