The Nation's Newest Big City

"It signals an important shift in the way cities and their suburbs are run, and it reinforces the notion that the lines between the two are blurring. At least seven cities are exploring mergers...It's clear that urban problems no longer stop at city limits. Smaller suburban governments feel the stress of managing large-scale urban growth, while cities struggle to hang on to residents. Combining city and county creates a richer tax base, and it eliminates duplication of services and competition for jobs, according to urban planners."