As the United States emerged and subsequently grew as a nation, its urban centers also grew with westward migration. While it's no surprise New York City has held the head-count crown since day one, there have also been some unexpected shifts in population rankings.

Redditor eudaimonics compiled decennial census records ranging from 1790 to 2010 and the result made for an interesting animation of metropolitan growth, or what I like to call the rise and fall of Detroit.

Via: eudaimonics