> n the US city status makes an important practical difference to how an area is run and what the people running it can do independently of the State they're in

> n the US city status makes an important practical difference to how an area is run and what the people running it can do independently of the State they're in. The status of various municipal designations varies greatly based on state laws. Generally, government levels go state->county->municipality. The type and form of a municipality generally only affects how it is organized, not its level of independence from higher levels of government. Some states restrict types and forms based on size, though.