New Orleans stopped growing in 1870 when it became coterminus with Orleans Parish. The Louisiana State constitution specifies how municipalities and counties relate to each other. It allows multiple cities in a parish but does not anticipate multiple parishes within a city. Had the city of New Orleans been able to incorporate parts or all of adjoining parishes, the regional situation could be very different today. Baton Rouge has the same problem.

The City of New York extends across five counties. Manhatten (New York County), Brooklyn (Kings County), Bronx (Bronx County), Queens(Queens County), Staten Island (Richmond County).  New York City was consolidated into its present form in 1898, at which time previous local governments were abolished and replaced with the current unified, centralized city government. However, there are separate criminal court systems and district attorneys in the five counties.


Houston is one of the fastest growing major cities in the United States and the largest without strict zoning laws. The city is the county seat of Harris County. A portion of southwest Houston extends into Fort Bend County and a small portion in the northeast extends into Montgomery County.