Weirdest factoid: Phoenix, Arizona is the highest (in elevation) major city of more than a million residents in all US territory. π€―
Probably only due to how city boundaries are drawn. Denver area is way higher and with surrounding metro areas about 3 million humans. Just spent 10 days in Colorado Springs which is close to 6000 feet and I was surprised how it took me a few days to feel (almost) normal.

@rscottjones Only because Denver proper is less than a million, but greater Denver is about 3.6 million. City boundaries are about as deceptive as congressional districts.

@rsjon.es City boundaries do matter imo, but in terms of much smaller but still major cities, then yes, Denver is higher, as is Albuquerque and Salt Lake City. But Phoenix, whether city limits or metro area, dwarfs any of those in population. Definitely shows you how prevalent coastal mega-cities are.
Yes, Phoenix is low in elevation though compared to several other major metro areas in the western US. I think even Las Vegas is higher?

@rsjon.es Of the top 50 cities in the US by population, Phoenix is still the 7th highest. None of the cities above it on that list have even 40% of its population.
The whole point of the post was that surprising (to me at least, a PHX resident who has been to all 50 largest cities) fact, qualifiers and all.

@rsjon.es True! Itβs great here.
I think it really speaks to how coastal (and coastal plain) cities really dominate the US. Not a lot of high elevation big cities.

@rscottjones And it's only about 1200 feet!