What is the most common city name in the US?  (the city that appears
in the most number of states)  Which states is it in?

Thanks

Hello.

To a certain extent, the answer depends on your definition of "city." 
The U.S. Census Bureau identifies "incorporated places" (i.e., legally
incorporated cities, boroughs, towns, or villages).

Using the Census Bureau's "legally incorporated" standard, the leading
name is reportedly "Franklin."

See:

" Most common incorporated city names, with number of states...
(counts according to the 2000 U.S. Census).
Franklin: 26
  * Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia,
Wisconsin "

source: nationmaster.com
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/List-of-cities-in-the-United-States


Others have used a looser standard, and have counted the names of all
towns (not  just the incorporated ones).  By this standard, Fairview
and Midway usually come out on top.

See this article:

"So, I asked myself, ''What is the most common name for a town in the U.S.?''
The best I could do was find reference in ''The Top 10 of Everything
2000'' to what author Russell Ash says are the top 10 names for towns.
He says Fairview is the most common, followed by Midway, Oak Grove,
Franklin (tied with Riverside), Centerville, Mount Pleasant, Salem and
Greenwood."
http://www.reporternews.com/abil/fe_re_columns/article/0,1874,ABIL_7935_3019495,00.html

There are Fairviews is in ALL states except: AK CT HI ME MN RI VT

There are Midways is in ALL states except:  AK HI ME MA MI NH NJ RI VT WY

Source:  Wordways.com Common Placenames
http://wordways.com/commonp.htm

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search strategy:
"most common city name"
"most common city names"
"common city" franklin fairview

I hope this helps.

Surprising answer!  I wonder how "Springfield" fares in the rankings?

I was wondering the same thing daytrader.  I have heard this question
answered several times before and the answer has always been
Springfield.  Perhaps it is the way the question was phrased.  This
question asked about a city name appearing in the most number of
states.  However, I think Springfield is the most common city name
based on total number of cities (may appear multiple times in 1
state.)

Interestingly, there are some clues as to where THE Springfield is really located.

I think I am too much of a Simpsons nut, but come on...who isn't?

If you remember the episode that featured The Who, the whole story
line was that Springfield was getting a new telephone area code.  It
used to be 636 and then they split the city and added 939.  This
resulted in a whole feud between "Olde Springfield" and "New
Springfield", where Homer became mayor and hillarity ensued.

Anyhow, 636 is an actual MO area code, specifically for Springfield, MO.

But unfortunately, there are some disconnects, like how they live next
to a pier/ocean of sorts, how they live near a gorge, and how a bus
ride to NY only costs $8.

Again, maybe I watch too much TV...then again, that's what college was for, right?