After New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, the fight is on: locals make the case for the city that should be number four.

The United States is renowned for its iconic cities. New York City undoubtedly tops the list as the nation's largest city (8.5 million residents) and one of the world's great fashion, culture and finance capitals. Los Angeles comes in just behind, the US's second-most populous city and the centre of the film industry, gateway to beaches and laid-back lifestyles. The third-largest city, Chicago, was home to the world's first skyscraper and has long vied with New York in a race to build the world's tallest, most impressive buildings.

With the top three seemingly fixed, one question recently set social media aflame: what city deserves the US's fourth spot? Residents from across the country made their case, but a few consistently rose to the top – whether by population, tourism or historical importance. We asked locals what makes their city worthy of the title and why tourists should add it to their itineraries