Special Report

This Is the City in Every State With the Most COVID-19 Cases

Evan Comen

Published: December 9, 2021 4:45 am

Last Updated: December 9, 2021 6:37 am

The U.S. has reported more than 48.7 million confirmed COVID-19 cases as of December 7. More than 782,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 — the highest death toll of any country.

The virus has spread throughout the country in a way that has been difficult to predict, surging in one region, then showing signs of improvement, and then reappearing in other regions. Though local outbreaks may ebb and flow, the current surge in cases has been felt nearly nationwide, leading to new travel restrictions and business closures around the country.

Nationwide, there were an average of 31.5 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 Americans in the week ending December 7. Cumulatively, the U.S. has reported 14,863.1 cases per 100,000 Americans, and 238.2 deaths per 100,000 Americans.

The coronavirus has spread to different parts of the country in different stages throughout the pandemic. In the spring, the worst hit states were in the Northeast, as New York City became the epicenter of the nation’s crisis. The virus spread to states throughout the Sun Belt in the summer, and hit states in the Midwest and West during the fall. Now, nearly every state is categorized as a COVID-19 hotspot, according to definitions based on new cases per capita from the nonprofit health organization Kaiser Family Foundation.

While the nation’s largest metropolitan areas were hit hardest in the early months of the pandemic, nearly every city has suffered from the virus. Outbreaks are particularly likely to occur in places where large numbers of people tend to congregate, leaving cities with high concentrations of colleges, correctional facilities, and nursing homes particularly at risk.

To determine the metropolitan area in each state with the highest number of COVID-19 cases per capita, 24/7 Wall St. compiled and reviewed data from state and local health departments. We ranked metropolitan areas according to the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents as of December 7. Data was aggregated from the county level to the metropolitan area level using boundary definitions from the U.S. Census Bureau. Population data used to adjust case and death totals came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey and are five-year estimates.

Alabama: Anniston-Oxford
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Anniston: 22,632 (19,745.6 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Alabama: 848,781 (17,310.8 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Anniston: 18.7% (April 2020)
Anniston population: 114,618 (189.2 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Alabama where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Alaska: Anchorage
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Anchorage: 86,117 (21,588.6 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Alaska: 146,558 (20,034.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Anchorage: 14.8% (April 2020)
Anchorage population: 398,900 (15.2 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Alaska where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Arizona: Yuma
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Yuma: 43,033 (20,543.9 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Arizona: 1,292,054 (17,751.1 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Yuma: 25.0% (April 2020)
Yuma population: 209,468 (38.0 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Arizona where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Arkansas: Jonesboro
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Jonesboro: 27,617 (21,043.0 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Arkansas: 533,356 (17,673.6 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Jonesboro: 9.3% (April 2020)
Jonesboro population: 131,241 (89.5 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Arkansas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

California: Hanford-Corcoran
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Hanford: 35,370 (23,471.9 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in California: 5,084,927 (12,869.3 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Hanford: 16.6% (April 2020)
Hanford population: 150,691 (108.5 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in California where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Colorado: Grand Junction
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Grand Junction: 28,240 (18,675.0 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Colorado: 838,587 (14,562.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Grand Junction: 12.5% (April 2020)
Grand Junction population: 151,218 (45.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Colorado where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Connecticut: New Haven-Milford
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in New Haven: 110,848 (12,926.7 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Connecticut: 425,275 (11,928.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in New Haven: 9.5% (July 2020)
New Haven population: 857,513 (1,418.5 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Connecticut where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Delaware: Dover
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Dover: 28,916 (16,364.6 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Delaware: 156,454 (16,066.9 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Dover: 17.3% (May 2020)
Dover population: 176,699 (301.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Delaware where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Florida: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Miami: 1,283,697 (21,076.5 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Florida: 3,702,338 (17,238.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Miami: 13.8% (April 2020)
Miami population: 6,090,660 (1,199.6 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Florida where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Georgia: Dalton
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Dalton: 30,772 (21,375.2 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Georgia: 1,668,875 (15,718.3 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Dalton: 20.3% (April 2020)
Dalton population: 143,961 (226.7 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Georgia where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Hawaii: Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Kahului: 10,468 (6,306.8 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Hawaii: 85,330 (6,026.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Kahului: 34.8% (April 2020)
Kahului population: 165,979 (142.9 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Hawaii where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Idaho: Coeur d’Alene
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Coeur d’Alene: 31,094 (19,764.6 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Idaho: 308,869 (17,283.6 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Coeur d’Alene: 17.2% (April 2020)
Coeur d’Alene population: 157,322 (126.5 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Idaho where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

20200608 34 The Commercial New... (CC BY 2.0) by David Wilson

Illinois: Danville
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Danville: 16,638 (21,451.0 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Illinois: 1,835,076 (14,481.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Danville: 18.4% (April 2020)
Danville population: 77,563 (86.3 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Illinois where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Indiana: Kokomo
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Kokomo: 16,770 (20,369.0 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Indiana: 1,118,335 (16,611.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Kokomo: 33.8% (April 2020)
Kokomo population: 82,331 (280.9 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Indiana where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Iowa: Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Sioux City: 29,486 (20,498.3 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Iowa: 534,623 (16,944.9 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Sioux City: 9.8% (April 2020)
Sioux City population: 143,846 (69.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Iowa where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Kansas: Wichita
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Wichita: 109,312 (17,141.9 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Kansas: 474,479 (16,286.6 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Wichita: 18.2% (April 2020)
Wichita population: 637,690 (153.7 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Kansas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Kentucky: Bowling Green
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Bowling Green: 35,428 (20,302.8 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Kentucky: 794,816 (17,790.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Bowling Green: 18.8% (April 2020)
Bowling Green population: 174,498 (108.1 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Kentucky where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Louisiana: Monroe
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Monroe: 41,057 (20,179.7 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Louisiana: 772,789 (16,623.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Monroe: 12.8% (April 2020)
Monroe population: 203,457 (89.1 per sq. mi.)

These are all the parishes in Louisiana where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Maine: Lewiston-Auburn
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Lewiston: 13,318 (12,377.1 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Maine: 123,118 (9,159.1 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Lewiston: 10.3% (July 2020)
Lewiston population: 107,602 (230.0 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Maine where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Maryland: Cumberland, MD-WV
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Cumberland: 15,770 (15,992.0 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Maryland: 592,679 (9,803.3 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Cumberland: 14.0% (April 2020)
Cumberland population: 98,612 (131.1 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Maryland where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Massachusetts: Worcester, MA-CT
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Worcester: 121,806 (12,939.7 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Massachusetts: 935,844 (13,577.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Worcester: 15.9% (June 2020)
Worcester population: 941,338 (465.2 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Massachusetts where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Michigan: Grand Rapids-Kentwood
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Grand Rapids: 184,784 (17,393.2 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Michigan: 1,517,325 (15,193.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Grand Rapids: 22.3% (April 2020)
Grand Rapids population: 1,062,392 (395.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Michigan where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Downtown St. Cloud, Minnesota (CC BY 2.0) by GPA Photo Archive

Minnesota: St. Cloud
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in St. Cloud: 43,195 (21,751.8 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Minnesota: 926,931 (16,436.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in St. Cloud: 9.4% (May 2020)
St. Cloud population: 198,581 (113.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Minnesota where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Mississippi: Hattiesburg
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Hattiesburg: 31,020 (18,444.9 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Mississippi: 515,504 (17,321.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Hattiesburg: 13.3% (April 2020)
Hattiesburg population: 168,177 (83.1 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Mississippi where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Missouri: Jefferson City
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Jefferson City: 27,260 (18,020.4 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Missouri: 922,489 (15,030.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Jefferson City: 7.1% (April 2020)
Jefferson City population: 151,273 (67.3 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Missouri where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Montana: Great Falls
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Great Falls: 16,791 (20,570.9 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Montana: 192,236 (17,986.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Great Falls: 12.6% (April 2020)
Great Falls population: 81,625 (30.3 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Montana where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Nebraska: Grand Island
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Grand Island: 12,939 (17,142.3 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Nebraska: 313,935 (16,229.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Grand Island: 11.4% (April 2020)
Grand Island population: 75,480 (47.2 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Nebraska where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Nevada: Carson City
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Carson City: 9,377 (17,119.7 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Nevada: 473,150 (15,361.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Carson City: 21.0% (April 2020)
Carson City population: 54,773 (378.6 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Nevada where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

New Hampshire: Manchester-Nashua
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Manchester: 55,547 (13,448.5 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in New Hampshire: 165,574 (12,177.1 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Manchester: 17.5% (April 2020)
Manchester population: 413,035 (471.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in New Hampshire where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

New Jersey: Atlantic City-Hammonton
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Atlantic City: 41,938 (15,759.9 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in New Jersey: 1,272,728 (14,329.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Atlantic City: 35.2% (June 2020)
Atlantic City population: 266,105 (478.9 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in New Jersey where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

New Mexico: Farmington
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Farmington: 26,990 (21,333.4 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in New Mexico: 320,520 (15,285.9 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Farmington: 14.5% (July 2020)
Farmington population: 126,515 (22.9 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in New Mexico where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

New York: Elmira
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Elmira: 13,290 (15,654.6 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in New York: 2,783,423 (14,308.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Elmira: 16.4% (April 2020)
Elmira population: 84,895 (208.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in New York where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

North Carolina: Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Hickory: 66,663 (18,180.3 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in North Carolina: 1,544,544 (14,726.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Hickory: 18.2% (April 2020)
Hickory population: 366,678 (223.9 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in North Carolina where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

North Dakota: Bismarck
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Bismarck: 32,738 (25,676.3 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in North Dakota: 164,702 (21,612.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Bismarck: 9.5% (April 2020)
Bismarck population: 127,503 (29.8 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in North Dakota where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Ohio: Lima
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Lima: 19,119 (18,530.7 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Ohio: 1,731,003 (14,808.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Lima: 20.4% (April 2020)
Lima population: 103,175 (256.3 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Ohio where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Oklahoma: Lawton
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Lawton: 22,506 (17,635.2 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Oklahoma: 672,227 (16,988.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Lawton: 19.5% (April 2020)
Lawton population: 127,620 (75.0 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Oklahoma where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Oregon: Bend
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Bend: 23,795 (12,775.8 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Oregon: 394,569 (9,355.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Bend: 18.3% (April 2020)
Bend population: 186,251 (61.7 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Oregon where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Williamsport Alley (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Gerry Dincher

Pennsylvania: Williamsport
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Williamsport: 20,036 (17,524.7 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Pennsylvania: 1,779,151 (13,897.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Williamsport: 17.4% (April 2020)
Williamsport population: 114,330 (93.1 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Pennsylvania where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Rhode Island: Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Providence: 268,186 (16,572.4 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Rhode Island: 194,858 (18,393.9 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Providence: 18.5% (April 2020)
Providence population: 1,618,268 (1,019.8 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Rhode Island where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

South Carolina: Greenville-Anderson
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Greenville: 186,557 (20,822.4 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in South Carolina: 921,607 (17,899.8 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Greenville: 12.5% (April 2020)
Greenville population: 895,942 (330.5 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in South Carolina where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

South Dakota: Sioux Falls
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Sioux Falls: 54,169 (20,886.6 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in South Dakota: 168,271 (19,021.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Sioux Falls: 10.7% (April 2020)
Sioux Falls population: 259,348 (100.7 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in South Dakota where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Cleveland tennessee ocoeestreet1 (CC BY 3.0) by Brian Stansberry

Tennessee: Cleveland
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Cleveland: 25,998 (21,211.9 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Tennessee: 1,323,222 (19,376.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Cleveland: 14.3% (April 2020)
Cleveland population: 122,563 (160.5 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Tennessee where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Texas: Lubbock
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Lubbock: 70,194 (22,180.0 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Texas: 4,327,926 (14,926.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Lubbock: 10.4% (April 2020)
Lubbock population: 316,474 (117.8 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Texas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Downtown Provo, Utah (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

Utah: Provo-Orem
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Provo: 138,967 (22,530.6 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Utah: 601,952 (18,776.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Provo: 8.1% (April 2020)
Provo population: 616,791 (114.3 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Utah where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Vermont: Burlington-South Burlington
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Burlington: 18,264 (8,348.0 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Vermont: 47,767 (7,655.1 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Burlington: 14.8% (April 2020)
Burlington population: 218,784 (174.7 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Vermont where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Virginia: Staunton
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Staunton: 18,160 (14,928.0 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Virginia: 979,219 (11,472.3 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Staunton: 9.9% (April 2020)
Staunton population: 121,651 (121.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Virginia where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Washington: Kennewick-Richland
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Kennewick: 53,162 (18,361.7 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Washington: 780,835 (10,254.1 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Kennewick: 13.7% (April 2020)
Kennewick population: 289,527 (98.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Washington where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

West Virginia: Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Huntington: 64,040 (17,698.8 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in West Virginia: 300,660 (16,776.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Huntington: 17.2% (April 2020)
Huntington population: 361,832 (144.7 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in West Virginia where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Wisconsin: Green Bay
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Green Bay: 65,116 (20,386.9 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Wisconsin: 997,688 (17,135.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Green Bay: 13.3% (April 2020)
Green Bay population: 319,401 (170.8 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Wisconsin where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Wyoming: Casper
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Casper: 16,374 (20,382.7 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of December 7 in Wyoming: 111,812 (19,319.3 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Casper: 12.6% (April 2020)
Casper population: 80,333 (15.0 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Wyoming where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

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