The comparatively greater frequency of the mayorcouncil
form among New York cities can likely be attributed
to both historic and socio-economic factors. The
council-manager form occurs more frequently in younger
cities of a more homogeneous composition found in the
Midwest and the Far West. New York cities tend to be
older than those in other parts of the country and tend to
have more heterogeneous populations. In such cities the
mayor-council form, especially with a strong mayor, has
been more prevalent.