Age of the City Discussion

Instructions: 

Read the following Discussion question carefully, then submit an original answer.  Your answer should be at least a few sentences to a paragraph in length.  There is no "right" or "wrong" answer, but your opinion should be well-reasoned and based on fact.  (no references needed) this is just an opinion...

Ironically, late nineteenth century cities--the most densely populated communities in the United States--shared many qualities in common with western frontier towns--among the least densely populated.  Why?  What were these qualities?  How did both the industrial city and the western mining or cattle town differ from the typical American rural village or small town?