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Today, many major cities across the United States are home to franchise sports teams. The Green Bay Packers are the biggest exception to that, having a population of 104,879, but Green Bay wasn't the only small city to be home to a professional team.
While the teams that used to call these places home are defunct or grew into larger teams in larger cities, they still played a role in the beginning of major pro sports leagues like the NFL, MLB, and NBA.
Below we take you through the smallest towns that were once home to professional teams.
One thing to know: The Pros weren't named AFPA Champions until April 30, 1921, because of complaints from the Buffalo All-Americans and the Decatur Staleys. The Pros held the best record in the league and only needed to avoid losing a game.
They held both teams scoreless to win the Championship, but due to the complaints, it was put to a vote by the managers. Akron was awarded the title.
Pottsville, Pennsylvania - Pottsville Maroons
League: NFL
Time in league: 1925 to 1928
Record: 27-20-2
Championships: None
Population: 13,555
One thing to know: The Maroons held the best record in the league and earned the 1925 Championship title. However, after they played an unauthorized exhibition game in Philadelphia, they were suspended, stripped of their title, and removed from the NFL due to a violation of territorial rights.
Looking to take advantage, the Chicago Cardinals scheduled two additional games against weak teams to improve their record. Owner Chris O'Brien refused to accept the title, and it was not claimed until 1933 when the Cardinals were acquired by Charles Bidwill, whose descendants still own the team to this day.
As a result, it is believed that the Arizona Cardinals are under the "Pottsville Curse" since they have only won one further NFL title since.
Canton, Ohio - Canton Bulldogs
League: NFL
Time in league: 1920 to 1926
Record: 38-19-11
Championships: 2
Population: 70,458
One thing to know: The Bulldogs played 25 straight games without a defeat in 1921-23, which is still an NFL record.
Dayton, Ohio - Dayton Triangles
League: NFL
Time in league: 1920 to 1929
Record: 18-51-8
Championships: None.
Population: 140,640
One thing to know: The Triangles were an original franchise in the American Professional Football Association. They were the longest-lasting traveling team and last "road team" until the Dallas Texans in 1952.
Duluth, Minnesota - Duluth Kelleys/Eskimos
League: NFL
Time in league: 1923 to 1927
Record: 16-20-3
Championships: None
Population: 85,884
One thing to know: The Duluth Eskimos were one of the first teams in NFL history to use a logo.
Hammond, Indiana - Hammond Pros
League: NFL
Time in league: 1920 to 1926
Record: 7-28-4
Championships: None.
Population: 75,795
One thing to know: The Pros had six of the nine African-American players in the league during their years. They also had the first African-American head coach in the NFL, Fritz Pollard.
La Rue, Ohio - Oorang Indians
League: NFL
Time in league: 1922 to 1923
Record: 4-16-0
Championships: None.
Population: 711
One thing to know: All of the Indians players were Native American and with a population under 1,000, La Rue remains the smallest town ever to be home to an NFL franchise.
Racine, Wisconsin - Racine Legion/Tornadoes
League: NFL
Time in league: 1922 to 1926
Record: 15-15-6
Championships: None.
Population: 77,432
One thing to know: Milton "Mitt" Romney was a quarterback for the Racine Legion before joining the Chicago Bears. His cousin was George W. Romney, former Michigan Governor, and it was his nickname that gave 2012 US Presidential candidate Mitt Romney his name.
Rock Island, Illinois - Rock Island Independents
League: NFL
Time in league: 1920 to 1925
Record: 26-14-12
Championships: None.
Population: 37,678
One thing to know: The Independents were one of the founding NFL franchises and hosted what is considered to be the first NFL game on September 26, 1920, at Douglas Park.
Altoona, Pennsylvania - Altoona Mountain Citys
League: Pre-MLB
Time in league: 1884 to 1884
Record: 6-19
Championships: None.
Population: 43,702
One thing to know: The Mountain Citys were a charter member of the Union Association. The team folded after 25 games and by season's end were known as the Altoona Unfortunates.
15 small towns in the US that used to be home to major professional sports teams
League: MLB
Time in league: 1879 to 1882
Record: 134-191
Championships: None.
Population: 49,374
One thing to know: The Trojans were removed from the MLB before the end of the 1882 season because they were seen as too small for the league, but continued to play out their season. On September 28, 1882, six fans attended a game between the Trojans and the Worcester NL team, which was also being removed from the league. That attendance figure is the lowest ever recorded at an MLB game.
Wilmington, Delaware - Wilmington Quicksteps
League: Pre-MLB
Time in league: 1884 to 1884
Record: 2-16
Championships: None.
Population: 70,635
One thing to know: The Quicksteps were a late-season replacement baseball team in the Union Association.
Anderson, Indiana - Anderson Packers
League: NBL/NBA
Time in league: 1949 to 1950
Record: 37-27
Championships: None.
Population: 55,037
One thing to know: The Packers were founded and owned by Ike W. and John B. Duffey. The brothers were not only founders of the Anderson Packers, but also of meat packing company Duffey's Incorporated. The team eventually folded with the end of the NBL after 1951.
Sheboygan, Wisconsin - Sheboygan Redskins
League: NBA
Time in league: 1949-1950
Record: 22-40
Championships: None.
Population: 48,180
One thing to know: The Redskins were an NBA original franchise, but didn't fare well when the NBA and NBL merged, causing them to leave the NBA after one season quickly.
Waterloo, Iowa - Waterloo Hawks
League: NBA
Time in league: 1949-1950
Record: 19-43
Championships: None.
Population: 67,798
One thing to know: The Hawks are the only sports franchise in the four major leagues (NBA, NHL, MLB, NFL) to be based in Iowa.
