Eli5: Why are suburbs given there own names but still considered to be part of whatever big city they’re closest too. Is it part of the big city or it’s own?

Question

Eli5: Why are suburbs given there own names but still considered to be part of whatever big city they’re closest too. Is it part of the big city or it’s own?

In: 3

Answer 1

Because I don’t want to explain the history, politics, and demographics of New Rochelle to someone from California. Neither, I’d wager, would someone from Cheektowaga.