Cities Lookup API Reference

Overview

Cities Lookup works by retrieving city data from various reliable sources and providing it in a structured format. The city database is updated regularly to ensure accurate and up-to-date information.

Endpoint

One host, one path per API. The block below shows this call in four languages; every one of them is the same HTTP request. Making requests covers the timeouts, retries and parameter rules that apply to all of them. The SDKs wrap the same call in a typed client.

GEThttps://api.apiverve.com/v1/citieslookup

curl "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/citieslookup?city=San%20Francisco&limit=5" \
  -H "x-api-key: your_api_key_here"

const res = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/citieslookup?city=San%20Francisco&limit=5', {
  headers: { 'x-api-key': 'your_api_key_here' },
});

if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${res.status} ${await res.text()}`);

const { data } = await res.json();
console.log(data);

import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/citieslookup?city=San%20Francisco&limit=5",
    headers={"x-api-key": "your_api_key_here"},
    timeout=15,
)
res.raise_for_status()

print(res.json()["data"])

package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"io"
	"net/http"
)

func main() {
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/citieslookup?city=San%20Francisco&limit=5", nil)
	req.Header.Set("x-api-key", "your_api_key_here")

	res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}
	defer res.Body.Close()

	out, _ := io.ReadAll(res.Body)
	fmt.Println(string(out))
}

Replace your_api_key_here with the key from your dashboard. When the inputs arrive as a list rather than one at a time, batch requests run up to 200 of them through this same API in a single call.

Authentication

Send your key in the x-api-key header. That is the only auth step — there is no token exchange and no per-endpoint scope to configure. Authentication covers creating, rotating and revoking keys.

401 is the only auth verdict

A 401 means the key is missing, invalid or expired. A 403 means the key is valid but not permitted here — blocked by a key restriction or an IP allow-list. Running out of credits is a 429.

Parameters

Sent in the query string. Premium parameters are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them.

Parameter	Type	Description
`city`Required	string	The city name for which you want to get the data (e.g., New York)
`limit`OptionalPremium	integer	Limit number of cities that match your search criteria default 1 · range 1–20

Response

Every API returns the same three top-level keys, so one response handler covers your whole integration: status, error and data. Only data changes shape. Response format covers the envelope, the other output formats and how premium fields are withheld.

Sample response

{
  "status": "ok",
  "error": null,
  "data": {
    "search": "San Francisco",
    "foundCities": [
      {
        "name": "San Francisco",
        "altName": "",
        "country": "US",
        "countryName": "United States",
        "featureCode": "PPLA2",
        "population": 874961,
        "populationCategory": "major",
        "loc": {
          "type": "Point",
          "coordinates": [
            -122.4194,
            37.7749
          ]
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

Response fields

Paths are relative to data. Premium fields are absent rather than zeroed on plans that do not include them, so check for presence instead of comparing to 0.

Field	Type	Example	Description
`search`	string	`"San Francisco"`	The search query used to find cities
`foundCities`	array[1]		Array of city objects matching the search criteria
`name`	string	`"San Francisco"`	Official city name
`altName`	string	`""`	Alternative city name or alias if available
`country`	string	`"US"`	Two-letter ISO country code (e.g., US)
`countryName`	string	`"United States"`	Full country name (e.g., United States)
`featureCode`	string	`"PPLA2"`	Geonames feature code for city classification type
`population`	number	`874961`	City population count derived from latest census
`populationCategory`	string	`"major"`	City size classification based on population ranges
`loc`	object	`{...}`
`type`	string	`"Point"`	GeoJSON geometry type (always Point)
`coordinates`Premium	array	`[-122.4194, ...]`	GeoJSON coordinates as [longitude, latitude] pair

Errors

Read the HTTP status first, then error for the specific reason. The body names the parameter that has to change. Error handling covers the full status list and which of them are worth retrying.

Status	Meaning	What to do
`400`	Input was rejected	Read `error`; it names the parameter.
`401`	Key missing or invalid	Check the header name and the key value.
`403`	Key valid, but not permitted	A key restriction or IP allow-list; see key scoping.
`429`	Rate limited, or out of credits	Read `error` to tell them apart; see rate limits.

Use cases

Business Intelligence: Use the Cities Lookup API to get city data for business intelligence purposes. Analyze population trends, demographics, and economic indicators for different cities
Market Research: Conduct market research by using the Cities Lookup API to get city data. Use the data to identify target markets, consumer preferences, and competitive landscapes
Location-based Services: Develop location-based services by using the Cities Lookup API to get city data. Use the data to provide personalized recommendations, local information, and geolocation services
Urban Planning: Plan urban development projects by using the Cities Lookup API to get city data. Use the data to assess infrastructure needs, land use patterns, and environmental impacts

Other ways to use Cities Lookup

Set up Cities Lookup on APIVerve, or reach the same source a different way. Your APIVerve account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.

Give it to an AI agentConnect over MCP and your agent calls it as a native tool — Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT.VerveKit →Reference →

Use it in Google Sheets or ExcelA =VERVE() formula fills a column — no script, no export, recalculates in place.VerveSheets →Reference →

Ground an agent on itA cited, machine-checkable fact your model can't produce on its own.VerveContext →Reference →

Cities Lookup