AMERICAN FORK — American Fork has a new red, white and blue flag to fly.

Little ol' American Fork, population 22,387, is the biggest U.S. city with "America" in its name, according to a U.S. Census report released last week.

Lifelong resident Merrill Beck has watched the north Utah County burg grow from a tiny town to a bustling city with a Wal-Mart and Home Depot.

Beck, 72, who has lived on the same street since he was born, says he loves American Fork but hates to see how things change.

"We used to have freedom to do things," Beck said. "We could go and ride our horse around town or herd the cows up the middle of the street. We could even drive without putting on our seat belts."

Recently, though, American Fork has had a growth spurt.

From 1990 to 2000, the city grew by more than 6,000 people. It has now beaten four far-flung competitors — tiny places, no doubt, hidden in America's heartland— for the all-time championship title of the biggest "American" town.

American Canyon, Calif., with 13,887 people, took second place, with American Falls, Idaho, population 3,985, and Norwood Young America, Minn., population 3,241, not far behind.

In last place, with a long way to go to catch up, was Young America, Minn. Young America had 835 people in 2004, which is three less than the township's population in 2000.

American Fork was originally named Lake City for its proximity to Utah Lake. The name remained in place from 1850, when it was settled, until 1860, after the town was incorporated.

For fear of being confused with Salt Lake City, the bigger neighbor to the north, Lake City's name was changed to American Fork, after the river that runs from American Fork Canyon to Utah Lake.

Legend has it that the river was so named after the American trappers who set up camp along its banks.

Today, when deep-rooted American Fork folk are asked about the significance of the name of their town, they shrug it off, saying it all flows back to the river.

"I think we think more of the fork in the river than the part about being American," said Phil Jensen, who has lived in American Fork for 77 years.

Back when Jensen was young, American Fork was known for its poultry. The town even had an annual celebration in honor of the egg industry.

"They're pretty well gone now," Jensen said, "but there was a day when you went through town and it seemed like every home had a coop on it."

Sugar beets were another popular item in American Fork. Thanks to the close proximity of the Lehi sugar factory, American Fork's beets helped to successfully make the first sugar in the state.