** Population and debt values from 2011.
*** Population value from 2012.
Chapter 9 bankruptcy allows for financially distressed municipalities to reorganize outstanding debt with their creditors. Municipality is broadly defined, including cities, counties, townships, school districts, and public improvement districts, as well as revenue-producing bodies such as bridge and highway authorities.
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Largest Chapter 9 municipality bankruptcy filings in the United States 2018
As of 2018, the largest municipality to file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy was Orange County in California, who filed for bankruptcy in 1994. At the time of filing, Orange County had outstanding debts of around **** billion U.S. dollars.
Chapter 9 bankruptcy allows for financially distressed municipalities to reorganize outstanding debt with their creditors. Municipality is broadly defined, including cities, counties, townships, school districts, and public improvement districts, as well as revenue-producing bodies such as bridge and highway authorities.
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Website (muninetguide.com). (June 14, 2018). Largest municipalities filing for Chapter 9 bankruptcy in the United States as of 2018, by population and debt [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 29, 2026, from /statistics/1118545/bankruptcy-filings-us-chapter-9-largest-municipalities/
Website (muninetguide.com). "Largest municipalities filing for Chapter 9 bankruptcy in the United States as of 2018, by population and debt." Chart. June 14, 2018. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 29, 2026. /statistics/1118545/bankruptcy-filings-us-chapter-9-largest-municipalities/
Website (muninetguide.com). (2018). Largest municipalities filing for Chapter 9 bankruptcy in the United States as of 2018, by population and debt. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 29, 2026. /statistics/1118545/bankruptcy-filings-us-chapter-9-largest-municipalities/
Website (muninetguide.com). "Largest Municipalities Filing for Chapter 9 Bankruptcy in The United States as of 2018, by Population and Debt." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 14 Jun 2018, /statistics/1118545/bankruptcy-filings-us-chapter-9-largest-municipalities/
Website (muninetguide.com), Largest municipalities filing for Chapter 9 bankruptcy in the United States as of 2018, by population and debt ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1118545/bankruptcy-filings-us-chapter-9-largest-municipalities/ (last visited July 29, 2026)
Largest municipalities filing for Chapter 9 bankruptcy in the United States as of 2018, by population and debt [Graph], Website (muninetguide.com), June 14, 2018. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1118545/bankruptcy-filings-us-chapter-9-largest-municipalities/
