CREATE TABLE table_204_317 (id NUMBER, "metropolitan area" CLOB, "country" CLOB, "rank" NUMBER, "forstall\ 2003 est." NUMBER, "official population" NUMBER, "year" NUMBER)

how many cities are in the united states ?
SELECT COUNT("metropolitan area") FROM table_204_317 WHERE "country" = 'united states'
SELECT COUNT("metropolitan area") FROM "table_204_317" WHERE "country" = 'united states'