There are 9 cities (Latvian: Republikas pilsētas) and 67 towns (Latvian: Novada pilsētas) in Latvia. By Latvian law towns are settlements that are centers of culture and commerce with well-developed engineer-infrastructure and street grid, and have at least 2,000 residents; however, a settlement can be designated a town, if it has fewer residents, but fulfils all other requirements. To become a city, a town must have at least 25,000 residents, additionally city should have well-developed commerce, transport, public utilities, social infrastructure and be significant center of culture, however these requirements may be disregarded if there is sufficient population.