It's pretty large and was a tourist spot due to the meteors as well as the fact that it's close proximity to Metropolis almost makes it a suburb.
Um, I always found Metropolis as a kind of satire of New York City. And NYC is kind of far from Kansas. Even if I'm wrong, the fact they have a bay (Hobbs Bay) makes it on the coast, and Kansas is right in the middle of USA so it doesnt matter where on the coast and on which coast, it's still far. Besides, Smallville can't be a suburb of Metropolis because they're in different states (even if they were close). Metropolis is in New Troy. Also it always says on LNC that Clark's parents have to fly into Metropolis, so it can't be close Smallville.
About what you said about perception: Well, some people recognize that DC is part Asian, but even then, KK looks more Asian. I agreee that sometimes its about perception, but still.
