Well if you think Jefferson City is anything but a small town then you need to get out more.
You probably think Springfield is a major metropolis.
I spent a summer in New York, been to Chicago a few times, DFW a bunch. Yes, Jeff City is small compared to them. Not small compared to Lamar, Thayer,Greenfield, etc. Over 40,000 is not a small town.
Big City: 300,000+ people within city limits
City: 100,000-300,000 citizens within limits
Small City: 20,000-100,000 citizens within limits
Big Town: 7,000-20,000 citizens within limits
Town: 800-7,000 citizens within limits
Small Town: 200-800 citizens within limits
Village: 50-200 citizens within limits
Hamlet: Community with less than 50 members.