[mike_d]

Texas: You need at least 200 residents, and if you have less than 2,000 residents your town must be smaller than 2 square miles. With less than 600 residents you cannot have a mayor (except as a honorific title) and must use a commission (elected city council) government. After you draft a town charter you need a minimum of 10% of residents to sign a petition. You can take that petition to a county judge who can then set a special election date. A simple majority must approve.

The hardest state is Hawaii, which only recognizes Federal and County governments. Next up is Delaware, which has no process by which to form a new city, but also has almost no unincorporated land left. Most other states require an act of the legislature.

Easiest is probably Nevada, where you need only 5 "qualified electors" (18+ and having lived in the state 6 months), a professional land survey/mapping, and a written plan on how you'll provide police/fire and bring in revenue. Assuming only your five electors live in the town and will vote for incorporation, there is really nobody who can stop you.

Oddest is by far Wyoming, which requires you to find a source of water not claimed by another town and a minimum population density of 70 people per square mile.

(Yeah, I've really dug into starting my own city)