'---uses Distinct to eliminate duplicates

 Protected Sub FillCities(ByVal whichState As String)

        '---eliminate duplicate entries. It takes the first LA, Sf, etc.
        ddlCity.Items.Clear()
        Dim whichCities = (From eachCity In myDC.ZipcodesAlls _
                                    Where eachCity.state = whichState _
                                    Order By eachCity.city _
                                    Select eachCity.city).Distinct

        '---fill drop down
        ddlCity.DataSource = whichCities
        ddlCity.DataBind()


    End Sub