Saints, Forts and Presidents, Why Our Cities are Named What They Are.

Saints, Forts and Presidents, Why Our Cities are Named What They Are.

Most of us don’t give it much thought. Sure, we may know the origin of the name of the city we were deeply connected to like where we called home or were born. Here is a look at some of the broader categories of which we named our American cities.

Saints

Many American cities are named after Saints and the list is almost endless. It includes St. Augustine, St. Louis, Santa Barbara, St. Joseph, San Francisco, San Antonio, St. Paul, St. Clair, Santa Rosa, San Clemente, San Bernardino, San Diego and dozens more. The banes of saints were particularly influential in the Southwest and California.

Forts

Many cities adopted the name of military forts that were in their proximity. Through the years there have been over 300 forts and encampments in Florida alone. This has lead to the names of such cities as Ft. Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Fort Pierce, Fort Walton and more. Elsewhere larger “fort” cities include Fort Worth, Texas, Fort Wayne, Indiana and Fort Collins, Colorado.

Presidents

It has been a common practice across the world to name cities after powerful leaders. In the U.S. , presidents have lent their names to some of our cities including Washington, DC. In fact, four state capital cities bear the names of presidents including Madison, Wisconsin, Jackson, Mississippi, Lincoln, Nebraska and Jefferson City, Missouri. Contrary to the belief of some, Cleveland, Ohio was not named after President Grover Cleveland. Cleveland was a major city long before Grover Cleveland was elected president. Instead the city was named for Moses Cleaveland , a lawyer/surveyor who founded the city in the late 1700s. The name was changed from Cleaveland to Cleveland to better fit on the community’s newspaper masthead.

European Cities

Many U.S. cities simply took on the name of a city in Europe. Athens in not only a city in Greece but college towns in Ohio and Georgia. There are Dublins in Ireland along with California and Ohio. There’s a Paris in Texas and an Amsterdam in Pennsylvania. In fact, many times if an name starts with “New” (as in New York) it is probably named after a location in Europe.

 

How much do you know about where you call home? Google makes it easier than ever to learn more about your city, and maybe eveen pick up a few conversation starters.

How much are you aware of your insurance coverage? Our team can help review your auto, home, life and even business insurance. Contact one of our independent agents for a no cost review and price quote today.


Do you have questions about your insurance? Find an insurance agent near you with our Agent Finder

Buzz Your
Insurance Agent

Search for a local agent with our agent finder map.

Agent Finder

Search All Blogs

Generic filters
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in excerpt

Buzz Your
Insurance Agent

Search for a local agent with our agent finder map.

Agent Finder

Want to learn more about our blog writer?

Read more about KayLynn's background.

Click Here

Search All Blogs

Generic filters
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in excerpt

Non-Profits Need Protection Too! Safeguarding Your Good Works with Insurance

Non-Profits and Insurance: Myths Busted! Protecting Your Good Works

Beyond the Grave: Burial Insurance vs. Life Insurance Explained

Don’t Be Buried by Confusion: Understanding Burial and Life Insurance

Cracking the Code: Your Car’s VIN and What It Means to You

VIN Decoder Ring: Unveiling the Mysteries of Your Car’s Identification Number

The Aftermath: Proving Your Possessions After a Disaster

Homeowner’s Insurance Hero: How to Prepare for a Claim Before Disaster Strikes

Lost in Translation: Skills of the Past That Young People Might Miss Out On

From Fax Machines to Fancy Footwork: 6 Skills Younger Generations Might Not Have

Beyond the Box Truck: When Does Your Business Need Special Vehicle Insurance?

Business on the Move? Don’t Get Stuck Without the Right Vehicle Insurance

From Bronze Age to Boomers: How Life Expectancy Went From Meh to Magnificent

How Long Will You Live? A Look at Life Expectancy Throughout History (and Why You Might Need Life Insurance)

From Chauffeur to Cheerleader: The Teen Driver’s (and Parent’s!) Guide to Car-Buying Chaos

Teen Driver on the Horizon? This Guide Will Steer You Through Car-Buying Chaos

When Branches Become Brawls: Who Pays When a Tree Attacks Your House?

Neighborly Nightmare: Tree Trouble and Your Homeowner’s Insurance

From Pet Rocks to Pokémania: A Funtastic Journey Through 50 Years of Fads

A Look Back, and a Look Forward