Have you ever tried to plan a weekend trip to Springfield, or Lexington, and were baffled by how many different towns and cities with the same moniker popped up in your browser? Or maybe you’re in the process of relocating and you realized, a bit late, that the amazing, affordable apartment you found is not in the same Salem you’re interested in.
It would not be surprising if one on those things happened to you – the US has almost 3,800 cities and towns names that occur more than once. We decided to dig up the most common city and town names in the US, and you might want to check them out too as it could help you avoid misunderstandings when planning a move or a vacation.
1. Franklin
Franklin shows up 20 times as a city or town name, and that’s not surprising, considering that Benjamin Franklin is one of our founding fathers. The largest Franklin is located in Tennessee, about 21 miles from Nashville. Established in 1799, the city has a population of about 83,000 people. If that’s the one you’re looking for, and you are planning to move to the area, check out your options for self storage in Franklin, Tennessee.
2. Marion
Marion is a very popular name for cities and towns across the US, showing up 17 times. In most cases, the names come from General Francis Marion, aka the Swamp Fox, who served in the American Revolutionary War. The largest US city bearing this name is in Ohio, about 50 miles north of Columbus, and it has a population of about 36,000 residents.
3. Madison
Famous presidents are a great source of inspiration for Americans when it comes to city names – there are 16 called Madison, named for the Republic’s fourth president, James Madison. The largest of them is Wisconsin’s state capital, with a population of almost 260,000 people. If you are planning to relocate there, you’re in luck, as there are plenty of good options for self storage in Madison, making your move a lot easier.
4. Springfield
Springfield is the first name on the list that’s not associated with a president or a general – instead, it’s a description of a beautiful, natural phenomenon. Who doesn’t love seeing a field in full bloom during springtime? Although there are quite a few significant Springfields out there, and the largest one out of 16 with this name is in Missouri, and it has almost 160,000 inhabitants.
5. Clinton
Clinton happens to be the name of one of our recent presidents, but the 15 cities and towns in the US bearing the same moniker are not inspired by Bill Clinton or even his wife. Instead, they make reference to various other people from our country’s history, particularly DeWitt Clinton, an American politician and naturalist who was responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal. The most populous city named Clinton is located in Maryland and has around 36,000 residents. Interested in relocating there? Find a self storage unit in Clinton to streamline your move.
6. Salem
The name Salem appears 15 times among the cities and towns in the US, and it is Bible-inspired, originating in the Hebrew translation of the word “peace.” The most well-known Salem is, undoubtedly, the one in Massachusetts, where the famous witch trials occurred in the 17th century. However, in terms of population, Salem, Oregon, takes precedence, with almost 180,000 residents. Are you planning to join them? Search for a storage unit in Salem, Oregon.
7. Washington
We have 14 towns and cities called Washington in the US — which is understandable, seeing as George Washington is a founding father and served as our first president. The most prominent city named after him is obviously our capital, with a population of more than 700,000 people. If was founded in 1790, after the American Revolution, to serve as the seat of government for the newly formed country. If you’re headed toward our capital, check out your options for self storage in Washington, DC.
8. Hamilton
It’s only fitting that the name Hamilton also shows up 14 times among the cities and towns in the US – it’s inspired by Alexander Hamilton, another one of the country’s founding fathers and its first Secretary of the Treasury. The most populous Hamilton is located in Ohio, having almost 63,000 inhabitants, and it is the county seat of Butler County. If you consider moving to the area, make things easier for yourself by booking a self storage unit in Hamilton, Ohio.
9. Jackson
Still going forward with US Presidents, we notice that there are 14 cities and towns called Jackson in the US. The most likely inspiration for their names is General Andrew Jackson, who fought in the War of 1812 and then served as president. The most prominent is Jackson, Mississippi, the state’s capital, with a population or around 160,000 people. Are you planning to relocate there? Rent a self storage unit in Jackson, Mississippi, for an easy move.
10. Greenville
Another popular name for cities and towns in the US is Greenville, which also occurs 14 times. The name can be seen either as a description of a verdant natural setting, or as being inspired by historical personalities — the latter is the case with the largest Greenville, located in North Carolina. The city, with a population of 92,000 people, took the name to honor General Nathanael Greene, an American Revolutionary War hero.
There’s another sizable Greenville in South Carolina, too, boasting a population of more than 70,000 residents. If that’s the one you’re looking for, book a storage unit in Greenville, South Carolina, in preparation for the move.
11. Lexington
Lexington is a name brought over to the US by the first English settlers, first showing up in Massachusetts. It became quite popular after the Battles of Lexington and Concord during the American Revolutionary War, which marked the outbreak of the armed conflict between Great Britain and the American colonies.
The largest Lexington among the 14 ones all over the country is in Kentucky, and was named in June 1775, after a group of frontiersmen in the area heard about the colonists’ victory in that battle. Today, the city has a population of 323,000 people, while the original Lexington in Massachusetts is a suburb located 11 miles from downtown Boston.
If you’re in the process of moving to the most populous Lexington in the US, check out your options for self storage in Lexington, Kentucky.
12. Troy
The name Troy is inspired by the famous city of Troy, whose fate was depicted by Homer in the Greek epic poem “The Iliad,” which dates from antiquity. It’s a peculiar choice to name your newly established town Troy, considering the tragic fate of the original one. However, there are no less than 14 Troys all over the country – hopefully, history will not repeat itself for any of them. The largest Troy is located in Michigan and has 80,000 residents. So, if you want a place to put your Trojan horse, book a storage unit in Troy, Michigan.
13. Auburn
Auburn is an old English name and the word also depicts a shade of reddish brown. The people that named 14 US cities and towns “Auburn” were probably inspired by other settlements bearing the same name, or even by natural features of the land. The most populous Auburn in the country, located in Alabama, boasts of a more poetic origin for its name – it was apparently inspired by a verse in the Oliver Goldsmith poem “The Deserted Village”: “Sweet Auburn, the loveliest village of the plain,” which also gave the city its nickname, Sweet Auburn.
The city, established in 1832, has almost 67,000 residents. If you want to relocate there, take a look at the self storage options and pick your favorite storage unit in Auburn, Alabama.
14. Hillsboro
Hillsboro is another city or town name that shows up 14 times in the US. The moniker was usually inspired by a person named Hill or maybe by the fact that the new settlement was located near a prominent hill. The largest Hillsboro in the country is in Oregon and was founded in 1841 by a group of pioneers that included a certain David Hill. The city has more than 91,000 residents today, and it’s a high-tech hotspot in Oregon. Eyeing a job in the area? Book a storage unit in Hillsboro in anticipation of the move.
15. Clayton
There are 14 cities and towns in the US bearing the name Clayton, and they are either acknowledging they were built on clay or are celebrating someone named Clayton. The latter explanation is the case with the largest Clayton in the country, located in Missouri, which was founded in 1877 and named after Ralph Clayton, who donated land for building the courthouse.
Have you ever found yourself in a funny situation due to misunderstandings related to the name of a city or a town? Let us know in the comments!
