The reason behind why so many place names in America are the same as in England is not because Americans are unoriginal, it’s because these places were named after them. From escaping religious or political persecution to seeking out the riches of a new land, migration from areas of Europe has long been commonplace. Wherever they went, settlers often tended to name their new communities after the ones they’d left behind. We give you, 11 places that have the same name in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Boston
Boston is the state capital of Massachusetts, New England’s most populous region. It is thought that over 80% of the state’s population lives in the Greater Boston area. After undergoing a process of gentrification in recent years, Boston is thought to now have one of the highest costs of living in the United States.
Its UK counterpart, however, could not be more different. Boston, Lincolnshire is a quiet coastal town on England’s east coast. Boston has a population of around 35,000 people.
Lancaster
Lancaster, England, is steeped in history. The House of Lancaster was a branch of the English Royal Family. Lancaster, Pennsylvania has a population of 59,322. The city purportedly has more CCTV cameras per capita than huge metropolitan areas such as Boston and San Francisco.
London
There are three American cities named London. They can be found in Arkansas, Kentucky and Ohio. There is one thing that distinguishes London, Kentucky from its namesake cities – the World Chicken Festival, an annual celebration of the life of Colonel Sanders.
London – Britain’s sprawling capital – is home to a population of more than eight million people. Straddling the river Thames, the city has evolved so much over the decades and it hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.
York
The USA’s most popular city, New York City is home to over 8 million people. A thriving economic and commercial hub, NYC has been described as the cultural, financial and media capital of the world.
The city from which NYC got its name, York, is quite the opposite. York, the bustling county town of Yorkshire, is one of the country’s most historic urban areas. Founded by the Romans in 71 AD, York is now city full of landmarks, sights and attractions.
Birmingham
Birmingham, as a place name, pops up all over the place, from Connecticut to Iowa. Birmingham, Alabama, however, is a busy, modern metropolis that was founded in 1871.
Birmingham is also the name of the UK’s second-most populous city. The city is a major international commercial centre and it’s also home to six universities.
Oxford
While Oxford is globally known for its academic institutions, Oxford, Maine is fairly unheard of. A sleepy New England town, Oxford is situated on the banks of Thompson Lake.
Cambridge
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, are fascinatingly similar. Both are vibrant hubs of academia and are home to some of the world’s leading educational institutions. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the home of Harvard University, while Cambridge University in the UK is equally as prestigious.
Newcastle
Britain’s Newcastle upon Tyne is a popular city in North East England. The city is home to around 300,000 people, while the metropolitan area accommodates are far larger number. Newcastle, Maine, on the other hand, has a population of just 1,700 and is perched on the pastoral Damariscotta River.
Manchester
As well as being a historic northern city in the UK, Manchester is also a city in New Hampshire. Manchester is the most densely populated city in northern New England, and has a population of over 100,000.
Plymouth
A bustling port city situated on Devon’s scenic south coast, Plymouth, UK, is thought to have the largest operational naval base in Western Europe. Its US namesake city in Massachusetts is also on the coast. The city is, of course, named after Plymouth, England where the early migrants set forth for the New World.
Chester
Chester, Pennsylvania, was founded in 1682 and is the oldest city in the state. As old as that is, Chester, England, is far older. Cheshire’s walled city dates back to 79 AD where it served at a fortress during the Roman expansion northward.
Sources
http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2015/02/7-american-cities-british-namesakes
