16 U.S. Cities That Changed Their Names, And The Fascinating Reasons Why
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Imagine stepping into a time machine and traveling back to the early days of America. The original 13 colonies were just the beginning of a sprawling nation yet to be fully mapped out. Settlers moved westward and southward, eager to plant roots in new territories. Amid the excitement of establishing new communities, one significant challenge stood out: what to name their city.
Only 36 U.S. states have cities with at least one reported name change. Of the 323 U.S. cities with former names, 157 are located in IL (that’s over 48% from one state). Many cities and towns are named after notable founders, distinctive geographical features, or cherished homelands left behind. These names can evolve as time passes, often changing several times for various intriguing reasons. Keep reading to explore 16 U.S. cities that changed their names and the fascinating reasons why.
Bronson to Kalamazoo, MI
In June 1829, Titus Bronson settled in southwest Michigan and established the village of Bronson. However, his strict beliefs against alcohol, tobacco, gambling, and dancing didn’t sit well with other settlers.
By March 1836, the town’s name was changed from Bronson to Kalamazoo, prompting Bronson to leave the area. The true meaning of “Kalamazoo” remains debated. Still, one popular legend involves a Potawatomi man named Fleet Foot, who won his bride by running to the river and back before a pot of water boiled away.
Losantiville to Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati, OH, known for its flattering nicknames like “Little Paris” and “Queen City of the West,” was initially called Losantiville. This name combined elements from multiple languages to describe its location opposite the mouth of the Licking River.
However, the first governor of the Northwest Territories, Gen. Arthur St. Clair, disliked the name and changed it in 1790 to Cincinnati, honoring the Society of the Cincinnati, a group of Revolutionary War officers.
Hot Springs to Truth or Consequences, NM
In the 1940s, the game show “Truth or Consequences” sought to celebrate its 10th anniversary by broadcasting from a town willing to adopt its name.
The small resort town of Hot Springs, NM, previously known for its mineral springs, won the honor and changed its name to Truth or Consequences.
Yerba Buena to San Francisco, CA
Before becoming San Francisco, the area was under Spanish and then Mexican control. In 1835, Englishman William Richardson established a settlement at Yerba Buena Cove, named after a local plant meaning “good herb.” The name was later changed to San Francisco in 1848, following American acquisition and rapid growth during the Gold Rush.
Jernigan to Orlando, FL
The area now known as Orlando was initially settled by the Jernigan family in the mid-1800s. Fort Gatlin was established nearby during the Second Seminole War to protect settlers from the Seminole tribe. The small settlement around the fort, named after the Jernigan family, began to expand northward.
By 1856, the community had grown significantly and underwent a name change to Orlando. When it was incorporated in 1875, Orlando boasted just 85 residents, marking the humble beginnings of what would become a bustling city.
Shawmut to Boston, MA
The first European to reside in what is now Boston was William Blaxton, an Episcopalian minister. Indigenous people called the area Shawmut, while some colonists called it Trimountaine due to its three prominent hills. Blaxton lived there alone until 1630, when he invited Puritans from Charlestown, MA, to join him due to water issues in their settlement.
The new settlers decided to rename Shawmut to Boston, drawing inspiration from Boston in Lincolnshire, England, where many had lived before emigrating. This name change occurred in September 1630 and was suggested by Isaac Johnson, a notable early colonist.
Rumford to Concord, NH
In 1725, the Massachusetts Bay Colony issued a land grant for Penacook Plantation, which was later incorporated as Rumford in 1733. However, disputes arose about its governance, leading to the discovery that Rumford was part of the Province of New Hampshire, not Massachusetts. After prolonged litigation, the town was renamed Concord in 1765 to symbolize harmony and agreement with their Massachusetts neighbors.
Big Lick to Roanoke, VA
Roanoke, VA, known as the “Capital of the Blue Ridge,” started as a small village named Big Lick in 1834, after the area’s salt marshes. The railroad’s arrival in 1852 prompted the settlement to move closer to the tracks, while the original site became Old Lick.
In 1881, the name was officially changed to Roanoke, derived from the Native American term “Rawrenock,” referring to the shell beads worn by Indigenous people. Roanoke quickly became a critical railway crossroads and was officially chartered as a city in 1884.
Juliet to Joliet, IL
In 1673, fur trader Louis Jolliet and missionary Father Jacques Marquette explored the region, including modern-day Joliet, IL. They camped on a mound named Mont Joliet by Jolliet. Fast forward to 1834, when settlers established a town called Juliet. Incorporated in 1837 and renamed Joliet in 1845 to honor the explorer, the city was re-incorporated in 1852, cementing its historical roots.
Boiling Springs Township to East Rutherford, NJ
Initially incorporated as Boiling Springs Township in 1889, the area swiftly changed its name to East Rutherford in 1894 after a successful referendum.
East Rutherford is now famed as the home of the NFL’s New York Jets and New York Giants, distinguishing itself from neighboring Rutherford, NJ.
Eugene City to Eugene, OR
Eugene, Oregon, home to the University of Oregon, was originally inhabited by the Chifin band of the Kalapuyan people. Diseases decimated the native population in the 19th century. In 1846, Eugene Skinner filed the first land claim in the area, building his cabin on what became known as Skinner’s Butte.
Initially called Eugene City, the settlement suffered from frequent floods, earning it the nickname Skinner’s Mudhole. In 1864, the name was shortened to Eugene for simplicity, and the city continued to grow.
Waterloo to Austin, TX
Austin, Texas, known for its vibrant music scene and home to the University of Texas, was once a humble settlement called Waterloo. In 1835, Jacob Harrell was the first to settle here, building a log stockade where the Congress Avenue Bridge stands today.
The future president of Texas, Mirabeau B. Lamar, visited Harrell’s stockade and recommended the site to the Texas Congress as the new capital of the Republic of Texas. The settlement’s name was later changed to Austin to honor Stephen F. Austin, often called the “Father of Texas” for his role in the area’s early colonization.
Manchester to Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
Manchester-by-the-Sea, a picturesque town about 30 miles from Boston, MA, originally bore the more straightforward name of Manchester. The Indigenous Agawam people first inhabited the area before being settled by English colonists in the early 1600s.
By 1989, nearly 350 years after its incorporation, the town decided to distinguish itself from other New England towns named Manchester by officially changing its name to Manchester-by-the-Sea. The decision was passed by a narrow margin of just 33 votes.
Cleaveland to Cleveland, OH
Cleveland, OH, didn’t get its name from its English sister city, Cleveland, Yorkshire. Instead, it was named after Moses Cleaveland, who led the survey of the Connecticut Western Reserve in 1796.
The original spelling, “Cleaveland,” was streamlined by the local paper, The Cleveland Advertiser, in 1831, which dropped the “a” because it was deemed unnecessary. The new spelling stuck, and the city has been known as Cleveland ever since.
Denver
Colorado’s capital is named after James W. Denver, a 19th-century Renaissance man who served in Congress, fought in the United States Army, and served as Governor of the Kansas Territory. He only visited his namesake city twice, in 1875 and 1882, and was reportedly unhappy that the residents didn’t give him more of a hero’s welcome.
Phoenix, AZ
In the late 1860s, as settlers began to establish what would become Phoenix, they needed a fitting name for their new town. Confederate veteran Jack Swilling proposed “Stonewall” after Stonewall Jackson, but Darrell Duppa saw a deeper connection.
Recognizing that the area had been a Native American settlement centuries earlier, he suggested “Phoenix,” symbolizing the new city rising from the ruins of the old civilization.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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