Most Common City Names in the US

With a country as large as the US, it stands to reason that some of the city and town names might be repeated over time. This list takes a look at the most common names in the country and the reasons for their popularity.

Washington

With 88 different cities and towns throughout the country named Washington, this names takes 1st place. Given that the first president of the United States was George Washington, the fact that so many communities have honored him in this way is no surprise. The most famous city with this name is Washington DC, the capital of the country.

Springfield

Springfield comes in 2nd place with 41 different cities and towns sharing its name. The first place with this name was founded in 1636, Springfield, Massachusetts. It was named after Springfield in Essex, England. George Washington founded the National Armory here and later it became a world leader during the Industrial Revolution. Today, the Simpsons television show is set in a Springfield.

Franklin

Number 3 on the list is Franklin. 35 different cities and towns have this name. This name is the second name on the list that is used to honor one of the founding fathers. Benjamin Franklin played an important role in shaping the United States. Some of his many achievements include helping to draft the Declaration of Independence, promoting colonial unity, serving as US Ambassador to France, and establishing the first national communication network via the postal service.

Greenville

Next, on the list is Greenville, with 30 city and town names. One of the oldest cities with this name is Greenville, South Carolina, which was founded in 1786. The name was derived from the lush, green appearance of the surroundings. Today, there is even a Greenville on the other side of the country in California!

Bristol

There are 29 Bristol’s in the US and owes its popularity to the Bristol of England, one of the country’s most economically important cities. Some of the famous places in the US with this name are located in Virginia, Tennessee, and Connecticut. Bristol, Tennessee is considered the birthplace of country music.

Clinton

Clinton is tied with Bristol at 29 places in the country, three of these are located in New York state. The name seems to have spread in popularity after Dewitt Clinton, a US senator, and governor of New York. His biggest legacy was the construction of the Erie Canal.

Fairview

The next most popular city name is Fairview. The origin of Fairview name is not clear though several places cite it as referring to the scenery which provides a “fair view”. The Fairview located in Utah was one of the first towns in the state to be established by Mormon settlers.

Salem

Salem is another common name in the US and has been assigned to 26 cities and towns all over the country. The most famous of these is Salem, Massachusetts, which held the 1692 witch trials. These trials were responsible for the court-ordered death penalty of 14 innocent women and six men who had been accused of witchcraft. The use of the Salem name spread when people settled into new areas and used the name of their former home.

Madison

The next place on the list is Madison with 24 different cities carrying the name. This name is popular due to the 4th president of the nation, James Madison. His greatest legacy is having participated in drafting the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. He also worked closely with George Washington to organize the new federal government. One of the most famous places is Madison, Wisconsin, the state’s capital.

Georgetown

Last, on the list is Georgetown. This name has been repeated in cities and towns 23 times. One of the many Georgetown’s, today, is a neighborhood in Washington, DC and was founded by George Gordon and George Beall around 1745. There are antagonistic views as to whether the town was named for them or the then-King George II of England. It has inspired the same city name throughout the country.