The United States of America has made tremendous progress in the last few decades. The cities of the USA are known worldwide for their quality of life. But what if we tell you that a few cities were named differently a few decades ago? Yes, that’s right. You won’t be able to guess the original names of the following American cities. Let’s take a trip down to discover the original names of the famous cities.
New York City
New York got its present name from the Duke of York, who named it after the city of York in England. Before becoming New York, the city was called New Amsterdam. New Amsterdam was originally bought from the Natives, but it was under legal confrontation for a long time. Finally, it was owned by the Dutch Settlement before passing on to the modern-day Americans.
Los Angeles, California
In Spanish, Los Angeles was called the ‘The town of the Queen of Angels’. It was a rich, fertile land, and Americans had long coveted it. After they gained control of the city, they named it Los Angeles, a simple version of its original name. In recent years, Los Angeles has developed its image as a home to many Hollywood stars. Most of the celebrities are currently settled in Los Angeles.
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville was named after the territorial Governor of Florida, Andrew Jackson, who later became the President of the United States. Before it was named Jacksonville, the city was called Cowford. The old town was inhabited by the natives before the French and Spanish attacks. Ultimately, Americans invaded it and named it Jacksonville.
Miami, Florida
Modern-day Miami was supposed to be named Flagler after Henry Flagler, who was in the oil business and constructed several high-end resorts in the area. The city’s residents were so happy that they named the city after him. But he rejected the proposal and decided to give the town a name with the Native touch and call it Miami.
Atlanta, Georgia
The city had two different names before it officially became Atlanta. It was first called the Terminus after the railway line, and later, it was called Marthasville after the daughter of Governor Wilson Lumpkin. Later, the city’s leader wanted a name that could reflect its growth and ambition, thus the city was named ‘Atlanta’ after a train reference Atlantica—Pacifica.
Cincinnati, Ohio
In the early 1700s, Cincinnati was called Losantiville. The city name was inspired by the Licking River, as the city faced the river. But around the 1790s, Arthur St. Clair, the territorial Governor of the city at that time, decided to rename the city. He named the city Cincinnati after a War veteran group—the Society of Cincinnati. The word Cincinnati was derived from Roman ruler Lucius Cincinnatus, who was a great leader of his time.
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston got its name from the colonists who were passing through. In the 1600s, it was named after a city with the same name in England. Before Boston, the city was called Trimount, as there was a large hill in the area with three high peaks. Later, these peaks were cut down to expand the bay area and establish the city’s identity as a major port city.
Orlando, Florida
Orlando City developed out of a war when the US constructed Fort Gatlin to safeguard the people from attacks by the natives. When the Settlement around the fort grew, the city was named after the first families who settled there. The town was called Jernigan. No one knows how the city got its name, Orlando, as many legends revolve around this name. Some people say this name is taken from a play by Shakespeare, and others say it was the name of one who settled in the city. However, there are no solid clues as to where the name actually originated.
Portland, Oregon
Portland was called The Clearing before its name was changed. The clearing was a settlement located in the area, and the city was named after that Settlement. It is said that the Portland name was finalized when two men tossed a coin to select it. One side of the coin represented Portland, and the other represented Boston. The Portland side won, and since then, the city has been called by this name.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle got its name from a native American leader whose name was Sealth. Before renaming the city, it was called New York-Alki. Yes, it was named after the famous New York City to pay it respect before changing its name to Seattle. Modern-day Seattle is home to many Americans and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, known particularly for its tech industry and stunning natural beauty.
Austin, Texas
Austin was a small village called Waterloo before getting its name. The Tonkawa tribe lived in the village for a long time before Americans discovered it in the 1930s. The new city was named after the Father of Texas, Stephen F. Austin.
Phoenix, Arizona
The area was founded by Jack Swilling, a Confederate veteran who started calling the city Swilling’s Mill. Before he arrived in the 1860s, many people lived there for thousands of years. They fled away due to unknown reasons. The new city was named Phoenix by Phillip Darrel, who believed that the city would rise like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
San Diego, California
San Diego was first discovered in early 1500 by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who named it San Miguel. The city was advancing quickly and became a target for both Mexicans and Americans due to its strategic location. In the 1700s, the Americans invaded the city, changed its name and started calling it San Diego.
San Francisco, California
The city now known as San Francisco was once called Yerba Buena. Yerba Buena is an indigenous plant found in abundance in the region. In the early 1840s, Americans and Mexicans fought to own the city. The Americans won the battle and named the town San Francisco.