There are many cities in the United States named after foreign places: you can go to Naples, Florida or Paris, Illinois.
- In fact, according to a new project from the Axios Visual Group, there are too many cities to travel the world without ever leaving the Sunshine State.
in number, There are at least 19 cities with foreign names in Florida, from St. Petersburg and the Venice District of Sarasota to Miramar and Melbourne.
Overview: Immigrants often gave these names in their country or hometown, which explains why Dutch names clustered in the Hudson Valley or why Scandinavian names were common in Minnesota.
Between the lines; These place names reflect the history of immigration to the United States. Basically, they show who has the money and status and is legally allowed to live in America.
- The majority of those in our database, 72%, are from Europe, with smaller numbers from Asia, Africa or Latin America.
Present: Peter Demons was an exiled Russian nobleman named after the city of St. Petersburg.
- About 135 years ago, Demons received land in what is now St. Pete from John Constantine Williams, a settler who moved to Tampa from Detroit, Michigan in 1875.
- Demmens, who owned the railroad, helped build the Orange Belt Railroad to the Williams settlement. The first train arrived in St. Petersburg in 1888.
- According to local tradition, Demans and Williams immediately decided who would call the town home. The Demons won by calling St. Petersburg Russia.
Fun fact: Williams named the city’s first hotel after his hometown of Detroit.
Weight: Do you live in one of these cities? Do you know the history of the culture?
- Email us to share fun facts, spelling variations, or photos.
go ahead – See the entire project with interactive maps, charts and more!
