World traveling, at home

Why is there a Paris in Texas? Discover 12 U.S. towns with foreign names

Image: Florian Wehde

You don’t need to leave the U.S. to take a trip around the world. All you have to do is check a map! Scattered across the country are dozens of American towns and cities named after faraway places, from Athens, Georgia, to Barcelona, New York. Did you know about these 12 cities and the origin of their names?

Image: Tom W

Birmingham, Alabama, was founded in 1871 and named after Birmingham, England, to reflect its industrial ambitions. James R. Powell, one of the founders, had recently visited the English city and proposed the name.

Inspired by England’s iron and steel hub, the new Birmingham quickly grew and earned the nickname "The Magic City" for its rapid industrial development.

Image: Chris Karidis

Named after the French capital city, Paris, Texas, was officially established in 1844 and became the county seat of Lamar County before the Civil War.

The name was supposedly chosen by founder George W. Wright in a lighthearted or playful spirit, according to local lore.

Image: Florian Wehde

Berlin, Connecticut, was formed from parts of several nearby towns. It was originally called Kensington before being renamed after Berlin, the then capital of Prussia.

The name likely reflected admiration for Frederick the Great, seen as a supporter of the American Revolution. Unlike its German namesake, the town's name is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable.

Image: David Köhler

Rome, New York, was named after Rome, Italy, following a trend of naming towns in upstate New York after classical European cities. The area was previously called Lynchville, after its Irish settler Dominick Lynch.

The name "Rome" had already been given to the township during the "Classical Naming Period."

Image: Florian Wehde

Madrid, Iowa, was named after Madrid, Spain, but the choice was rooted in personal spite. During the third town survey in 1855, local landowner Gaston named it to irritate his Swedish in-laws and a Spanish employee.

Despite the odd origin, the name remained through subsequent surveys and was officially kept when the town was incorporated in 1883.

Image: Constantinos Kollias

Athens, Georgia, was named after Athens, Greece, to reflect ideals of learning and culture. The name was chosen in 1801 by John Milledge when he purchased land for the University of Georgia.

Inspired by classical traditions, Milledge wanted the new town to symbolize intellectual pursuit, much like its ancient namesake.

Image: Michael Parulava

Moscow, Pennsylvania, was settled in the 1830s, with Reverend Peter Rupert, a Lutheran minister, playing a key role in its founding. The town’s early economy centered on lumbering and agriculture.

It was named after Moscow, Russia, possibly due to Russian settlers or shared religious ties with Reverend Rupert.

Image: Brandy Willetts

Versailles, Kentucky, was founded in 1792 on land owned by Hezekiah Briscoe. His guardian, Major Marquis Calmes, named the town after Versailles, France.

The name honored General Lafayette, a family friend and Revolutionary War hero with strong ties to the French city. It was chosen as a personal tribute and reflected French influence.

Image: Ben Seymour

Oxford, Mississippi, was founded in 1837 and named after Oxford, England, to attract a university. The founders hoped to establish the town as a center of learning.

Their plan succeeded when Mississippi chose Oxford as the site for its first state university in 1841. The university opened in 1848, fulfilling the city’s academic vision.

Image: Lāsma Artmane

Frankfort, Illinois, was named after Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany, the hometown of early settler Frederick Cappel. He named it Frankfort Township in 1850.

When the railroad arrived in 1855, it established "Frankfort Station." The village later dropped "Station" when it was officially incorporated.

Image: Joshua Stannard

Venice, California, was founded by Abbot Kinney, who aimed to recreate the charm of Venice, Italy. He designed the town with canals, pedestrian bridges, and Venetian-style architecture.

Kinney envisioned it as a seaside resort with a romantic, European feel. The canals became a key attraction, drawing visitors and shaping the town's unique identity.

Image: Ken Cheung

Barcelona, New York, was originally called Portland and laid out in 1813. In 1836, a local businessman who had spent time in Spain urged the name change to Barcelona.

The village thrived as a harbor in the 1830s and 1840s, but declined after railroads took over regional transport. It later became part of the Town of Westfield.

FROM FACT TO FICTION

10 Real People Who Inspired Famous Fictional Characters

Image: Sergey Semin

Does life imitate art more than art imitates life? We don’t know. But regardless of where you stand on Oscar Wilde’s famous conundrum, one thing is certain: many of the most beloved fictional characters in film and literature have been inspired by real people. From Sherlock Holmes to Miss Piggy, the influence of real-life personalities on fictional creations knows no bounds. Here, we explore 10 intriguing examples of characters who were molded after actual individuals!

Image: Clément Falize

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective, Sherlock Holmes was heavily inspired by Dr. Joseph Bell, a Scottish surgeon renowned for his sharp observational skills and deductive reasoning. Bell's knack for diagnosing patients based solely on observation laid the foundation for Holmes' exceptional investigative abilities.

Doyle, who had studied under Bell at the University of Edinburgh, was profoundly impacted by Bell's methods. In his autobiography, Doyle reminisced about his former teacher and speculated that "if he were a detective, he would surely reduce this fascinating but unorganized business to something nearer to an exact science."

Image: Boston Public Library

Margaret Mitchell's Southern Belle protagonist from Gone with the Wind was inspired by Mitchell's own ancestors, particularly her feisty great-grandmother.

Mitchell's family stories and the oral histories she grew up with shaped Scarlett's resilient and ambitious character, capturing the spirit of the American South during the Civil War and Reconstruction. She blended these anecdotes with her own observations of Southern society, crafting a unique but believable character loved for both her complexity and tenacity.

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The noble and principled lawyer Atticus Finch from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird was modeled after her own father, Amasa Coleman Lee. Like Atticus, A.C. Lee was a lawyer who defended African American clients in racially charged cases in Alabama during the 1930s.

Harper Lee admired her father's sense of justice and moral integrity, qualities she infused into the character of Atticus Finch. Through Finch, Lee tackled themes of racial injustice and moral courage during a period when few dared to do so, making him a timeless literary hero in the process.

Image: Milad Fakurian

The sophisticated and cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter, created by Thomas Harris in The Silence of the Lambs, was inspired by Mexican physician and convicted murderer Alfredo Ballí Treviño.

Ballí Treviño was known for his charm and intelligence, traits that Harris integrated into Lecter's chilling persona. Harris, a journalist at the time, covered Ballí Treviño's trial and drew upon his demeanor and intellect to shape Lecter, creating one of fiction's most captivating and terrifying villains.

Image: Joey Nicotra

Johnny Depp's portrayal of the eccentric pirate Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean series was famously inspired by Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards.

Depp modeled Sparrow's mannerisms, speech patterns, and rock 'n' roll attitude after Richards, whom he admired for his rebellious spirit and iconic style. The character's swagger and unpredictable nature have made Sparrow a beloved figure in popular culture and an affectionate homage to the rock star.

Image: Kier in Sight Archives

F. Scott Fitzgerald's mysterious and enigmatic millionaire Jay Gatsby was partially inspired by Max Gerlach, a notorious bootlegger during the Prohibition era. Gerlach's lavish parties and extravagant lifestyle in Long Island served as the backdrop for Gatsby's opulent world in The Great Gatsby.

Interestingly, Fitzgerald claimed that Gerlach was his neighbor at some point in time, and it would make sense for him to draw inspiration from his immediate surroundings to tackle the essence and moral complexities of the Roaring Twenties.

Image: Attentie Attentie

Sylvester Stallone's iconic underdog boxer Rocky Balboa was inspired by Chuck Wepner, a journeyman boxer who famously went the distance with Muhammad Ali in 1975. Stallone claims that he was inspired by Wepner's determination, as well as his own struggles as an actor trying to break into Hollywood.

In any case, both the character and the film resonated deeply with audiences worldwide for their heartfelt portrayal of perseverance and the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Image: NEOM

Although George Lucas never fully explained where he drew his inspiration from—and there may have been multiple individuals with similar characteristics—it is speculated that his iconic character, Indiana Jones, an adventurous archaeologist and professor, was significantly inspired by Roy Chapman Andrews.

Andrews was an American explorer, adventurer, and naturalist known for his daring expeditions across Asia, especially Mongolia, during the 1920s.

Image: thomas RICHARD

Thought Popeye was just a stereotype of a sailor? Well, it turns out he was based on a real person. The spinach-loving, pipe-smoking comic strip and cartoon character created by Elzie Crisler Segar was inspired by Frank "Rocky" Fiegel.

Fiegel was a tough, strong-willed man from Segar's hometown of Chester, Illinois, known for his physical strength and willingness to fight to protect his friends. In homage to his friend, Segar based Popeye's demeanor, accent, and strong moral compass on Fiegel's persona.

Image: Matt Botsford

Miss Piggy, the glamorous and assertive Muppet diva from The Muppet Show, drew inspiration from singer and actress Peggy Lee. In fact, the iconic Muppet's full name was initially Miss Piggy Lee. Known for her sultry voice and charismatic stage presence, Lee influenced more than just Miss Piggy's name; her character pays homage to Lee's theatrical persona and romantic aspirations.

It should be noted that there was no disrespect intended; quite the contrary, and as Piggy's fame grew, the show’s creators decided they did not want to risk upsetting Peggy Lee, whom they greatly admired, and decided to shorten the name to Miss Piggy.