7 U.S. Towns With Patriotic Names
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Share on XShare on RedditCopy ArticleAdd us as a preferred sourceIf you look at a map of the United States, it starts to look less like a travel guide and more like a Founding Father’s to-do list.
The numbers back this up: the Census Bureau identifies at least 55 incorporated places across the U.S. with patriotic names, led by "Liberty" and a close runner-up, "Independence." And that’s not to mention the many towns named after our many presidents, from George Washington to Abraham Lincoln. If you look at a map of the United States, it starts to look less like a travel guide and more like a Founding Father’s to-do list.
The numbers back this up: the Census Bureau identifies at least 55 incorporated places across the U.S. with patriotic names, led by "Liberty" and a close runner-up, "Independence." And that’s not to mention the many towns named after our many presidents, from George Washington to Abraham Lincoln. But naming a town is a lot like naming a baby—sometimes the place grows up to match the name, and sometimes the name just makes things complicated.
From heated town hall meetings to makeshift flag poles, the stories behind these U.S. towns' patriotic names are rarely as simple as they sound. But naming a town is a lot like naming a baby—sometimes the place grows up to match the name, and sometimes the name just makes things complicated.
From heated town hall meetings to makeshift flag poles, the stories behind these U.S. towns' patriotic names are rarely as simple as they sound. You’d assume a town named Independence was named for the Fourth of July, but the real story is much more complex.
The land was once Osage territory before founder George A. Brown bought it in 1869 for just $50. He originally called the town Colfax, but that didn't last.
A group of settlers from nearby Oswego showed up, built their own cabins, and decided the town needed a new look. They renamed it "Independence"—a nod to their own independent spirit and the hard work they put into building the place from scratch. You’d assume a town named Independence was named for the Fourth of July, but the real story is much more complex.
The land was once Osage territory before founder George A. Brown bought it in 1869 for just $50. He originally called the town Colfax, but that didn't last.
A group of settlers from nearby Oswego showed up, built their own cabins, and decided the town needed a new look. They renamed it "Independence"—a nod to their own independent spirit and the hard work they put into building the place from scratch. Naming a town after a president is one thing, but naming it as an act of rebellion is another.
Originally a steamboat stop on the Ohio River, the area was settled by a group called the Harmony Society. In 1824, these abolitionists set out for Pennsylvania, fleeing rejection from their previous home, Indiana. Naming a town after a president is one thing, but naming it as an act of rebellion is another.
Originally a steamboat stop on the Ohio River, the area was settled by a group called the Harmony Society. In 1824, these abolitionists set out for Pennsylvania, fleeing rejection from their previous home, Indiana. To make their stance on human rights crystal clear, they plastered the word "Freedom" on signs all over the region.
The name stuck, and it eventually became official on the maps used by steamboat captains. It’s a one-word protest that’s been part of the town’s identity for almost two centuries.
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