When used in copy, some U.S. cities are not followed by their states. Determining factors are each city’s population, the frequency of the city’s appearance in the news, the uniqueness of its name and experience that has shown the name to be almost synonymous with its state.
Thirty cities meet the standard. All central cities of the top 20 MSA (save Tampa and Riverside). It gets more random after that, with St. Louis (23rd largest MSA), San Antonio (24th), Pittsburgh (27th), Las Vegas (29th), Cincinnati (30th), Cleveland (33rd), Indianapolis (34th), Milwaukee (40th), OKC (42nd), Salt Lake City (46th), Honolulu (55th), and New Orleans (58th).
Sheesh, in terms of amenities it’s pretty on par with Raleigh, it’s got more historic architecture, and better nightlife. Plus it’s incredibly affordable and has plenty of oil money sloshing around.
Definitely does not have Raleigh’s weekend access to gorgeous nature and has even worse walkability, but OKC isn’t bad.
There’s a Western Carolina U and an East Carolina U, but no Eastern!
I think the biggest issue is the usual one where capitals that aren’t the biggest city can get a bit forgotten, even if they’re relatively sizeable. St Paul, Sacramento, and Baton Rouge come to mind.
Here are all the cities named 'RALEIGH" in the US. You mean to tell me when you say “Raleigh” the person next to you say oh yeah Raleigh Georgia. If you don’t know where I mean when I say Raleigh - well then, I can’t help you.
When I’ve talked to people from other regions of the country, I’ve gotten the question “Raleigh, that’s South Carolina, right?” or “Oh yeah, I’ve heard of Raleigh. Is that North or South Carolina?”
Many years ago I was visiting my cousin in Georgia and told someone I lived in North Carolina. He looked puzzled and said, do you mean Upper South Carolina?? #Georgia
Thanks for this list. Had never heard of another “Raleigh” before.
Took a virtual tour via Google Maps and Wikipedia. Most are census tracts or post office communities in the 300+ range. Largest was the Mississippi one at around 1100 renamed when it became the county seat.
Google street views of the main crossroads for most featured an abandoned store or two and houses. Camera car didn’t even make it to a couple.
Charlotte actually has a lot of problems with folks not knowing where it is. This is exacerbated by the fact that there are cities with similar names like Charlottesville, Charleston SC, and Charleston, WV.
Agreed about people confusing all those cities starting with “Charl”. I have a relative who still confuses Charlotte, Charleston, and Charlottesville even after I lived in one of them for several years.
So at least there is only one Raleigh people have heard of, even if they don’t know which Carolina it is in.
Raleigh is middle of the pack in sporcle’s capital quiz in terms of how many people forget it (#26). Not bad but reflective of how it hasn’t been a major city for very long and isn’t really known for anything other than being a capital, the 2nd largest city in its state, and a tech hub.
Needs more cultural exports to lose the state initials.
The Hurricanes will NOT be changing names, but IF we got an MLB (and BIG IF there), I do like the alliteration of “Raleigh Reapers” - however, I simply do NOT see Raleigh/any city in either of the Carolinas naming a professional sports team anything that could be seen as “demonic” or “satanic” (even if it was referring to the Carolina Reaper hot pepper). Thus said, I was a big fan of the “Carolina Copperheads” name (again, great alliteration) so… sorry, I gotta vote for another “Carolina” team if we do happen to get MLB in Raleigh.
this has always been funny to me because two of the most recognizable schools in our state with religious affiliations have the blue devils and demon deacons as mascots.
City name