If you were asked to write the longest word you know, what would it be? Perhaps, Mary Poppins’ legendary song,” Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?” How about a city name? Can you recall visiting, or maybe even residing in a city that has an unusually long name? The team at 24/7 Wall St. set out to discover the 50 longest city names in the country.
To find the longest city name, we reviewed all incorporated towns, cities, and villages in the nation that are tracked by the U.S. Census.
Each place has its own history and folklore of how the names came to be. Some were founded near larger cities and adopted similar names with the addition of modifiers such as “heights” or “falls” or “woods” at the end. For example, South Chicago Heights is just 25 miles south of Chicago. Other names are hyphenated, which typically indicates that two formerly distinct municipalities were merged into one, doubling the length of a normal city name.
Click here to see the towns and cities with the longest names.
As is the case with most city names, the origin of each is either relatively effortless to identify or terribly difficult to interpret. A handful of towns maintain the same name that was given by their first settlers. Others underwent a name-change to reflect their relation to neighboring landmarks, cities, or a string of communities they are a part of.
For example, the names of three cities neighboring Detroit begin with Grosse Pointe, and they’re all located within a three-mile radius of each other. Each of these Grosse Pointe cities is characterized as an upscale, affluent community.
Some cities have a comical twist to their names’ origins. Take the quirky town of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico as an example. The town acquired its current funky name from a radio show called, you guessed it, “Truth or Consequences.” The town, which was originally called Hot Springs, offered to change its name to that of the radio show’s in return for the program coming to town for an episode. The rest is, as they say, history.
Read on to get the scoop on all of the other longest city names.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed the Census Bureau’s 2016 American Community Survey and ranked each U.S. city, more than 29,000 of them, in order of the characters in their name to determine the longest city names in the nation. We omitted suffixes like “city,” “borough,” “village,” and “town” from a city name. Population data came from the Census Bureau’s 2016 American Community Survey five-year averages.
Source: jfbenning / Getty Images
50. Spring Lake Heights
> State: New Jersey
> Population: 4,646
Spring Lake Heights is located in Monmouth County in eastern New Jersey. Founded in 1927, the town was named after Spring Lake, the neighboring coastal pond.
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Source: avisJodi Wikimedia Commons / D
49. Batesburg-Leesville
> State: South Carolina
> Population: 5,273
This small town sits in the western part of Lexington County in South Carolina and is the midpoint between Augusta, Georgia, and the state capital, Columbia. Batesburg-Leesville was formerly two separate towns that merged into one in 1992.
Source: Andrew Filer from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) / Wikimedia Commons
48. International Falls
> State: Minnesota
> Population: 6,226
Located in Koochiching County Minnesota, International Falls has been around as early as the 17th century. Originally known as the Village of Koochiching, the name changed to International Falls in 1903 after the local river that borders two nations: Canada and the U.S.
Source: Joshua Moore / Getty Images
47. St. Augustine Beach
> State: Florida
> Population: 6,710
St. Augustine Beach is an ideal travel destination for beach lovers. Located in St. Johns County, Florida, this small beach town was incorporated in 1959, more than century after St. Augustine — which is located about five miles north of the town — was founded in 1822.
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
46. Grosse Pointe Farms
> State: Michigan
> Population: 9,265
Grosse Pointe Farms is classified as an upscale, suburban community on the shores of Lake St. Clair in Wayne County, Michigan. The small city, which was established in 1892, borders Detroit, Michigan’s largest city.
Source: jpowers65 / Flickr
45. Grosse Pointe Woods
> State: Michigan
> Population: 15,785
Situated just three miles north of Grosse Pointe Farms is Grosse Pointe Woods, a city with a population of 15,785 people within 3.28 square miles. The city is also located in Wayne County, Michigan, and was incorporated in 1927 as the Village of Lochmoor. It wouldn’t receive its present-day name until December 1950.
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Source: jferrer / Getty Images
44. Inver Grove Heights
> State: Minnesota
> Population: 34,757
About eight miles south of Minnesota’s capital city, Saint Paul, lies Inver Grove Heights in Dakota County. Incorporated originally as a township in 1858, Inver Grove Heights has grown considerably over the past century and a half, encompassing nearly 30 square miles of wooded terrain and with a population of nearly 34,800 people.
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Source: Victor Yee / Getty Images
43. San Juan Capistrano
> State: California
> Population: 36,006
San Juan Capistrano is one of the many affluent cities in Orange County. The city got its name from Mission San Juan Capistrano which was founded in 1775, the seventh of 21 missions in that area of California.
Source: Focqus, LLC / Getty Images
42. Rancho Palos Verdes
> State: California
> Population: 42,412
Rancho Palos Verdes, or, “Ranch of Green Sticks,” is one of four small cities located within The Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles County. The peninsula is rich in history, having been home to Native Americans for thousands of years. The city got its name from Juan Jose Sepulveda, a man who ran cattle on a section of the Rancho in 1810.
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Source: mliu92 / Flickr
41. South San Francisco
> State: California
> Population: 66,587
South San Francisco, located in San Mateo County, California, is just under 10 miles south of San Francisco, at the southern portion of San Bruno Mountain. South San Francisco was incorporated in the early 20th century.
Source: Anderson Country Club / Facebook
40. Country Club Heights
> State: Indiana
> Population: 115
Country Club Heights may have one of the longest names for a town or city, but its population is one of the smallest. This tiny town in Madison County, Indiana, has a population of 115 people, the second smallest on this list.
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Source: Courtesy of Village of Grand View-On-Hudson New York
39. Grand View-on-Hudson
> State: New York
> Population: 366
Grand View-on-Hudson, a small town in Rockland County, New York, is located about 25 miles north of New York City. Formerly known as Grand View, the town was first incorporated in 1900. However, due to a dispute between residents over taxes for maintaining River Road 17 years later, the village disincorporated. One year later the town was incorporated again as Grand View-on-Hudson.
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Source: Flickr / Bill_alden
38. Old Brownsboro Place
> State: Kentucky
> Population: 393
Old Brownsboro Place is located in Jefferson County, Kentucky, and has just under 400 people living there. It sits near the state border with Indiana and is just eight miles northeast of Louisville.
Source: 88671712@N08 / Flickr
37. Jupiter Inlet Colony
> State: Florida
> Population: 508
Settlement in Jupiter Inlet Colony is said to date back to 1565. The name Jupiter originated in 1763, when English settlers first came to the area. Spanish explorers had named the river running through the inlet, Jobe River. The English settlers thought this name sounded like the mythological god Jupiter. The town, located in Palm Beach County, Florida, would not get its present-day name until 1955.
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
36. Green Mountain Falls
> State: Colorado
> Population: 644
Twelve miles northwest of Colorado Springs, amid the mountain valley that Pike National Forest encloses, lies the small town of Green Mountain Falls. Located in El Paso County, the town was incorporated in 1890.
Source: 62615378@N02 / Flickr
35. Ingleside on the Bay
> State: Texas
> Population: 676
Ingleside on the Bay, located in San Patricio County, Texas, wasn’t incorporated into a town until 1991. The small town is located just under four miles from Ingleside, a considerably larger city in size.
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Source: Courtesy of Lake St. Croix Beach
34. Lake St. Croix Beach
> State: Minnesota
> Population: 1,071
Lake St. Croix Beach in Washington County, Minnesota, was incorporated in 1951. This city was one of the last river communities in Washington County to emerge.
Source: bojphoto / Flickr
33. Marriott-Slaterville
> State: Utah
> Population: 1,784
Marriott-Slaterville is located in Weber County, Utah, about 40 miles north of Salt Lake City. The town was incorporated nearly 20 years ago, however, Marriott and Slaterville coexisted as two separate communities as early as the mid 19th century.
Source: daveynin / Flickr
32. Southwest Greensburg
> State: Pennsylvania
> Population: 1,984
Southwest Greensburg is located in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and has a population of just under 2,000 people. The small city is roughly 25 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, the state’s second largest city.
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Source: Brent Eckley / Flickr
31. Little River-Academy
> State: Texas
> Population: 2,049
Little River-Academy, home to just over 2,000 residents, is situated in Bell County, Texas. Little River and Academy had formerly been two separate communities, but were united around 1980.
Source: Ken Lund / Flickr
30. Grosse Pointe Shores
> State: Michigan
> Population: 2,933
Grosse Pointe Shores is the smallest of five Grosse Pointe communities in Michigan, and one of three on this list. Located primarily in Wayne County with a portion of the border extending into Macomb County, the town was formally established in 1911.
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Source: Daniel Case / Wikimedia Commons
29. South Blooming Grove
> State: New York
> Population: 3,182
South Blooming Grove is one of 13 towns and villages in Orange County, New York. The village is located about 47 miles north of New York City.
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
28. Daytona Beach Shores
> State: Florida
> Population: 4,351
Those trying to use up vacation days may feel inclined to visit this city. Daytona Beach Shores is located in Volusia County, Florida, just south of the much larger Daytona Beach. Local businessmen founded Daytona Beach Shores because they thought a smaller community would benefit residents.
Source: Dough4872 / Wikimedia Commons
27. Point Pleasant Beach
> State: New Jersey
> Population: 4,594
Point Pleasant Beach is located within Ocean County, on the east coast of New Jersey. This beach town is full of fun activities, including rides, miniature golf, and even an aquarium. A boardwalk on the beach also offers a variety of snacks from popcorn to waffles.
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Source: bobistraveling / Flickr
26. Boiling Spring Lakes
> State: North Carolina
> Population: 5,703
This small city of Brunswick County, North Carolina, is quite aptly named. Boiling Spring Lakes is named after the city’s active spring. Geologists in the state have calculated that the spring releases 43 million gallons of water per day.
Source: dasqfamily / Flickr
25. Indian Harbour Beach
> State: Florida
> Population: 8,381
Indian Harbour Beach was established decades ago as a residential community in Brevard County, Florida. The city is located just under 30 miles from the Kennedy Space Center and is nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon.
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Source: Courtesy of the City of Warrensville Heights, Ohio
24. Warrensville Heights
> State: Ohio
> Population: 13,293
Warrensville Heights is located in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The city is located just 10 miles southeast of Cleveland.
Source: dentok / Getty Images
23. Palos Verdes Estates
> State: California
> Population: 13,582
Palos Verdes Estates is located in Los Angeles County in California 23 miles southwest of Los Angeles, near Long Beach.
Source: kenlund / Flickr
22. La Cañada Flintridge
> State: California
> Population: 20,477
La Cañada Flintridge is one of three towns and cities on this list located in Los Angeles County, California. It is home to Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
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Source: JohnWNixon / Getty Images
21. North Richland Hills
> State: Texas
> Population: 67,994
North Richland Hills is home to the largest population on this list with nearly 70,000 residents. The city is located in Tarrant County, Texas and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.
Source: Yinan Chen / Wikimedia Commons
20. Weldon Spring Heights
> State: Missouri
> Population: 109
Weldon Spring Heights may have a long name, but it is one of the smallest towns in the nation with just over 100 people. The town is located in St. Charles County in Missouri.
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Source: Wikimedia Commons / Ser Amantio di Nicolao
19. Charlotte Court House
> State: Virginia
> Population: 646
Smack dab in the middle of Virginia is Charlotte Court House, a small city located in Charlotte County, Virginia. The town is about 75 miles southwest of the state capital, Richmond.
Source: Mike Cline / Wikimedia Commons
18. White Sulphur Springs
> State: Montana
> Population: 999
White Sulphur Springs is located in Meagher County, Montana,roughly 35 miles southwest of Glacier National Park.
Source: Dlohcierekim's sock. / Wikimedia Commons
17. North Redington Beach
> State: Florida
> Population: 1,533
North Redington Beach lies in the heart of Pinellas County, Florida. It was incorporated in 1953 and consists mostly of single family, waterfront homes.
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Source: Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
16. White Sulphur Springs
> State: West Virginia
> Population: 2,518
Montana isn’t the only state with a town called White Sulphur Springs. Greenbrier County in southeastern West Virginia is also home to a White Sulphur Springs. The town lies nearby the Allegheny Mountains.
Source: Wikimedia Commons / Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD
15. Peapack and Gladstone
> State: New Jersey
> Population: 2,588
Peapack and Gladstone is one of the longest names for a city or town, and arguably one of the strangest. Located in Somerset County, New Jersey, Peapack and Gladstone is a rather affluent area, with a handful of prominent figures owning real estate there including the King of Morocco.
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Source: Courtesy of the Village of Port Washington north
14. Port Washington North
> State: New York
> Population: 3,225
Port Washington North is a village located in Nassau County in Long Island, New York. The village is known for being a cheaper alternative to living in New York City while still offering a short commute into Manhattan.
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Source: diversey / Flickr
13. Norwood Young America
> State: Minnesota
> Population: 3,655
Norwood and Young America, formerly two separate communities in Carver County, Minnesota, merged into one city in 1994. Today, Norwood Young America is one of the longest city names in the nation.
Source: Wikimedia Commons / Ken Lund
12. South Chicago Heights
> State: Illinois
> Population: 4,143
South Chicago Heights in Cook County, Illinois, is located just over 25 miles south of Chicago, the state’s largest city.
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Source: philmofresh / Flickr
11. Morgan’s Point Resort
> State: Texas
> Population: 4,229
Morgan’s Point Resort houses just over 4,200 people and is located in Bell County, Texas. It gets its name from the Morgan family, which used to own the land on which the town was built. The city’s name was originally going to be just “Morgan’s Point” but that was already taken by another city, so “resort” was added on the end.
Source: Laura Hertzfeld / Wikimedia Commons
10. Truth or Consequences
> State: New Mexico
> Population: 6,157
Truth or Consequences is a small and scenic city located in Sierra County in the heart of New Mexico. It was initially dubbed Hot Springs, due to the area’s multitude of hot spring. The city was renamed in 1950 after radio host Ralph Edwards announced he would broadcast an episode of his show, “Truth or Consequences,” from any American town that changed its name to match that of his program.
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Source: Serenethos / Getty Images
9. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
> State: Florida
> Population: 6,375
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is located in Broward County, Florida. It is not only one of the top 10 longest city names in the nation, but also it is known as Florida’s Beach Diving Capital.
Source: Clotee Allochuku / Flickr
8. Rolling Hills Estates
> State: California
> Population: 8,206
Rolling Hills Estates became Los Angeles County’s 60th municipality in the fall of 1957. It’s located between Los Angeles, which is California’s largest city, and the Pacific Ocean.
Source: WhisperToMe / Wikimedia Commons
7. West University Place
> State: Texas
> Population: 15,318
West University Place was incorporated in 1924 in Harris County, Texas. The city’s proximity to Rice University served as inspiration for its name.
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Source: dionhinchcliffe / Flickr
6. Fontana-on-Geneva Lake
> State: Wisconsin
> Population: 1,636
Fontana-on-Geneva Lake in Walworth County, Wisconsin, is the epitome of small-town living with boutiques, local eateries, and water activities on Geneva Lake — all available for a population of just 1,600 people and various tourists.
Source: Flickr / QuesterMark
5. Dalworthington Gardens
> State: Texas
> Population: 2,233
Dalworthington Gardens, located in Tarrant County, gets its name from a combination of three Texas cities — Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington.
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Source: Bwsmith84 / Wikimedia Commons
4. Washington Court House
> State: Ohio
> Population: 14,115
Washington Court House, a city in Fayette County, Ohio, is located between Cincinnati and Columbus — some of the largest cities in the state.
Source: Victor Yee / Getty Images
3. Rancho Santa Margarita
> State: California
> Population: 49,038
Rancho Santa Margarita is the third most populous city on this list. It is located in Orange County, one of California’s most affluent regions.
Source: Paul Sableman / Wikimedia Commons
2. Bellefontaine Neighbors
> State: Missouri
> Population: 10,785
The second longest name for a town or city in the nation is Bellefontaine Neighbors, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, just 20 minutes from the iconic Gateway Arch.
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Source: John Phelan / Wikimedia Commons
1. Los Ranchos de Albuquerque
> State: New Mexico
> Population: 6,069
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque is the longest name for a city in the nation, consisting of 26 characters, including spaces. Located in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, the rural area initiated a plan aimed to preserve its lifestyle and open fields.
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