South African cities and towns sharing names with international locations
Here are some intriguing examples of South African cities and towns that have the same names as places abroad.
Did you know there’s a Natal in Brazil? Ever wondered how many South African cities and towns share names with global locations?
South Africa is home to several places that share their names with locations overseas.
European places that share names with SA places
The Netherlands also has a Rustenburg, a village in the Dutch province of North Holland, and a Middelburg. Middelburg is a vibrant city brimming with historic sites.
Durban in France
Durban in the south-west of France is 607 kilometres from Paris. Compared to South Africa’s Durban, it is very different. It is a quaint village with a population of just over 1 000 residents. The village is especially famous for its well-preserved medieval architecture, including the iconic Château de Durban, which dates back to the 11th century.
Two UK namesakes
Two namesakes in the UK are Worcester and Newcastle.
Worcester in the UK is a University City with a fascinating history and also interesting architecture, located in the heart of the West Midlands on the banks of the River Severn.
Newcastle in the UK on the banks of the River Tyne is particularly famous for its industrial heritage and distinct regional ‘Geordie’ dialect.
South African namesakes in the US
Interestingly, there are quite a few namesakes of main South African cities in the US, with two of these in California: Johannesburg and Cape Town.
California’s Cape Town is spelled Capetown and is the westernmost settlement in the state of California. Johannesburg in the US is a small community in Kern County in the high desert region of Southern California. Similar to South Africa’s Johannesburg, it is known for its historical significance as a mining town during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, unlike South Africa’s Johannesburg, the one in the US is a bit of a ghost town with a population of under 200.
Bethlehem in the Free State has a namesake in eastern Pennsylvania. The American Bethlehem is a city known for its rich colonial and industrial history and has a population of around 75 000 people.
In addition to these, other US namesakes are Worcester in Massachusetts, Port Elizabeth in New Jersey, George in Washington, and Pretoria in Georgia.