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It's funny, having grown up in Pennsylvania, when I heard Washington, while living there, I knew 95%+ of the time they were referring to DC, and even I, myself, would just use Washington to refer to DC.
Fast forward and I end up living in Arizona twice, for a total of 7 years, and when I heard Washington, while living there, I knew 95%+ of the time they referring to the state.
It's definitely an East Coast/West Coast thing going on there!
Living right outside D.C. I never say "Washington" to refer to the city, I always say "D.C." or maybe sometimes "the city".
There is a Philadelphia, Mississippi also, so that is not unique.
Baton Rouge can be added to your list.
Whenever you hear "Philadelphia", practically nobody thinks of some podunk town in Mississippi over the major city. This list isn't of places that have completely unique names.
Its only note is being the site of the brutal murders of three Civil Rights activists in 1964.
Well obviously they're usually more known for their school name as that's why they're college towns. That factor alone does not make them any well less known without the state abbreviation to the average person IMO. Tuscaloosa and Tallahassee are pretty distinct and well known without any state abbreviation regardless of being huge college towns. Same for Waco.
I don't think Tuscaloosa is all that well-known (relative to even the most well-known college towns, let alone more major cities). Would like to see a 'geographic literacy' study conducted to see how well Americans would fare in correctly identifying the state to which Tuscaloosa (or any city of any significance) belongs. Then the AP could base their practices off the findings--any city which was 'correctly associated with its state' at a rate of at least X% could get the standalone treatment
When people say just Charleston, its automatically assumed to be South Carolina.
For Charleston, West Virginia, you have to say the state. Since I've lived near Charleston WV I still say "Charleston, South Carolina" though most people just say Charleston and its assumed to be SC.
I think "Portland" means Oregon and Portland, Maine needs the state behind it.
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Originally Posted by Tom Lennox 70
I think "Portland" means Oregon and Portland, Maine needs the state behind it.
Agreed, in terms of national media and anywhere outside the New England, Portland alone is usually always assumed as Oregon if no state is mentioned. I always mention Maine behind it if that's the Portland being discussed.
"Another night of protesters clashing with law enforcement in Portland", yeah we already know which Portland they're talking about, no state needing to be mentioned.
I don't think Tuscaloosa is all that well-known (relative to even the most well-known college towns, let alone more major cities). Would like to see a 'geographic literacy' study conducted to see how well Americans would fare in correctly identifying the state to which Tuscaloosa (or any city of any significance) belongs. Then the AP could base their practices off the findings--any city which was 'correctly associated with its state' at a rate of at least X% could get the standalone treatment
Maybe it's because I'm into college football but I think even a casual sports watcher would know that is the home to the University of Alabama mostly due to their football team's dominance for the last decade plus.
And yes a geographic literacy test isn't a bad idea and I have no doubt that most Americans would fail it.
I don't think Tuscaloosa is all that well-known (relative to even the most well-known college towns, let alone more major cities). Would like to see a 'geographic literacy' study conducted to see how well Americans would fare in correctly identifying the state to which Tuscaloosa (or any city of any significance) belongs. Then the AP could base their practices off the findings--any city which was 'correctly associated with its state' at a rate of at least X% could get the standalone treatment
Yeah the majority of Americans have never heard of this city.
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This list isn't of places that have completely unique names.
