Cross-border town naming

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Cross-border town naming occurs where towns or villages with the same or equivalent names are divided between two different countries. This does not necessarily imply that those towns or villages are located in geographic proximity or that they are located near a current border (divided cities). Reasons for this taking place may include the following:

Contents

Most places are in Europe, but there are also some examples in North America and Asia. In Europe, until the first half of the 20th century and again since the Schengen Agreement in the late 20th century, such divisions could be mostly ignored by the inhabitants.

Examples

Note that this list includes only places with similar names that are in someway connected (by history, geography or otherwise) across modern-day international borders. Towns that have the same name but bear no relationship to each other are also very common but not particularly notable.

Africa

Cross-border townCountries
Moyale and Moyale Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia / Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
Mobaye and Mobayi-Mbongo Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic / Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Democratic Republic of the Congo
Cocobeach and Cogo Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon / Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea
Loukolela and Lukolela Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Republic of the Congo / Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mulanje and Milange Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi / Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique
Chirundu and Chirundu Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia / Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe
Mukumbura and Mucumbara Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe / Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique
Tin Zaouatine and Tinzaouaten Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria / Flag of Mali.svg  Mali

Asia

Cross-border townCountries
Astara and Astara Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan / Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
Julfa and Julfa
Biləsuvar and Bileh Savar
Luohu District and Lowu Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China / Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong SAR
Shatoujiao Subdistrict and Sha Tau Kok
Khorgas and Khorgas Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China / Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan
Sarpi and Sarp Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia / Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Padang Besar and Padang Besar Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia / Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand
Dibba /Al Buraimi-Al Ain Flag of Oman.svg  Oman / Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  UAE
Al-Mazyunah and Shahan District Flag of Oman.svg  Oman / Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen
Ishkoshim and Ishkashim Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan / Flag of the Taliban.svg  Afghanistan
Sarahs and Sarakhs Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan / Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
Kara-Suu and Qorasuv Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan / Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan

Europe

Cross-border townCountries
Helsingør and Helsingborg Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark / Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Rhederbrug, Rhederveld and Rhede Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands / Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Barnflair (Ter Apel) and Barnfleer
Veenebrugge and Vennebrügge
Zwillbroek and Zwillbrock
Ubach over Worms and Übach-Palenberg
Spijk and Spyck
Baarle-Nassau and Baarle-Hertog Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands / Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Clinge and De Klinge
Koewacht and Koewacht
Putte and Putte
Lichtenbusch and Aachen-Lichtenbusch Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium / Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Stubach and Stupbach
Obereisenbach, Untereisenbach and Übereisenbach Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg / Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Wallendorf-Pont and Wallendorf
Bollendorf-Pont and Bollendorf
Echternach and Echternacherbrück
Wasserbillig and Wasserbilligerbrück
Comines-Warneton and Comines Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium / Flag of France.svg  France
Wervik and Wervicq-Sud
Quiévrain and Quiévrechain
Gœgnies-Chaussée and Gognies-Chaussée
Grand-Reng and Vieux-Reng
Mondorf-les-Bains and Mondorff Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg / Flag of France.svg  France
Leiding and Leidingen Flag of France.svg  France / Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Petite-Rosselle and Großrosseln
Grosbliederstroff and Kleinblittersdorf
Obergailbach and Niedergailbach
Scheibenhard and Scheibenhardt
Lauterbourg and Neulauterburg
Neuf-Brisach and Breisach
Kembs and Klein Kembs
Huningue and Kleinhüningen Flag of France.svg  France / Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland
Lucelle and Lucelle, Kleinlützel
Saint-Gingolph and Saint-Gingolph
Île des Faisans and Isla de los Faisanes (Konpantzia / Île de l’hôpital / Île de la Conférence)Flag of France.svg  France / Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Rheinfelden-Baden (Badisch-Rhyfälde) and Rheinfelden (Rhyfälde) Flag of Germany.svg  Germany / Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland
Laufenburg and Laufenburg
Reckingen (Küssaberg)  [ de ] / Rekingen
Vorderriß and Hinterriß Flag of Germany.svg  Germany / Flag of Austria.svg  Austria
Bayerisch Gmain and Großgmain
Altwarp and Nowe Warpno Flag of Germany.svg  Germany / Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
Rosow and Rosówek
Hohenwutzen and Osinów Dolny (Niederwutzen)
Zäckericker Loose and Siekierki (Zäckerick)
Güstebieser Loose and Gozdowice (Güstebiese)
Altrüdnitzer Ausbau and Stara Rudnica (Altrüdnitz)
Neulietzegöricke and Stare Łysogórki (Altlietzegöricke)
Zelliner Loose and Czelin (Zellin)
Küstrin-Kietz and Kostrzyn nad Odrą (Küstrin)
Lebus and Nowy Lubusz (Neulebus)
Kunitzer Loose / Kunice (Kunitz)
Aurith and Urad (Aurith)
Guben and Gubin
Zelz and Siedlec (Zelz)
Klein Priebus and Przewóz (Priebus)
Görlitz and Zgorzelec
Altlandsberg and Gorzów ((Neu))Landsberg)
Altentreptow and Trzebiatów (Treptow)
Seifhennersdorf and Horní Jindřichův (Oberhennersdorf)Flag of Germany.svg  Germany / Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic
Zinnwald and Cínovec (Zinnwald)
Deutschgeorgenthal and Český Jiřetín (Georgendorf)
Deutscheinsiedel and Mníšek (Böhmisch Einsiedel)
Deutschneudorf and Nová Ves v Horách (Gebirgsneudorf)
Deutschkatharinenberg and Hora Svaté Kateřiny (Böhmisch Katherinenberg)
Hammerunterwiesenthal and České Hamry (Böhmisch Hammer)
Oberwiesenthal and Loučna (Böhmisch Wiesenthal)
Neualbenreuth and Mýtina (Altalbenreuth)
Bayerisch Eisenstein and Železná Ruda (Markt Eisenstein)
Pelhřimovy and Pielgrzymów Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic / Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
Opavice and Opawica
Krásné Loučky / Krasne Pole
Chomýž and Chomiąża
Český Těšín (Czeski Cieszyn) / Cieszyn
Horní Líštná and Leszna Górna
Dziewięcierz and Devyatyr (Дев'ятир)Flag of Poland.svg  Poland / Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine
Uhrusk and Novouhruzke (Новоугрузьке)
Tokary and Tokary (Токари, Такары)Flag of Poland.svg  Poland / Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus
Usnarz Górny and Usnar-Dolnyy (Уснар-Дольный)
Minkowce and Minkovcy
Nowodziel and Novodel
Český Heršlák and Deutsch Hörschlag Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic / Flag of Austria.svg  Austria
České Velenice and Gmünd
Bad Radkersburg and Gornja Radgona Flag of Austria.svg  Austria / Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia
Deutschfeistritz and Slovenska Bistrica (Windischfeistritz)
Graz and Slovenj Gradec
Deutschlandsberg and Podčetrtek (Windischlandsberg)
Oberdrauburg and Dravograd (Unterdrauburg)
Unterloibl and Podljubelj (Unterloibl)
Moncenisio and Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis Flag of Italy.svg  Italy / Flag of France.svg  France
Briga Alta and La Brigue
Gorizia and Nova Gorica Flag of Italy.svg  Italy / Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia
Lavena Ponte Tresa and Ponte Tresa Flag of Italy.svg  Italy / Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland
Cremenaga and Ponte Cremenaga
Ponte Chiasso and Chiasso
Komárom and Komárno Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary / Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia
Sátoraljaújhely and Slovenské Nové Mesto
Balassagyarmat and Slovenské Ďarmoty
Esztergom and Štúrovo
Nagylak and Nădlac Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary / Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Újszalonta and Salonta
Kelebia and Kelebija Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary / Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
Rio de Onor and Rihonor de Castilla Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal / Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Karesuando and Kaaresuvanto Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden / Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Kuttainen and Kuttanen
Katkesuando and Kätkäsuvanto
Muonionalusta and Muonio
Kihlangi and Kihlanki
Pello and Pello
Övertorneå and Ylitornio
Karungi and Karunki
Valga and Valka Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia / Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia
Hrvatska Kostajnica and Kostajnica Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia / Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina
Hrvatska Dubica and Kozarska Dubica
Stara Gradiška and Gradiška
Dolina and Donja Dolina, Gornja Dolina
Orubica and Orubica
Slavonski Kobaš and Kobaš
Dubočac and Bosanski Dubočac
Slavonski Brod and Brod
Svilaj and Donji Svilaj, Gornji Svilaj
Slavonski Šamac and Šamac
Bosanska Rača and Sremska Rača Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina / Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
Zvornik and Mali Zvornik
Metaljka and Metaljka Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina / Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro
Mali Žam and Jamu Mare Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia / Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Požeženo and Pojejena
Veliki Gaj and Gaiu Mic
Chilia Veche and Kiliya Flag of Romania.svg  Romania / Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine
Sculeni and Sculeni Flag of Romania.svg  Romania / Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova
Ungheni and Ungheni

North America

Towns and cities listed have names of a common origin across an international boundary; matching pairs across provincial or state boundaries (such as Kansas City or Lloydminster) are common but are not listed here.

Cross-border townCountries
Beebe Plain, Quebec and Beebe Plain, Vermont Flag of the United States.svg  United States / Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
North Portal, Saskatchewan and Portal, North Dakota
Madawaska County, New Brunswick and Madawaska, Maine
Calexico, California and Mexicali, Baja California Flag of the United States.svg  United States / Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Tecate, California and Tecate, Baja California
Naco, Arizona and Naco, Sonora
Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora
San Luis, Arizona and San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora
El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua (formerly El Paso del Norte, 1852–1888)
Boquillas, Texas and Boquillas del Carmen, Coahuila
Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas
Progreso, Texas and Nuevo Progreso, Tamaulipas

South America

Cross-border townCountries
Antofagasta de la Sierra and Antofagasta Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina / Flag of Chile.svg  Chile
Coquimbito and Coquimbo
San Sebastián
Foz do Iguaçu and Puerto Iguazú Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil / Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Guajará-Mirim and Guayaramerín Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil / Flag of Bolivia.svg  Bolivia
Oiapoque and Saint-Georges-de-l'Oyapock Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil / Flag of France.svg  French Guiana
Chuí and Chuy Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay / Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
Acegua and Aceguá

See also

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