List of divided cities

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A divided city is one which, as a consequence of political changes or border shifts, currently constitutes (or once constituted) two separate entities, or an urban area with a border running through it. Listed below are the localities and the state they belonged to at the time of division.

Contents

Especially notable examples of divided cities are divided capitals, including Nicosia (since 1974), Jerusalem (1948–1967; de jure ongoing since 1948), Berlin (1949–1990) and Beirut (1975–1990).

Border wall in Nicosia Nicosia (46468241255).jpg
Border wall in Nicosia
West Bank barrier in Jerusalem Abudis.jpg
West Bank barrier in Jerusalem

Former cities now divided

Africa

JointParts
Galkayo, Somalia North Galkayo (administered by Puntland)South Galkayo (administered by Galmudug)
Moyale, divided between Kenya and Ethiopia

Americas

JointParts
Bristol, U.S. Bristol, Tennessee Bristol, Virginia
Carmen de Patagones, Argentina Carmen de Patagones, Buenos Aires Province Viedma, Río Negro Province
El Paso del Norte, Mexico (divided in 1848 after the Mexican–American War) El Paso, Texas, United States Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
Laredo, New Spain/Mexico Laredo, Texas Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas
(The Mexican city was founded when the border was established, by people moving over the border from what had just become the US city)
Lloydminster, Canada, divided between Alberta and Saskatchewan, 1905–1930.
The community was founded in 1903 in what was then the Northwest Territories, and located on the Fourth Meridian of the Dominion Land Survey, which became the boundary between the newly created provinces two years later. In 1930, the community was reunited as a single town under the shared jurisdiction of both provinces, and reincorporated as a single city in 1958.
Nogales Nogales, Arizona, U.S. Nogales, Sonora, Mexico
Planaltina, Brazil when Federal District was set as the new national capital in 1960 Planaltina, Federal District Planaltina, Goiás
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Founded 1668 (France); split 1818, when south bank transferred to USA, while north bank remained British, now Canadian. Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, USA Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Texarkana, United States Texarkana, Texas Texarkana, Arkansas
Washington, DC, U.S., and suburbs Washington, DC Georgetown (Washington, D.C.)—originally in Maryland, moved to the District of Columbia
Alexandria, Virginia—originally in Virginia, moved to District of Columbia, moved back to Virginia

Asia

Which was under Jordanian control 1948–1967, under Israeli control since 1967, claimed by Jordan 1967–1988; recognized by the international community as Palestinian territory under Israeli occupation 1967–present [a]

Europe

Oceania

Cities that arose next to each other across a boundary line

Africa

Cross-border townCountries
Aflao and Lomé Flag of Ghana.svg Ghana / Flag of Togo (3-2).svg Togo
Brazzaville and Kinshasa 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
Um Dafuq and Am Dafok Flag of Sudan.svg Sudan/Flag of the Central African Republic.svg Central African Republic

Asia

Cross-border townCountries
Blagoveshchensk and Heihe Flag of Russia.svg Russia / Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China
Chandigarh, Panchkula, Mohali Flag of India.svg India
Islamabad–Rawalpindi Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan
Jaigaon and Phuntsholing Flag of India.svg India / Flag of Bhutan.svg Bhutan
Johor Bahru and Singapore Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia / Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore
Kara-Suu and Qorasuv Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg Kyrgyzstan / Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Uzbekistan
Korgas /Khorgos Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China / Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Kazakhstan
Shenzhen /Hong Kong Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China
Tachileik and Mae Sai Flag of Myanmar.svg Myanmar / Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand

Europe

Cross-border townCountries
Como and Chiasso Flag of Italy.svg Italy / Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
Konstanz and Kreuzlingen Flag of Germany.svg Germany / Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
Monaco and Beausoleil, Alpes-Maritimes, Les Moneghetti, Saint-Antoine, Figuiera, Les SalinesFlag of Monaco.svg Monaco / Flag of France.svg France
Póvoa de Varzim and Vila do Conde Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal
Giurgiu and Ruse Flag of Romania.svg Romania / Flag of Bulgaria.svg Bulgaria
Gdańsk and Gdynia Flag of Poland.svg Poland
Zvornik, and Mali Zvornik Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina / Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia
Tornio and Haparanda Flag of Finland.svg Finland / Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden

North America

Cross-border townCountries
Derby Line, Vermont and Stanstead, Quebec Flag of the United States.svg United States / Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Detroit–Windsor Flag of the United States.svg United States / Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Ottawa and Gatineau Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Niagara Falls, New York and Niagara Falls, Ontario Flag of the United States.svg United States / Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Camden, New Jersey Flag of the United States.svg United States
New York City and its neighbors (Jersey City, West New York, Hoboken, New Jersey, etc.) across the Hudson River Flag of the United States.svg United States
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Flag of the United States.svg United States / Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Sarnia, Ontario and Port Huron, Michigan Flag of the United States.svg United States / Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Texhoma, Oklahoma and Texhoma, Texas Flag of the United States.svg United States
Union City, Indiana and Union City, Ohio Flag of the United States.svg United States
Tegucigalpa and Comayagua Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Honduras
San Diego-Tijuana Flag of the United States.svg United States / Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico

South America

Cross-border townCountries
Aceguá and Aceguá Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil / Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay
Chuí and Chuy
Leticia and Tabatinga Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia / Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
Rivera and Santana do Livramento Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay / Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil

See also

Notes and references

Notes:

a. ^ There was international controversy on the status of Jerusalem in 1948 which has been further complicated since 1967. See positions on Jerusalem for further information.

References:

  1. "World's great divided cities: The most enchanting cities split into two halves", Houston Chronicle, 03 March 2018
  2. "World's great divided cities: The most enchanting cities split into two halves", Houston Chronicle, 3 March 2018