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:

  • The town or village existed before the border or even before the modern concept of a border. The border was added later (sometimes by war), dividing a community.
  • A community on one side of a border grows up to service the border and then takes the name of the adjacent community on the other side of the border.
  • Communities grow up on both sides of the border to service the border, taking the name of the border crossing.

Most places are in Europe, but there are also some examples in Africa, Asia and the Americas. 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

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Note that this list includes only places with similar names that are in some way 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

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Cross-border town Countries
Moyale and Moyale File:Flag of Ethiopia.svg Ethiopia / File:Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya
Mobaye and Mobayi-Mbongo File:Flag of the Central African Republic.svg Central African Republic / File:Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Democratic Republic of the Congo
Cocobeach and Cogo File:Flag of Gabon.svg Gabon / File:Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg Equatorial Guinea
Loukolela and Lukolela File:Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg Republic of the Congo / File:Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mulanje and Milange File:Flag of Malawi.svg Malawi / File:Flag of Mozambique.svg Mozambique
Chirundu and Chirundu File:Flag of Zambia.svg Zambia / File:Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Zimbabwe
Mukumbura and Mucumbara File:Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Zimbabwe / File:Flag of Mozambique.svg Mozambique
Tin Zaouatine and Tinzaouaten File:Flag of Algeria.svg Algeria / File:Flag of Mali.svg Mali
Cross-border town Countries
Astara and Astara File:Flag of Azerbaijan.svg Azerbaijan / Iran
Julfa and Julfa
Biləsuvar and Bileh Savar
Luohu District and Lowu China / File:Flag of Hong Kong.svg Hong Kong SAR
Shatoujiao Subdistrict and Sha Tau Kok
Khorgas and Khorgas China / File:Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Kazakhstan
Sarpi and Sarp File:Flag of Georgia.svg Georgia / File:Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey
Padang Besar and Padang Besar File:Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia / File:Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand
Dibba /Al Buraimi-Al Ain File:Flag of Oman.svg Oman / File:Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg UAE
Al-Mazyunah and Shahan District File:Flag of Oman.svg Oman / File:Flag of Yemen.svg Yemen
Ishkoshim and Ishkashim File:Flag of Tajikistan.svg Tajikistan / File:Flag of the Taliban.svg Afghanistan
Sarahs and Sarakhs File:Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Turkmenistan / Iran
Kara-Suu and Qorasuv File:Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Uzbekistan / File:Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg Kyrgyzstan

Europe

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Cross-border town Countries
Helsingør and Helsingborg File:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark / File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden
Rhederbrug, Rhederveld and Rhede File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands / File: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 File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands / File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium
Clinge and De Klinge
Koewacht and Koewacht
Putte and Putte
Lichtenbusch and Aachen-Lichtenbusch File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium / File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Stubach and Stupbach
Obereisenbach, Untereisenbach and Übereisenbach File:Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg / File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Wallendorf-Pont and Wallendorf
Bollendorf-Pont and Bollendorf
Echternach and Echternacherbrück
Wasserbillig and Wasserbilligerbrück
Comines-Warneton and Comines File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium / File: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 File:Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg / File:Flag of France.svg France
Leiding and Leidingen File:Flag of France.svg France / File: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 File:Flag of France.svg France / File: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) File:Flag of France.svg France / File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain
Rheinfelden-Baden (Badisch-Rhyfälde) and Rheinfelden (Rhyfälde) File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany / File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
Laufenburg and Laufenburg
Reckingen (Küssaberg) (de) / Rekingen
Vorderriß and Hinterriß File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany / File:Flag of Austria.svg Austria
Bayerisch Gmain and Großgmain
Altwarp and Nowe Warpno File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany / File: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) File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany / File: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 File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic / File: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) File:Flag of Poland.svg Poland / File:Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine
Uhrusk and Novouhruzke (Новоугрузьке)
Tokary and Tokary (Токари, Такары) File:Flag of Poland.svg Poland / File:Flag of Belarus.svg Belarus
Usnarz Górny and Usnar-Dolnyy (Уснар-Дольный)
Minkowce and Minkovcy
Nowodziel and Novodel
Český Heršlák and Deutsch Hörschlag File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic / File:Flag of Austria.svg Austria
České Velenice and Gmünd
Bad Radkersburg and Gornja Radgona File:Flag of Austria.svg Austria / File: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 File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy / File:Flag of France.svg France
Briga Alta and La Brigue
Gorizia and Nova Gorica File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy / File:Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia
Lavena Ponte Tresa and Ponte Tresa File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy / File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
Cremenaga and Ponte Cremenaga
Ponte Chiasso and Chiasso
Komárom and Komárno File:Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary / File:Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia
Sátoraljaújhely and Slovenské Nové Mesto
Balassagyarmat and Slovenské Ďarmoty
Esztergom and Štúrovo
Nagylak and Nădlac File:Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary / File:Flag of Romania.svg Romania
Újszalonta and Salonta
Kelebia and Kelebija File:Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary / File:Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia
Rio de Onor and Rihonor de Castilla File:Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal / File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain
Karesuando and Kaaresuvanto File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden / File: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 File:Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia / File:Flag of Latvia.svg Latvia
Hrvatska Kostajnica and Kostajnica File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia / File: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 File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina / File:Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia
Zvornik and Mali Zvornik
Metaljka and Metaljka File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina / File:Flag of Montenegro.svg Montenegro
Mali Žam and Jamu Mare File:Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia / File:Flag of Romania.svg Romania
Požeženo and Pojejena
Veliki Gaj and Gaiu Mic
Chilia Veche and Kiliya File:Flag of Romania.svg Romania / File:Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine
Sculeni and Sculeni File:Flag of Romania.svg Romania / File:Flag of Moldova.svg Moldova
Ungheni and Ungheni

North America

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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 town Countries
Beebe Plain, Quebec and Beebe Plain, Vermont File:Flag of the United States.svg United States / File: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 File:Flag of the United States.svg United States / File: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

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

See also

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