It’s possible to travel to Mexico, Rome, Amsterdam, Cuba, Copenhagen, Poland and other communities with international names, right here in New York state
By Margaret McCormick
Does your itinerary this season call for international travel? That’s wonderful. Relax and enjoy the journey. Soak up the food and culture. Take a lot of photos.
Will your travel be limited to local day trips and overnights? There’s nothing wrong with that. While you’re figuring out where to go and what to do, consider that it’s possible to travel to Mexico, Rome, Amsterdam, Cuba, Copenhagen, Poland and other communities with international names, right here in New York state.
Have you ever wondered how these places got their names? You’re not alone. There is no one-size-fits all answer.
Anne E. Mosher, an associate professor of geography and the environment at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, is a passionate scholar of “toponomy,’’ the study of place names, their origins and their meaning.
She said some communities were given their names by founders because they reminded them of their country of origin. This is the case with the Finger Lakes town of Naples, for example, noted for grape-growing and wine production and the nearby town of Italy and Italy Valley area in Yates County.
“It looks like Tuscany in the fall,’’ Mosher said.
And it was fashionable for a time for founders to want to connect their communities to the history of the ancient Greek and Roman empires (think Troy, Utica, Rome and Syracuse) and pay tribute to Old World figures (such as Romulus, Cicero, Cato, Ovid, Brutus and Junius), Mosher added.
“It was part of a fad that went on from probably around 1810 to around 1840. You can also see this reflected in the architecture of the buildings constructed at that time,’’ Mosher said, noting styles like Greek Revival and Classical Revival.
International names were also seen by founders as giving communities in remote outposts more cachet with investors and would-be inhabitants, Mosher explained. (Consider Syracuse, which went through many name changes, including Bogardus Corners, Cossitt’s Corners and Corinth, before founders settled on Syracuse, after the ancient Italian town of Siracusa on the coast of Sicily.)
Following is a list of communities that take their names from international cities and countries.
The list is a sampling of some of the more familiar names and is not intended to be complete. Population figures are approximate, based on U.S. Census Bureau figures.
Amsterdam (Montgomery County)
Population: 18,093
What it’s known for: The city of Amsterdam was named in honor of early Dutch settlers. The Erie Canal and Mohawk River contributed to Amsterdam’s development as a manufacturing hub more in the late 19th and early 20th century. The carpet industry thrived there, as did companies that produced linseed oil, knitwear, brooms and buttons.
Athens (Greene County)
Population: 3,916
What it’s known for: If you can’t get to Greece (the country) this season, you could visit the Catskills/Hudson River town (and village) of Athens. The town was once a “bustling port for ship building, brick making and ice harvesting on the Hudson River,’’ according to the Great Northern Catskills of Greene County tourism website. Attractions include the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, one of two remaining lighthouses on the Hudson River. It dates to the 1870s.
Belfast (Allegany County)
Population: 1,637
What it’s known for: Belfast, originally named Orrinsburg, is named for the city of Belfast, Ireland. The Southern Tier town is home to the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame. The BKBHOF honors bare knuckle boxers past and present and is housed in the onetime training barns of legendary boxer John L. Sullivan. Other points of interest in the Belfast area include Allen Lake State Forest and Coyle Hill State Forest.
Cairo (Greene County)
Population: 6,644
What it’s known for: Cairo is a rural community south of Albany and west of the Hudson River, in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. The town is home to the world’s largest fossil forest, according to a study published in 2019. The fossil forest is believed to date back 385 million years. The town of Cairo also contains a hamlet named Cairo and is named for the Egyptian city of Cairo.
Bethlehem (Albany County)
Population: 35,034
What it’s known for: This Bethlehem, south of Albany, is bordered by more than seven miles of the Hudson River. The town takes its name from the biblical Bethlehem and is said to offer something for everyone, especially recreational activities, like swimming, boating and hiking. It’s close to downtown Albany.
Copenhagen (Lewis County)
Population: 723
What it’s known for: Copenhagen is a village in the town of Denmark. You can’t make this stuff up. It was known as Mungers Mills until 1807, when villagers elected to change the name to Copenhagen. The village was the snowiest place in the U.S. this year (270 inches). Bring a snowmobile if you visit in winter. In summer and fall, take a hike at the Tug Hill State Forest.
Cuba (Allegany County)
Population: 3,126
What it’s known for: Cuba has a long history of dairy farming and cheese production. At one time, the area was home to numerous small cheese producers. Until recently, Cuba Cheese was produced at the Great Lakes Cheese plant in Cuba. Production was moved to nearby Franklinville in 2024. The Cuba Cheese Shoppe and the Cuba Cheese Museum (in the restored Palmer Opera House) are noteworthy destinations.
Greece (Monroe County)
Population: 96,694
What it’s known for: The town of Greece is a Rochester suburb with easy access to Lake Ontario. The town was originally called Northampton, but the name was changed to Greece in 1822, in honor of the Greek Revolution
of 1821. The town experienced a population boom following World War II, thanks to the presence of the Kodak Company. Popular attractions include Seabreeze Amusement Park and the Seneca Park Zoo.
Italy (Yates County)
Population: 1,045
What it’s known for: Yes, friends, this hilly agriculture community about 25 miles south of Canandaigua takes its name from the country of Italy. It’s quiet and rural with lovely scenery, especially the sweeping views of the Finger Lakes countryside from Italy Hill. This picturesque corner of Yates County is home to the Italy Hill State Forest, Hi Tor Wildlife Management Area and the Bristol Hills Branch of the Finger Lakes Trail System.
Jerusalem (Yates County)
Population: 4,405
What it’s known for: The Yates County town of Jerusalem is named for the city of Jerusalem, in Israel, one of the oldest cities in the world. The Finger Lakes version is on the west branch of Y-shaped Keuka Lake. It’s home to wineries and restaurants and offers numerous recreation opportunities (biking, boating, skiing, hiking, etc.)
Lisbon (St. Lawrence County)
Population: 4,233
What it’s known for: Lisbon might or might not take its name from a more famous Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. The town and village are on the St. Lawrence River and the Lisbon Beach and Campground is a magnet in the summertime, drawing folks for weekends or the entire season on the river.
Lyons (Wayne County)
Population: 5,568
What it’s known for: Lyons, on the Erie Canal, was originally known as The Forks, until it was renamed Lyons (after Lyon, the city in France). Lyons has small town character and is known for its annual Peppermint Days Festival (July 18-20). The event celebrates the town’s past as a major grower of peppermint and producer of peppermint oil. Attractions include the historic Ohmann Theater and the Peppermint Museum.
Rotterdam (Schenectady County)
Population: 30,523
What it’s known for: Rotterdam has grown from a sparsely populated farming community to a large suburb of Schenectady. The town is considered a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Attractions include the Plotter Kill Nature Preserve, a 632-acre site with three spectacular waterfalls and miles of hiking trails.
Peru (Clinton County)
Population: 6,772
What it’s known for: Peru was named for its views of the striking Adirondack Mountains and surrounding countryside, which early residents said resembled the scenery of Peru, South America. Peru, near Lake Champlain, is an all-season destination for outdoor activities. Step back in time and learn about rural agriculture life at the Babbie Rural and Farm Learning Museum.
Madrid (St. Lawrence County)
Population: 1,835
What it’s known for: Madrid (pronounced MAD-rid) was one of four towns established when the county was formed in 1802. It takes its name from the Spanish city of Madrid. The area is known for its natural scenery and opportunities for outdoor recreation in all seasons.
Mexico (Oswego County)
Population: 5,293
What it’s known for: Some would say that Mexico is known as the home of Grandma Brown’s Beans (not currently in production). Others would say it’s notable for its parks, including Mexico Point State Park, historic village district and apple farms, including Behling Orchards and Appledale Orchards.
Naples (Ontario County)
Population: 2,417
What it’s known for: Naples, at the southern end of Canandaigua Lake, lives up to its billing as “The Grape Pie Capital of the World.’’ Naples is both a town and a village and is the headquarters for several wineries and a distillery. It’s nestled in a valley and is noted for its scenic beauty. The annual Grape Festival, held at the end of September, celebrates all things grape-y good and draws tons of visitors to the area.
Galway (Saratoga County)
Population: 3,523
What it’s known for: You might think that Galway takes its name from the city of the same name in Ireland. In fact, the town was originally named New Galloway, after the Scottish town of Galloway. The name was later shortened to Galway. The town is home to Galway Lake, a privately owned, member-operated lake. Motor craft are not permitted on the lake.
Troy (Rensselaer County)
Population: 50,607
What it’s known for: Troy, named after the legendary Greek city of the same name, was one of the wealthiest cities in the U.S. at the turn of the 20th century. Its well-preserved Victorian architecture has served as a backdrop for movies and TV shows, including “Age of Innocence.’’ Troy is the historical home of national symbol “Uncle Sam.’’ During the war of 1812, business owner Samuel Wilson, who shipped meat to soldiers stamped “U.S. Beef,’’ was nicknamed Uncle Sam.
Rome (Oneida County)
Population: 32,127
What it’s known for: At one time, the city of Rome produced an estimated 10% of the copper used in the U.S., which earned it the name the “Copper City.’’ The ever-popular Revere Ware stainless steel and copper cookware was originally made in Rome. Popular attractions include the Fort Stanwix National Monument and the Capitol Theatre, a restored 1920s movie house that offers films, concerts and other live events.
Warsaw (Wyoming County)
Population: 5,317
What it’s known for: Warsaw might or might not have been named for the city of the same name in Poland. Like Syracuse, Warsaw was once a major hub of salt production in the U.S. At one time, about a dozen different companies in the town produced and shipped salt. Agriculture plays a major role in the local economy today, especially dairy farming and maple and apple production.
Poland (Herkimer County)
Population: 602
What it’s known for: The village northeast of Utica and south of the Adirondack Park was once a stop on the Herkimer, Newport and Poland Railway. It shares a border with the town of Russia, which inspired the name Poland. Just as it is in Europe, the village is southwest of Russia.