In the United States, I’d probably name Oregon City, the famous end of the Oregon Trail and the first city founded west of the Rocky Mountains during the pioneer era. Its population is only 37,000.

  • Interesting_Test_814@jlai.lu
    1·
    2 days ago

    In France it might be Y (population : 89), famous for having a one-letter name. Far from “anyone can still instantly recognise the name” but still probably much more well-known than any other town this size.

    Otherwise idk, feels like the only french city everyone would instantly recognise the name of is Paris tbh.

  • superkret@feddit.org
    13·
    6 days ago

    Germany:

    Bielefeld. Everyone recognizes the name, it’s marked on all maps, officially it has a football club.
    But in reality, it doesn’t even exist.

  • Wolf314159@startrek.website
    181·
    6 days ago

    In the US it must be Springfield because there’s so fucking many of them that they named made a TV show after it.

    Stupid sexy autocorrect.

  • finestnothing@lemmy.world
    10·
    6 days ago

    As someone in the US - I have absolutely zero recognition of the town of Oregon City. All I know about the Oregon trail is a bunch of people died from starvation and dysentery

  • rmuk@feddit.ukEnglish
    151·
    7 days ago

    In the UK it’s got to be the City of London. Famous for being an ancient city established by the Romans and awash with history, now one of the world’s biggest financial centers with a modern skyline of famously distinctive skyscrapers. It’s home to some world-famous landmarks like Saint Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge, and has a population of about 10,000.

    The City of London is not to be confused with London, London, London or London.

  • ben_dover@lemmy.ml
    10·
    6 days ago

    we have a town called “Fucking” with only a few hundred people living there. the town sign gets stolen once a month

  • Storspoven@feddit.nu
    5·
    6 days ago

    World recognition or in-country?

    If world I’d guess Huskvarna (pop 24 000) for Sweden.

    Known for having a company making chainsaws (among other things) named after it (Husqvarna). It is one of the two main brands of professional chainsaws (the other being Stihl).

    • LemoineFairclough@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      2·
      6 days ago

      I definitely recognized “Huskvarna” for some reason, but didn’t know its location or why I would have recognized it before reading your comment. I haven’t lived in Sweden or a place that would have been very easy for me to get to Sweden from.

  • balsoft@lemmy.ml
    7·
    7 days ago

    Back when I was in Russia I’d say it’d be Suzdal, famous for the density of churches and other traditional architecture; or Tarusa, known for that one song that everyone seems to know a couple of lines from, Gorodok (here is a random rendition I found just now), both with just under 10k pop according to the wiki. And, as a bit of a stretch since it’s not a town and most people would call it Solovki, Solovetsky settlement, famous for being a prison, with about 800 people. Also Oymyakon with under 600 people, the coldest settlement on earth if you’re into that sort of thing.

    Now in Georgia, I’d say Borjomi with just over 10k pop famous for its water, and Bakuriani (just over 1800 people) for its water and the ski resort. Again a bit of a stretch, but I guess everyone in Georgia at least also knows the ski resort of Gudauri at just under 100 people, as well as mountain resorts of Gomismta and Bakhmaro, both with no permanent residents due to the rough winters. Geography nerds will also be familiar with Ushguli, (arguably) the highest inhabited settlement in Europe, population 220.

    • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
      2·
      6 days ago

      I’ve actually heard of Oymyakon, just as a Canadian who knows geography facts. Ushguli is new information, though. (There’s definitely higher on other continents)

    • chrizzowski@lemmy.ca
      1·
      6 days ago

      Recently learning more about Georgia given the current political situation. Beautiful and fascinating place that would be great to visit one day. How are the ski resorts? I’m from BC in Canada and spoiled for choice, but snowboarding in Georgia would be quite the trip!

      • balsoft@lemmy.ml
        2·
        6 days ago

        If I’m honest it’s breathtakingly beautiful. I’ve been around most of Europe and some of Asia, and the only comparable places are Swiss Alps and the Himalayas; however, Georgia is much cheaper than the former and more developed/safe than the latter. It’s also quite tiny but heterogeneous: within a day’s drive you can go from (slightly underwhelming) Black Sea through amazing forests into wild mountains, back down to vineyards and sunflower fields, through a volcanic plateau with otherworldly landscapes and then bathe in hot springs under the starry sky. There’s an insane density of buildings and ruins from dozens of different cultures and epochs, all the way from bronze age to medieval Georgian to Russian colonial style to Soviet-era constructivism. I don’t drink wine but I’ve heard that it’s quite amazing too. My only gripes is that the country might be backsliding into authoritarian rule, and the locals are welcoming but “conservative” (bigoted) to the extent that it’s straight up dangerous for LGBT people to visit.