What's In a Name?

While the people I am around all the time are probably sick of hearing me go on and on about how I am moving to London (in 41 days!) and going to London School of Economics, I get more excitement than I should from getting to say such things. However, I have had with rather alarming frequency, the following conversation:

Me: "Yeah, I'm going to get my masters degree"
Other person: "Oh? Where?"
Me: "London School of Economics"
Other person: "Oh. Where's that?"
Now. I know that in small town Wisconsin, where I am, LSE is not exactly the topic of daily conversation. And I know that I might say "London School of Economics" kind of fast. But still.

This conversation also puts me in a somewhat awkward situation because if I answer "In London" the person might feel like I am being condescending or they might feel like "well, duh." So I usually just say "In England."

The fact that this has happened at least half a dozen times has made me wonder why. There are several explanations that come to mind.

Wait. Which London is this?

First, they don't think that I would be going abroad for my Masters so the idea that it is in England doesn't occur to them. Second, maybe people think it was named after Mr. London or Dr. London or whatever. Or third, they are thinking it might be a different London.

So, as a public service, and because I was bored and wikipedia is awesome, I have decided to give you a little bit of information on all of the different Londons in the world.




London, England, United Kingdom

Area: 659 square miles
Population (2007 estimate): 7,556,900
Mayor: Boris Johnson

Capital of England. Home to the London Eye, the London Bridge, the Thames, the tube, tea, Parliament, rain, and soon, me (and Siodhbhra). Also those guys in funny bear skin hats.

This is Tower Bridge. London Bridge is boring looking.

It started as a Roman settlement in 43 A.D. and now has the largest city GDP in Europe. The "City of London" is actually a 1.12 square mile area within the heart of Greater London, home to a lot of large business and much of the country's financial industry. Greater London is made up of 32 different boroughs, each has its own local government. .


London, Ontario, Canada

Population (2006): 352,395
Area: 162.34 square miles
Province: Ontario
County: Middlesex County
Mayor: Anne Marie DeCicco-Best

Downtown London, Ontario

The area was home to several Native North American tribes before European settlement in the 18th century. The village was founded in 1826. During the Upper Canada Rebellion, it was a center of Tory (Crown favoring) support and so the British government located a garrison there, this greatly increased its population.

Today, the economy (according to Wikipedia) is based on medical research, locomotive production, insurance, and information technology. It also has a hockey team called the London Knights. Like the original London, it also has a Thames River.

Wrong Christmas.

London, Kiribati (aka Christmas Island)

Part of the Kirbati Atoll in the Pacific Islands, it is the 2nd largest city on the atoll of Kiritirmati and in whole Line Islands with a population of 1,829.






London, Ohio, USA
Population (2000): 8,771
Area: 8.5 square miles
County: Madison
Mayor: David G. Eades

Established in 1811to serve as the county seat. Notable residents include Richard A Harrison, US Representative from Ohio, Clyde Tingley, the former governor of New Mexico, and some guy who played at Ohio State (insert automatic Wolverine "Booo" here).

London, Kentucky, USA

Population (2000): 5,692

Hey! We're not to late!

Area: 7.7 square miles
County: Laurel
Mayor: Troy Rudder

The county seat of Laurel County, London, Kentucky is also home to the World Chicken Festival, which attracts 250,000 people annually. Also Kolb Aircraft, who are awesome people. Notable natives include Flem D. Sampson, the 42nd Governor of Kentucky, and Chera-Lyn Cook who was Miss Kentucky in 1998 and placed 4th runner up to Miss America 1999.


London, Arkansas, USA

Population (2000): 925
Area: 2.4 square miles
County: Pope

Whoever the mayor is, they are apparently not cool enough for the wikipedia author to include them. Notable natives include Brooks Hays, a deceased member of the US House of Representatives and Mccoy Heath, owner of one of the region's largest egg farms and chicken breeders (what is it with Londons and chickens?).

London, California, USA

Population (2000): 1,848
Area: .6 square miles
County: Tulare

They don't get a mayor because it's not a city or town or whatever. London, CA is a "Census-Designated Place". Wikipedia has no other information that you would care about.

Careful London, don't get all high and mighty.

London, Texas, USA

Population is estimated to be around 180. Even though it's unincorporated, it still has a post office.






London, West Virginia, USA

Another unincorporated community. The London Lock and Dam is located there.



There's also London Township, Minnesota and New Londons in Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Texas, Wisconsin, and Prince Edward Island, Canada.


Hope you found this informative and/ or fun. The pictures with captions took me for bloody ever but I think I may have a system worked out now.

Till next time!
Kathryn