9 US towns that share names with Arab cities and countries

The United States is covered in cities and towns that share names with existing countries and cities. Most people recognize the strong British and broader European connections of these places, especially on the East Coast. It's a bit of a surprise, though, when you see a town sharing a name with ... an Arab country.

It's fair to say these places enjoy slightly less traffic than their counterparts in the Arab world.

Towns named Lebanon are scattered throughout the country, but Lebanon, Pensylvania is one of the most well-known. The valley and the county where the city is located are also named Lebanon.

More than 25,000 people live in this city.

Most of the places named Damascus in the US have less than 1,000 inhabitants. Damascus, Oregon is slightly larger, with a population of more than 10,000.

The city of Alexandria, Virginia has a rich and cultured history. Nothing that compares with the centuries of the Alexandria in Egypt, of course.

Located just 11 km from Washington D.C., Alexandria, Virginia was first settled by Europeans in 1695. It has been a significant city ever since. Today the population stands around 150,000.

Most Jordans are small and unincorporated, but Jordan, Minnesota is home to more than 5,000 residents. It draws its name from the Jordan River, which runs through the kingdom and Palestine.

With more than 18,000 residents, Palestine, Texas was named after Palestine, Illinois, a town of less than 2,000 people. The story behind the Illinois town's name suggests that a French explorer was reminded of Palestine when he first laid eyes on the land.

This small town named after the North African kingdom has a population of less than 1,129 as of the 2010 census. It was first laid out as a town in 1851.

With less than 1,000 residents as of the 2010 census, Tyre is just a small town located in central New York. Named after Lebanon's southern city, Tyre, New York is also home to a Native American reservation.

Georgia is somewhat smaller and quieter than its namesake with a population between 9,000 and 10,000 residents. The city was founded in 1835. More car horns are needed for Cairo, Georgia to live up to its name.

This is definitely not the Mecca of the US! The tiny town traces its history back to 1890.