Let's Discuss Capital Cities -- and recreate the PFB

[kj3400 178]

Washington, DC is divided into four quadrants of unequal area: Northwest (NW), Northeast (NE), Southeast (SE), and Southwest (SW). The axes bounding the quadrants radiate from the U.S. Capitol building.

[pagenotfound 53]

Moscow is Russia's capital

[belfastuniguy 18]

Belfast was the first city in the United Kingdom to perform civil partnerships

[Meg 368]

I've been to Oklahoma city

[pagenotfound 53]

Seoul is the capital of South Korea

[kj3400 178]

Originally posted by: Duke87 Cheyenne, WY is home to the only interstate highway that's actually is not a highway for any of its length (I-180)

Originally posted by: pagenotfound hey i already did that one duke!quote>

This thread is growing at ludicrous speed. I don't have time to read every post.

quote>

 

This is getting ridiculous...but it's for science...

Anyway...

Washington, D.C. is often cited as having some of the nation's worst traffic and congestion. In 2007, Washington commuters spent 60 hours a year in traffic, which tied for having the worst traffic in the country after Los Angeles.

[JakeMD 107]

What is the capital of California?

[Duke87 1,070]

If literally transliterated, the name of Athens, Greece is actually "Athena"- named directly for the ancient Greek goddess, of course.

[pagenotfound 53]

Ullan Battar is Mongolia's capital

[belfastuniguy 18]

Sir Henry Pottinger, born and educated in Belfast (at my former school) was the first ever Governor of Hong Kong

[JakeMD 107]

The capital of australia is sydney

[kj3400 178]

Capital of Japan is Tokyo...

[belfastuniguy 18]

Mary McAleese, President of the Republic of Ireland was educated at Queens University Belfast

[pagenotfound 53]

Harare is the capital of Botswana (i think)

[Duke87 1,070]

Probably the least pronounceable capital in the world: N'Djamena, Chad

[pagenotfound 53]

the capital of Australia is not Sydney, but rather Canberra

[patfirefghtr 160]

Juneau  Alaska fun facts!!!

Fun Facts

The world’s largest concentration of brown bear lives on Admiralty Island, located just 10 minutes from Juneau

The economy of Juneau is based on state, local and federal government, tourism, mining, and fishing. During an average summer, over 800,000 visitors experience Juneau’s spectacular natural beauty

Juneau is only 45 miles from end to end, but has 130 miles of hiking trails

Juneau’s backyard is a 1,500 square mile glacial ice field bordering Canada

Juneau has 114 species of birds, all five species of salmon, brown and black bears and several species of whales

Juneau lies on a small strip of land between sea level and 3800 feet peaks 

Of Juneau’s entire 3,248 square mile size, there is 928 square miles of ice cap, 704 square miles of water and only 264 square miles of urban development with another 1,352 square miles of wilderness rainforest

Only 30,500 people reside in Juneau, but southeast Alaska is home to over 20,000 bald eagles

Juneau is Alaska’s 3rd largest city. Anchorage, the largest city, has 265,000 people, about half of the entire states population

The year’s longest day is June 21. On that day, there are 18 hours and 18 minutes of daylight. The sun rises at 3:51 a.m. and sets at 10:09 p.m. The shortest day, December 21, has six hours and 21 minutes of daylight. The sun rises at 8:46 a.m. and sets at 3:07p.m.

Visitors during August, September, March and April sometimes see stunning displays of the Aurora Borealis. Best viewing opportunities will occur on clear cold nights and frequently the Aurora Borealis can be seen above Mt. Juneau, right behind the city

Juneau supports both a state and a city museum, symphony orchestra, a university, a lyric opera company and a professional theater company

The “Taku Winds” blowing through downtown can reach more than 100 mph

[kj3400 178]

Capital of France is Paris, one that uses rubber-tired metro cars....

[Duke87 1,070]

Need some fresh cold cuts? Check out that New Delhi in India.

[JakeMD 107]

oh thanks kj3400, never can remember that.

the capital of minnesota is St. Paul

[pagenotfound 53]

bad pun

[belfastuniguy 18]

pagenotfound: Harare is the capital of Zimbabwe :S

[Duke87 1,070]

Mexico City is near, though not precisely on top of, the ancient Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.

[miguelkuk 111]

Oporto is the second largest city of Portugal, and is called capital of the north

[kj3400 178]

Capital of Germany is Berlin, reunited 19 years ago after WW2 and the Cold War....

[Duke87 1,070]

Rome, Italy is thought to be the first ever city in the world to exceed one million inhabitants... back when it was Rome, Rome!

[patfirefghtr 160]

How Salem, Oregon Got Its Name...& Kept It!

The following text describes how Salem, Oregon acquired its name. This narrative was written more than eighty years ago. It is a slice of history that was tucked away for generations and recently came to light. It is published here, edited by Jon Hazen, illustrated by James Cloutier.

The story of the manner in which one Oregon city after another came into being furnishes a mirror of the period in which these events occurred. A curious mingling of the motives is observable.

The spirit of missionaries, and especially the desire of the new settlers to obtain the facilities of education for their children, are revealed by the circumstances that when town-building had assumed the proportions of a boom--and even before that--it was proposed by a number of devoutly religious and sincerely altruistic citizens to capitalize this speculative spirit in the interest of church and school. The early history of Salem affords an interesting and romantic example of this.

When the immigration of 1845, which was much larger than any which preceded it, brought a new problem of provision for the education of the children of white settlers, the trustees of the Oregon Institute conceived the idea of laying off a town and realizing a fund from the sale of lots, to be devoted to this purpose.

This was done in 1846, at which time there was only one building within the limits of the Salem survey,--the residence of Rev. L.H. Judson. There being no law for holding in the name of the Institute the townsite property thus sought to be acquired, various members of the Methodist body, by agreement, altered or extended the lines of their own claims so as to protect the school.

Judson in this manner surrendered 320 acres, Rev. David Leslie about 200, H.B. Brewer about 80, and W.H. Willson about 40. A little later Willson was designated in a contract with the trustees of the Institute to take over the entire claim as his own, it being intended that when he perfected title in accordance with the land laws he should surrender to the Institute all except one-third, retaining the latter fractional part for his own services.

After the survey of 1846 a few lots were sold, which were paid for in wheat, and in due time the question of selecting a name arose. The Indian name was "Chemeketa," freely translated as "place of rest," and this was proposed by Rev. Mr. Parrish as a name for the new settlement.

But Willson pointed out that by a happy coincidence there was also a biblical word meaning nearly the same thing, "Salem" or Sholum"--a "city of peace"* which was then decided upon. [*note: It is doubtful whether the name Chemeketa had this signification. The name seems to have been derived from one of the Calapooyan bands of Indians of that name.]

But the missionary influence diminished somewhat with continued accessions of the new and sometimes irreverent and ungodly elements to the population, so that in the summer of 1853 the subject of changing the name was seriously agitated.

"Chemeketa," "Woronoco," and "Multnomah," among others, were proposed. Petitions asking that the change be made were circulated for presentation to the Legislature, and received a considerable number of signatures.

In the proceedings of the Fifth Territorial Legislature which met in December, 1853, it appears that, December 19, 1853, Mr. Colby presented the petition of R.C. Geer and others praying that the name of Salem be changed to "Thurston" or "Valena", the latter of which was the given name of a young daughter of J.W. Nesmith, afterward Mrs. William H. Molson.

On the same day Mr. Humanson submitted the petition of Chester N. Terry and others to change the name to "Corvallis" and a resolution was also introduced in the council to change the name of Marysville to Corvallis. A rather spirited contest ensued which resulted in the name Corvallis to the city which now bears it. This act was passed on December 20, 1853.

Meanwhile the various Salem petitions had been referred to a select committee of the council, which submitted a report on December 21, 1853, recommending that the name be changed to "Chemawa." Action on the report was delayed until January 13, 1854, when two other amendments were offered, "Willamette" and "Bronson" being suggested, the latter without much seriousness, but ostensibly in honor of a respected pioneer resident.

The name "Chemawa" was adopted by the council and the bill went to the house for concurrence, being called up January 17, 1854. The debate seems to have been the occasion of a good deal of merriment and bantering.

Mr. Simpson moved to substitute "Valena" for "Chemawa." Mr. Scott raised a laugh by moving to amend the amendment of striking out "Valena" and inserting "Pike" and insisted on a vote. On the motion of Mr. Kelly "Chemawa" was changed to "Chemawah," whereupon the motion of Mr. Simpson called for "Chemawah" to be stricken out and "Victoria" inserted.

The House's prankish mood having by this time exhausted itself, the bill was considered with due gravity and indefinitely postponed, and the name Salem has been retained without questioning to the present day.

[JakeMD 107]

is this working? is someone keeping track?

[kj3400 178]

Wow...this topic has more posts than views....is there a record on that?

Seoul is the capital of South Korea....

[Duke87 1,070]

People like to sing that crazy song about how "Istambul was Constantinople"... although, it had another even older name before Constantine made it the eastern capital: Byzantium.