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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Jane Corscadden

Belfast abroad: 10 places around the world which share their name with the Northern Ireland city

Belfast has been known for its exports over the years, whether in shipbuilding capabilities, the linen industry, or the many famous faces calling the city their hometown.

But did you know there are many other towns and cities called Belfast scattered around the globe?
From the Americas, to Africa and even the Caribbean - here are some of the locations sharing their name with the Northern Ireland city.

Belfast, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Belfast, South Africa (Getty Images)

This town with a population of 4,466 is known for excellent trout fishing conditions, and was named after Richard Charles O'Neill from Belfast, Northern Ireland, who owned the farm on which the town was built.

The Berg-en-dal Monument was erected in the town to honour the soldiers killed during the Battle of Berg-en-dal, which was one of the biggest and most significant battles of the Anglo-Boer War at the turn of the 20th century.

Belfast, Maine

Downtown buildings in Belfast, Maine (Getty Images)

Housing a population of 6,938, the American city of Belfast in the state of Maine is the county seat of Waldo County. Its seaport has a wealth of antique architecture in several historic districts, and the city remains popular with tourists.

Belfast, Nebraska

A ghost town in Nebraska shares its name with Northern Ireland's capital. Located in Greeley County, the railway line was extended to the town in the late 19th century, with a post office briefly in place from 1908 until 1909. No buildings remain at the site, but deep holes indicate foundations and cellars. Nowadays, the former town is used for grazing cattle.

Belfast, New York

Main Street in Belfast, New York (Google Maps)

This small town in Allegany County, New York, was named in 1825 after Belfast as it had numerous residents of Scots-Irish ancestry from that area. In 2009, the Belfast training barns - which had been virtually untouched for more than 120 years - were adapted for use as the world's only Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame.

Belfast, Jamaica

Irish Jamaicans are a significant minority ethnic group in the Caribbean country of Jamaica, so it's not surprising there's a neighbourhood named after Belfast here. It's located southwest of Montpelier, and west of Hill Top.

Belfast, Tennessee

The small town of Belfast, Tennessee (Google Maps)

Located in Tennessee is the unincorporated community of Belfast. On February 29, 1952, a weak but catastrophic F1 tornado hit the town, killing three and injuring 166.

Belfast, California

Another unincorporated community named Belfast is located in Lassen County, California, 5.5 miles northwest of Litchfield. It sits at an elevation of 4,134 feet. The town was founded in 1880 by Captain Charles A. Merrill and named after his hometown of Belfast, Maine.

Belfast, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Belfast in Price Edward Island, Canada, has the island's oldest lighthouse at Point Prim (Google Maps)

The rural town of Belfast is best-known for its golf course Belfast Highland Greens, Mini Woolen Mills, and many art studios and pottery shops.

The nearby lighthouse at Point Prim is the oldest on Prince Edward Island. At 18.2 metres, it's the only round brick lighthouse left on the island, and one of the last of its kind in Canada.

Belfast, Australia

The coastal town of Port Fairy was once known as Belfast (Google Maps)


Now known as Port Fairy, this coastal town 180 miles west of Melbourne, Australia, was once known as Belfast.

In 1843 James Atkinson, a Sydney solicitor, purchased land in the town by special survey. He drained the swamps, subdivided and leased the land, and built a harbour on the Moyne River. He named the town Belfast after his hometown in Ireland.

Agriculture developed in the region, and Belfast became an important transport hub. In 1887, the town was renamed Port Fairy as a result of an Act of Parliament.

Belfast, New Zealand

The suburb of Belfast near Christchurch, New Zealand (Google Maps)

Just 10km north of the city of Christchurch is the suburb of Belfast, close to the banks of the Waimakariri River. James McNeight Watt (1838–1892) emigrated from Belfast, Northern Ireland, and was a partner with the original meat works, around which the settlement grew.

Watt, who developed much of the area, is believed to have given it its present name. The suburb had an estimated population of 4,510 as of June 2021

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