Where you were born

[Rye]

Where were you born? Post a few excerpts from Wiki about the city you were born in. If you were born on the border of two, post a little of both.

I was born right near the border of Astoria and Maspeth, Queens, so here:



The area now known as Astoria was originally called Hallet's Cove, after its first landowner William Hallet, who settled there in 1659 with his wife Elizabeth Fones. It was renamed after John Jacob Astor, the wealthiest man in America, with a net worth of over $40 million, in order to persuade him to invest $2,000 in the neighborhood. He only invested $500, but the name stayed nonetheless, as a bitter battle over naming the village was finally won by Astor's supporters and friends. From Astor's summer home in Hell Gate, Manhattan – on what is now East 87th Street near York Avenue – he could see across the East River the new Long Island village named in his honor; however, Astor never actually set foot in Astoria...

Astoria was first settled by the Dutch and Germans in the 17th century. Many Irish settled in the area during the waves of Irish immigration into New York City during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Italians were the next significant immigrants in Astoria. Numerous Italian restaurants, delis, bakeries and pizza shops are found throughout Astoria, particularly in the Ditmars Blvd area.

The 1960s saw a large number of ethnic Greeks from Greece, Albania and Cyprus, giving Astoria the largest Greek population in New York City.[citation needed] The Greek cultural imprint can be seen in the numerous Greek restaurants, bakeries, tavernas and cafes, as well as several Greek Orthodox churches. With perhaps 30,000 residents claiming Greek heritage, Astoria has one of the largest concentrations of Greeks outside Greece.



The area known today as Maspeth was chartered by Dutch and English settlers in the mid-17th century. The Dutch had purchased land in the area known today as Queens in 1635, and within a few years began chartering towns. In 1642 they settled Maspat, under a charter granted to Rev. Francis Doughty. [1] Maspat became the first European settlement in Queens. [2] The settlement was leveled the following year in an attack by Native Indians, and the surviving settlers returned to Manhattan... The name "Maspeth" is derived from the name of Mespeatches Indians, one of the 13 main Indian tribes that inhabited Long Island. It is translated to mean "at the bad waterplace" relating to the many stagnant swamps that existed in the area.

Most people who live in Maspeth are of Polish, Slavic, Italian, Irish, German, Hispanic or Chinese descent. Maspeth also has a significant Lithuanian population, one of the densest populations of Lithuanian-Americans outside of the Chicago Area. Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church still is the focal point of Maspeth Lithuanian culture, and during the 60's, 70's, and 80's there was a thriving Lithuanian-American club on Grand Avenue. Even today Transfiguration conducts some masses in Lithuanian, and runs a Knights of Lithuania chapter out of the church hall. The Maironis Lithuanian School of New York also conducts its classes in Maspeth.

Where I went to school when I was a child, I was one of the only children who didn't speak Polish. In Astoria, most of the people are Greek and Italian, it's where my Dad grew up. Queens is weird because each neighborhood is real close to another, but each has its own very unique vibe. One area in Queens is literally only a few blocks in each direction, but the population is almost exclusively Jewish. It's kind of odd how each is so distinct when they're so close.

[Rocket Edge]

Portlaoise, Ireland.

Portlaoise (historically spelt Port Laoighise meaning "fort of Laois") is the county town of County Laois in the midlands of Ireland.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Ireland_map_County_Laois_Magnified.png

It's just a small town, nothing too out of the blue about it!

[Breine]

Here are some facts about my home town :monster:



Brørup is a town with a population of 4,436 (1st January 2009) in Vejen municipality, Region Syddanmark in Denmark.

Until January 1, 2007, Brørup was also a municipality (Danish, kommune) in Ribe County. The municipality covered an area of 107 km², and had a total population of 6,485 (2005). Its last mayor was Egon Fræhr, a member of the Venstre (Liberal Party) political party.

Brørup municipality ceased to exist as the result of Kommunalreformen ("The Municipality Reform" of 2007). It was merged with existing Holsted, Rødding, and Vejen municipalities to form the new Vejen municipality. This created a municipality with an area of 817 km² and a total population of 41,350 (2005).




Tirslund Rock or Tirslundstenen is a granite boulder in Denmark. Deposited during the Ice age it lies 4 km west of Brørup. It is Jutland's largest granite boulder and the second largest in Denmark. Its height is 3.5 meters above the ground and it's 16 meters in circumference. The rock was put under protection in 1832.

According to the legend King Harald Bluetooth wanted use the Tirslund Rock as a memorial stone on his parents Gorm the Old and Thyra's burial mounds in Jelling (this was in circa 940). It was supposed to be transported on a great iron sled but as legend says enemies forced King Harrold to abandon this enterprise. So the stone was left where it stands and the iron sled is said still to exist buried along with great treasure deep in the ground.

In the late 1700s an attempt to blow up the stone was made by the local pastor (so that it could be used as material for buildings), but he managed only to blow a small piece off of the top.



Tirslundstenen - the stones we are sitting on are the pieces the pastor blew off back then.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/Breine/6450_122451384790_522384790_2217018.jpg

There is also a story saying that an angry troll threw the stone in an attempt to hit a nearby church, but he missed it, and as a result the stone landed where it now is.



Other facts:

- There is a big market here every Friday. Thousands of people come here to sell and buy all sorts of stuff. The market also has the biggest livestock auction in Denmark.

- Denmark was the first country in the world to legalize porn (in 1967), and the cinema in Brørup was the first in Denmark to show them. This means that the cinema here was probably the first in the world to legally show pornography. People used to come here in busses to watch porn :bigsmile:

[Aerith's Knight]

I was born in a small town, I'm afraid. Only about 20.000 people.


Son en Breugel is a municipality in the southern Netherlands just outside of Eindhoven. 15,204 lived in this municipality as of June 1, 2005. Son en Breugel is 26,67 km² (of which 0,28 km² water). Son en Breugel used to be two different towns 'Son' and 'Breugel'. The border between these towns is made by the stream the Dommel. Son en Breugel borders to the following municipalities: Eindhoven, Sint-Oedenrode, Nuenen, Gerwen en Nederwetten, Best and Laarbeek.


The villages of Son and Breugel were founded between the 12th and 14th century. The villages developed quickly; some 300 households (150 each) were reported in both villages during the 15th century. However, both Son as well as Breugel were hit hard during the Eighty Years' War, and the number of households shrink to some 140 (with a total of 600 - 800 inhabitants). However, both villages manage to recover.

During the reign of Napoleon, both villages are combined into one municipality. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the population stays relatively stable at some 1,500 persons. However, between 1910 and 1940 the population increases from 1,600 to 3,500 when people start to move to the village out of economic reasons. It was the scene of heavy fighting at the end of the Second World War. From 1960 onwards, Son en Breugel continues to grow. As of August 16 2002, the number of inhabitants reached 15,000.

http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Noord_Brabant-Position.png

Exact middle of the colored part.

[Old Manus]

Wegberg is the northernmost city in the district of Heinsberg in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

http://www.deutschland-navigator.de/karte/25770.jpg

Parts of the hospital I was born in burned down in 1996 and it no longer treats birth and pregnancies, so I guess I'm in an exclusive club or something

[Rye]

Wow, I thought you were born in Wales!

[Raistlin]

I was born in Aurora, Colorado, which is a suburb right next to Denver.


World attention focused on Aurora for seven weeks during the fall of 1955, as President Dwight D. Eisenhower recovered from a heart attack at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. The hospital is also the 1943 birthplace of 2004 Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

In 2004, Aurora was honored as the Sports Illustrated magazine's 50th Anniversary "Sportstown" for Colorado because of its exemplary involvement in facilitating and enhancing sports. Aurora's active populace is also reflected in the variety of professional athletes hailing from the city (see Notable People from Aurora below).

[Chloe.]

Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England. It has also been called New Sarum to distinguish it from the original site of settlement to the north of the city at Old Sarum, but this alternative name is not in common use. Similarly, a native of Salisbury may be known as a "Sarumite"[citation needed], but this term is also not commonly used. In 1990 Salisbury was twinned with Saintes in France, in 2006 with Xanten in Germany, and then in 2008 with the American cities of Salisbury, North Carolina and Salisbury, Maryland .

The city is located in the south-east of Wiltshire, near the edge of Salisbury Plain. It sits at the confluence of five rivers: the Nadder, Ebble, Wylye and Bourne are tributary to the Avon, which flows to the south coast and into the sea at Christchurch, Dorset. Salisbury railway station serves the city, and is the crossing point between the West of England Main Line and the Wessex Main Line making it a regional interchange.

It's also very close to Stonehenge, which has never seemed like a very exciting place to me. :jess:


http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d106/ffmaniac22/240px-Salisbury_Cathedral.jpg

Salisbury Cathedral.

Anyway it's a pretty boring place, but I've lived here my whole life so that's probably why I think that. :p I guess it's not too bad though.

[Shattered Dreamer]

Dublin (pronounced /ˈdʌblɨn/, /ˈdʊblɨn/ or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/) is the largest city (being a primate city)[2][3] and capital of Ireland. It is officially known in Irish as Baile Átha Cliath [bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh] or Áth Cliath [aːh cliə(ɸ)]; the English name comes from the Irish Dubh Linn meaning "black pool". It is located near the midpoint of Ireland's east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the centre of the Dublin Region. Originally founded as a Viking settlement, it evolved into the Kingdom of Dublin and became the island's primary city following the Norman invasion. Today, it is ranked 23rd (down from 10th in 2008) in the Global Financial Centres Index,[4][5] has one of the fastest growing populations of any European capital city,[6][7] and is listed by the GaWC as a global city,[8][9] with a ranking of Alpha - which places Dublin amongst the top 25 cities in the world.[10] Dublin is a historical and contemporary cultural centre for the island of Ireland as well as a modern centre of education, the arts, administrative function, economy and industry.

[G13]

I was born in Spokane Washington. I'm not gonna post anything about it because there is literally nothing interesting about this place. Dick Cheney came to visit once, but no one really cared, Josh Hartnet filmed a few scenes for a movie that never came out, Carmen Electra had lunch at some :bou::bou::bou::bou:ty restaurant and apparently someone saw Samuel L. Jackson at the mall.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g125/EricMiller_photos/Spokane_Riverfront_Park_20061014.jpg

I'm not sure what that thing is that's leaning, or why it's leaning. Maybe Breine's Troll's rock bounced off of it before landing there. Anyways, that's the nicest area of Spokane. All the other pictures are misleading. There's an Imax behind that hill.

[Jess]

I was born in Gateshead, UK. It lies on the southern bank of the river Tyne - directly opposite Newcastle.

http://dvice.com/pics/Gateshead-Millennium-Bridge.jpg

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/3940/800pxnewcastlequaysidew.jpg

Gateshead is the home of the MetroCentre, the largest shopping centre in the European Union.


There has been a settlement on the Gateshead side of the River Tyne, around the old river crossing where the Swing Bridge now stands, since Roman times.

Theories of the derivation of the name 'Gateshead' include 'head of the (Roman) road' or 'goat’s headland', as the River Tyne at this point was once roamed by goats.

In 1068 William the Conqueror defeated the forces of Edgar the Atheling and Malcolm king of Scotland (Shakespeare's Malcolm) on Gateshead Fell (now Low Fell).

The earliest recorded coal mining in the Gateshead area is dated to 1344. As trade on the Tyne prospered there were several attempts by the burghers of Newcastle to annex Gateshead. In 1576 a small group of Newcastle merchants acquired the 'Grand Lease' of the manors of Gateshead and Whickham. In the hundred years from 1574 coal shipments from Newcastle increased elevenfold while the population of Gateshead doubled to approximately 5,500. However, the lease and the abundant coal supplies ended in 1680. The pits were shallow as problems of ventilation and flooding defeated attempts to mine coal from the deeper seams.

[Bunny]

I was born in Durham, North Carolina.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/09/Durhamdinosaur.jpg

Dinosaurs live there currently. Please don't mow the grass, they eat it.


Events include jazz festivals, blues festivals, symphony concerts, art exhibitions, and a multitude of cultural expositions, including the American Dance Festival and the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. A center of Durham's culture is its Carolina Theater, which shows both live performances and films, primarily independent releases. Notable dining establishments are primarily concentrated in the Ninth Street, Brightleaf, and University Drive areas. There is a resurgence of restaurants in and around the downtown area, including several new restaurants in the American Tobacco District. The Nasher Museum of Art opened in October 2005 and has produced nationally-recognized traveling exhibitions of leading-edge global, contemporary art.
The Durham Association for Downtown Arts (DADA) is a non-profit arts organization located in the downtown area. It was founded in 1998 and then incorporated in 2000. The organization's mission is a commitment to the development, presentation and fiscal sponsorship of original art and performance in Durham. DADA strives to support local artists working in a diversity of artistic media. Emphasizing community, DADA helps local residents gain access to these artists by providing free or low-cost venue admission.

It is the location of the American Tobacco Company, the American Tobacco Trail, and Stagville, one of the largest plantation complexes in the South and home to almost 900 slaves! David Garrard and Dewayne Washington were born there and Clay Aiken lives there. So does Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu apparently!

[~*~Celes~*~]

Oregon is a city in Lucas County, Ohio, United States. It is a suburb of Toledo. The population was 19,355 at the 2000 census.

Perhaps the most well-known attraction in Oregon is the Sundance Drive-In, one of the last in the region. Pearson Park, within the city limits, and Maumee Bay State Park, just east of the city, have preserved or re-created sections of the original Black Swamp topography and forest. Its location at the confluence of major migration routes brings birdwatchers and hunters to nearby shoreland areas. Boating and fishing on Lake Erie are popular pursuits. The city sponsors an extensive softball and baseball recreation program.

German-American Festival Oregon hosts the oldest, largest and greatest ethnic festival in the area every year during the last weekend in August- the German-American Festival. An end of summer tradition, tens of thousands of festival goers migrate to the 57 acres (230,000 m2) of well-manicured lawns and gardens that make up Oak Shade Grove in Oregon. It is sponsored by the seven German- and Swiss-American Societies in Toledo. The purpose of the German-American Festival is to promote and enhance the German and Swiss cultures. As the largest supporter of high school level foreign language education in the Toledo area, The German-American Society uses festival revenue to support a wide variety of scholarships recognizing young German scholars who have shown great enthusiasm and dedication in studying the German language and culture. "Beer - lots of German and domestic BEER!" 2007 was the first year the GAF had "park and ride" bus service available at various locations around Toledo. The festival will be held August 22, 23, 24 in 2008.

If you want to see some pix, go here: City of Oregon Ohio, Lucas County (http://www.oregonohio.org/)

[Cuchulainn]

Belfast, Ireland

Belfast (from the Irish: Béal Feirste meaning "mouth of the sandbars") is the capital of and the largest city in Northern Ireland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom. It is the seat of devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly.[4] It is the largest urban area in the province of Ulster, the second largest city on the island of Ireland and the 15th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city of Belfast has a population of 267,500,[1] and lies at the heart of the Belfast urban area, which has a population of 483,418.[5] The Belfast metropolitan area has a total population of 579,276.[3] Belfast was granted city status in 1888.

Belfast is a :bou::bou::bou::bou:hole torn in two by 2 religions and despite the ceasefire don't believe the hype. We still hate eachother.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3664/3597011093_b76e1da077.jpg
Police Station

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00078/belfast2_78060a.jpg
Lovely Riot

http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/090310-belfast-shooting-hlrg-430a.hlarge.jpg
Our lovely police

http://www.gransha-taxi.co.uk/images/murals/peace%20wall%202.jpg
wall separating the two moronic tribes

http://www.peacelinetours.co.uk/murals/ready.jpg
a lovely mural by Protestant murderers reminding us that while they arent killing innocent Catholics rigfht nowm they can & may at any time.

http://loyalengland.homestead.com/files/UVF_SOLDIER4.jpeg
The UVF, Protestant murder squads who kill Catholic civilians & call it war.

http://www.quikmaneuvers.com/sitebuilder/images/IRA_Terrorism-321x259.jpg
The PIRA who killed police, soldiers & Loyalist for 28 years in order to get 'freedom' and in 28 years it got them...nowhere.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00077/terr3_77981t.jpg
The RIRA who are STILL trying to kill soldiers & police & havent gor the hint yet that it dont work.




Belfast people. Come visit.

[Madame Adequate]

Eh, your impressions of Belfast will be deeply colored by where you go. Like Cuchulainn, I've been to plenty of :bou::bou::bou::bou:ty areas. But someone who stays in the nicer areas would come away with a bloody good impression.

It is full of buck eejits though, no question.


Belfast Zoo is owned by Belfast City Council. The council spends £1.5 million every year on running and promoting the zoo, which is one of the few local government-funded zoos in the UK and Ireland. The Zoo is one of the top visitor attraction in Northern Ireland, receiving more than 295,000 visitors a year. The majority of the animals are in danger in their natural habitat. The zoo houses more than 1,200 animals of 140 species including Asian Elephants, Barbary Lions, a White Tigers (one of the few in the United Kingdom), three species of penguin, a family of Western Lowland Gorillas, a troop of Common Chimpanzees, a Red Panda and several species of langur. The zoo also carries out important conservation work and takes part in European and international breeding programmes which help to ensure the survival of many species under threat.[73]

If you want to make it rain at Belfast Zoo, take me there. In all my years I have been there only once without a drop falling.


Peace has also boosted the numbers of tourists coming to Belfast. There were 6.4 million visitors in 2005, which was a growth of 8.5% from 2004. The visitors spent £285.2 million, supporting more than 15,600 jobs.[95] Visitor numbers rose by 6% to reach 6.8 million in 2006, with tourists spending £324 million, an increase of 15% on 2005.[96] The city's two airports have helped make the city one of the most visited weekend destinations in Europe.[97]


Belfast harbour was dredged in 1845 to provide deeper berths for larger ships. Donegall Quay was built out into the river as the harbour was developed further and trade flourished.[105] The Harland and Wolff shipbuilding firm was created in 1861, and by the time the Titanic was built in Belfast in 1912 it had become the largest shipyard in the world.[31]

[rubah]

There's not much to say about Russellville other than it has a nuclear power plant <333

[Tavrobel]

THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD


A commercial, educational, and cultural center, the city was once the second-largest in the British Empire[4] (after London), and the social and geographical center of the original 13 American colonies. Ben Franklin took a large role in Philadelphia's early rise to prominence. It was in this city that many of the ideas, and subsequent actions, gave birth to the American Revolution and American Independence, making Philadelphia a centerpiece of early American history. It was the most populous city of the young United States, although by the first census in 1790, New York City had overtaken it. Philadelphia served as one of the nation's many capitals during the Revolutionary War and after. Following the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, it was the temporary national capital from 1790 to 1800 while Washington, DC was under construction.

Also: my arteries are better than yours

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/3941/phillycheesesteak.jpg

[Rad Bromance]

http://localphototours.metroshot.com/photos/skyline-torrance-california-usa-photograph.jpg


Torrance is a city located in the South Bay (southwestern) region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance's 1.5 miles of attractive beach coastline is less well-known than those of its immediate neighbors to the North, Redondo Beach, or to the South, Palos Verdes Estates. As of the 2009 California Population Estimate, the city's population was 149,111; the eighth largest city in Los Angeles County and the 35th largest in the state of California. Incorporated in 1921, Torrance enjoys a pleasant year-round climate with warm temperatures, sea breezes, low humidity and an average rainfall of 12.55 inches per year. This residential city has 90,000 street trees. A city of diverse residents, flourishing businesses and safe communities, Torrance exemplifies its motto, "a balanced city."

I recall it being a lovely city but it had some pretty ghetto areas back when I was growing up. Overall though it was a very clean, well kept city with very nice schools and parks.

Man I miss California. :(

[The Summoner of Leviathan]

I grew up in Glen Levit, NB. All Wiki has to say is:


Glen Levit is an unincorporated community in Restigouche County, New Brunswick, Canada.

Apparently it is named after the Scottish town of Glenlivet. :/

Also, it has a population in the hundreds, not too sure how many exactly since we're so small.

The nearest city is Campbellton:


Campbellton (2006 population 7,384) is a Canadian city in Restigouche County, New Brunswick.[4]

Situated on the south bank of the Restigouche River opposite Pointe-à-la-Croix, Quebec, Campbellton was officially incorporated in 1889 and achieved city status in 1958.

Forestry and tourism are major industries in the regional economy, while a pulp mill in nearby Atholville is the largest single employer in the area. As part of the tourim "industry", wealthy sportfishermen seeking Atlantic Salmon flock to the scenic Restigouche Valley every summer. The region sees extensive annual snowfall. Alpine and Nordic ski facilities at Sugarloaf Provincial Park provide winter recreation opportunities for both visitors and local residents.

Campbellton is also a retail and service centre for Restigouche County and the Gaspé Peninsula.


It was here that the Battle of the Restigouche, the final naval battle between the English and French for the possession of North America, was waged in 1760, marking a turning point for the settlement.

Population of roughly 7384 people (2006).

My county, Resitgouche, has a population of roughly 33 834 (2006) in an area of 8 577.47 km(squared). Yeah, I am a small town, rural boy~

[Miss_Lulu]

A year after the organization of Maury County in 1807, Columbia was laid out in 1808 and lots were sold. The original town, on the south bank of the Duck River, consisted of only four blocks. The town was incorporated in 1817. For years, it was the county seat of the richest county in agricultural wealth in the state. Today, it is an important tourist destination, most of whom are drawn by the numerous historic sites in the area. Attractions include the James K. Polk Home, the Columbia Athenaeum, Mule Day, and nearby plantation homes.


In 1946, a race riot dubbed 'The Columbia Race Riot' occurred in the county seat, Columbia, TN.
A fight between James Stephenson, a black Navy veteran, and a white shopkeeper apparently ignited the event, and later that same day there was shooting, fighting, and rioting between whites and blacks in a part of Columbia known as "Mink Slide", a name for the black business district. Several people were eventually charged with rioting and attempted murder; the main attorney who arrived in Columbia to defend Stephenson in the case was Thurgood Marshall, who would later become the first black United States Supreme Court justice.


We had Hannah Montana the movie filmed downtown. WE WIN.
We also had James K. Polk, 11th president I believe; Lynnette Cole who was Miss USA 2000; and Sterling Marlin, for all you NASCAR fans.

[Breine]

I'm not sure what that thing is that's leaning, or why it's leaning. Maybe Breine's Troll's rock bounced off of it before landing there.

Haha, yes maybe.

[Aerith's Knight]

We had Hannah Montana the movie filmed downtown. WE WIN.



Wasn't that a character from Family guy?

[I Don't Need A Name]

I'm not gonna give bios on where I was born, cause it sucks: Grimsby
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Lincolnshire_outline_map_with_UK.png
It's the built up area in the small block on the coast of the Humber (the river at the top)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/Grimsby_Dock_Tower.jpg

[Croyles]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Heidelberg_corr.jpg/800px-Heidelberg_corr.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Heidelberg_bei_Nacht_%28Blick_vom_HD-Schloss%29_002.JPG/800px-Heidelberg_bei_Nacht_%28Blick_vom_HD-Schloss%29_002.JPG

Heidelberg!


Heidelberg is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. As of 2008, over 145,000 people live within the city's 109 square kilometres (42 sq mi) area.

Approximately 1,000,000 years ago, the "Heidelberg Man", whose jaw-bone was discovered in 1907, the earliest evidence of human life in Europe, died at nearby Mauer.

In the 5th century BC, there was a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of worship on the Heiligenberg, or "Mountain of Saints". Both places can still be identified.

In 40 AD, a fort was built and occupied by the 24th Roman cohort and the 2nd Cyrenaican cohort (CCG XXIIII and CCH II CYR). The Romans built and maintained castra (permanent camps) and a signalling tower on the bank of the Neckar and built a bridge with wooden top on stone pillars across the river Neckar. The first civilian settlements would develop under the protection of the camp. The Romans remained until 260 AD, when the camp was conquered by German tribes.


The first reference to Heidelberg can be found in a document in Schönau Abbey dated to 1196. This is considered the founding date for Heidelberg.

Also has one of if not the best University's in Germany, but unfortunately is pretty much Sciences and Medicine only (no good for me):
http://i.pbase.com/g2/77/611277/2/65509767.Pap6AeVL.jpg

[Loony BoB]

Way to get the answers for everyone's security questions, Rye... see, I know your game. :shifty:

[Rantz]

Next up: "Your mother's maiden name" forum game!

[Rye]

Way to get the answers for everyone's security questions, Rye... see, I know your game. :shifty:

:bigsmile:

[Rodarian]

My Birth City:

Karachi
(Urdu: کراچی, Sindhi: ڪراچي, Karāchi) is the largest city, main seaport and the financial capital of Pakistan, and the capital of the province of Sindh. It is one of the largest cities in the world by population and the 20th largest metropolitan area in the world,[4] in terms of metropolitan population. It is Pakistan's premier centre of banking, industry, and trade. Karachi is also home to Pakistan's largest corporations, including those that are involved in textiles, shipping, automotive industry, entertainment, the arts, fashion, advertising, publishing, software development and medical research. The city is also a major hub of higher education in South Asia and the wider Islamic world.[5] Karachi was ranked as a Beta world city as of 2008[update].[6][7]

Karachi enjoys its prominent position because of its geographical location on a bay, making it the financial capital of the country. It is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. It was the original capital of Pakistan until the construction of Islamabad and is the location of the Port of Karachi and Port Bin Qasim, one of the region's largest and busiest ports. The city's population increased dramatically at the time of independence, when hundreds of thousands of refugees from India, Bangladesh and other parts of South Asia came to settle in the city.

Karachi city is spread over 3,530 km2 (1,360 sq mi) in area, almost five times bigger than Singapore. It is locally known as the "City of Lights" (روشنين جو شهر) for its liveliness, and the "City of the Quaid" (شهرِ قائد), having been the birth and burial place of Quaid-e-Azam (Muhammad Ali Jinnah), the founder of Pakistan, who also made the city his home after Pakistan's independence.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Karachi_Locator_Sindh_Pakistan.PNG

[Zeldy]

Rainhill is a large village and civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, in Merseyside, England. It lies 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Prescot, 2.9 miles (4.7 km) south-southwest of St Helens, 3.7 miles (6.0 km) east-northeast of Huyton[3] and 9.3 miles (15 km) east of Liverpool city centre.

Historically a part of Lancashire, Rainhill was formerly a township within the ecclesiastical parish of Prescot, and hundred of West Derby. Following the Local Government Act 1894, it became part of the Whiston Rural District.

Rainhill is most famous for being the location of a pioneering competition to decide a suitable design for use on the new Liverpool and Manchester Railway, the world's first inter-city passenger railway which was routed through the village. The Rainhill Trials of 1829 resulted in the selection of Stephenson's Rocket as the world's first "modern" steam locomotive.

I was born in Rainhill, lived there for a few years before moving to St Helens; all we're famous for in St Helens is our glass making, amazing rugby team Saints, and this guy:

http://www.couchtripper.com/pics/comedy/johnnyvegas-nude.jpg

edit: oh and for this piece of crap which is within st helens,
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3577/3509931723_fe8aaf63ae.jpg

[xXsarahXx]

I was born in plymouth, uk

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Plymouth_Hoe.jpg/800px-Plymouth_Hoe.jpg
Honest to god i cannot remember the last time it was so sunny there lol


Upper Palaeolithic deposits, including bones of Homo sapiens, have been found in local caves,[5] and artifacts dating from the Bronze Age to the Middle Iron Age have been found at Mount Batten showing that it was one of the main trading ports of the country at that time.[6] The settlement of Plympton, further up the River Plym than the current Plymouth, was also an early trading port, but the river silted up in the early 11th century and forced the mariners and merchants to settle at the current day Barbican near the river mouth. [7]

At the time this village was called Sutton, meaning south town in Old English.[7] The name Plymouth, meaning "mouth of the River Plym" — the river name being a back-formation from Plympton ("Plum-tree town"),[8] was first mentioned in a Pipe Roll of 1211


During the 16th century locally produced wool was the major export commodity.[13] Plymouth was the home port for successful maritime traders, among them Sir John Hawkins, who led England's first foray into the Atlantic slave trade,[14] as well as Sir Francis Drake.[15] According to legend, Drake insisted on completing his game of bowls on the Hoe before engaging the Spanish Armada in 1588.[15] In 1620 the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for the New World from Plymouth, establishing Plymouth Colony — the second English colony in what is now the United States of America.[16]

Thats the 2 most interesting bits really lol

[Shoeberto]

Lil town called Greenville. It actually has some decent history regarding the early years of America's westward expansion.

Greenville is the historic location of Fort Greene Ville, a pioneer fort built under General Anthony Wayne's command, at over 55 acres (220,000 m2) this was the largest wooden fortification ever built. It was here that the Treaty of Greenville was signed on August 3, 1795, bringing peace to the area and opening up the Northwest Territory for settlement. Fort Greene Ville was named for Wayne's fellow General Nathanael Greene.[4]
There's a lot more to it than Wikipedia says; we had quite a few battles with the natives based around the fort. Also, we're the birthplace of Annie Oakley, which is sorta neat.

Currently, it's a :bou::bou::bou::bou: hole that's dying a slow death. But eh.

[qwertysaur]

Nyack Hospital, Nyack New York.

Wikipedia offers this nugget of info for you


In 1991 the landmark court case Stambovsky v. Ackley ruled that a house at 1 LaVeta Place on the Hudson River was legally haunted and that the owner (but not the real estate agent) was required to disclose that to prospective buyers. The owner Helen Ackley earlier had organized haunted house tours and was party to an article about it in Readers Digest. After Ackley sold the house to another buyer there have not been recent reports of hauntings.

The hospital is also across the street from a rather large cemetery. :p

[Kamiko]

I was born in Jacksonville, Florida but I only lived there for six months.


The Treaty Oak is a massive, 250 year-old tree at Jessie Ball DuPont Park in downtown. Office workers from nearby buildings sit on benches to eat lunch or read a book in the shade of its canopy.

[Mirage]

Molde


An old settlement emerging as a trading post in the late Middle Ages. Formal trading rights were introduced in 1614, and the city was incorporated through a royal charter in 1742. Molde was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see here)

The city continued to grow throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, becoming a center for Norwegian textile and garment industry, as well as the administrative center for the region, and a major tourist destination.

After World War II, Molde has experienced much growth, merging with Bolsøy and parts of Veøy on 1 January 1964, and has become a center for not only administrative and public services, but also academic resources and industrial output.

The city is located on the northern shore of the Romsdalsfjord on the Romsdal Peninsula. Molde has a maritime, temperate climate, with cool-to-warm summers, and relatively mild winters.


The Moldejazz jazz festival is held in Molde every July. Moldejazz is the largest and oldest jazz festival in Europe, and one of the most important. An estimated 40,000 tickets are sold for the more than a hundred events during the festival. Between 80,000 and 100,000 visitors visit the city during the one-week long festival.
Which is quite a bit, considering the town's population is around 25000.

And here's a picture.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Molde_im_Februar_2005.jpg/798px-Molde_im_Februar_2005.jpg

However, I did not grow up in this town, but a small village about an hour away. This was however the nearest town of any size worth mentioning, so I often travelled there with my family.

[Jibril]

Chula Vista, California


In 2009, Chula Vista was ranked as one of the most boring cities in America by Forbes Magazine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes_Magazine).<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference">[13] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chula_Vista,_Ca#cite_note-12)</sup>

[Bunny]

Chula Vista is terribly boring.

[Shlup]

I was born in Corona, CA. Population 124,966 as of the 2000 census. Early last century is was known as the "Lemon Capital of the World." Up until the 1980s much of it was still groves of citrus fruits, which I would pick and snack on while walking around town. It was lovely. Now there are... basically no orange groves left.

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnes used to have a ranch here; it's like a patio furniture factory or something now. It smells.

A few businesses headquartered in Corona are: Fender (you know, guitars), Monster (the energy drink), Vans (the shoes), and West Coast Customs (of Pimp My Ride fame; a guy Cid does not like had his ride pimped by them, in fact).

ETA: Chula Vista xD

[Academic]

I was born in Fresno, California and left before it got too bad. :3


Fresno (pronounced /ˈfrɛznoʊ/, FREZ-noe) is a city in California, USA, the county seat of Fresno County. As of February 27, 2009, the population was estimated at 500,017,[5] making it the fifth largest city in California and the 36th largest in the nation. Fresno is located in the center of the wide San Joaquin Valley of Central California, approximately 200 miles (322 km) north of Los Angeles and 170 miles (274 km) south of the state capital, Sacramento. The city is part of the Fresno-Clovis metropolitan area, which, with a population of 1,002,046, is the second largest metropolitan area in the Central Valley after Sacramento. The name Fresno is the Spanish language word for the ash tree and an ash leaf is featured on its flag. It is prominently featured in Cajas de Carton, a short story by famed author Francisco Jimenez.