USA Cities, Towns and Villages Starting with A Quiz

Answer: Alaska

Akutan, Alaska, is located on Akutan Island in the Aleutians East Borough of the Aleutian Islands. It is about 766 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska. In 1878, the city started as a trading port. In 1912, the Pacific Whaling Company built a whale processing station there as well. It was the only whaling station in the Aleutian Islands and was used until 1939.

Answer: Alaska

Adak, Alaska, is located on Adak Island in the Aleutians West Census Area of Alaska. In 1957, 1964, and 1977 the city experienced major earthquakes. It once had more than 6000 naval and Coast Guard members and their families living there, but in 1994, it was downsized. The base closed in 1997.

In 2004, the Aleut Corporation purchased Adak's facilities in a land transfer agreement. Interestingly, the city has a large airport (because of its naval aviation past), but it does not have its own hospital.

Answer: Georgia

Athens, Georgia, is about 70 miles northeast of Atlanta. The University of Georgia is located in Athens. Athens is also known for its music culture, and bands such as R.E.M. and the B-52s got their start there.

Because of the industrial and commercial development in Athens when it became recognized in 1806 as an official town, the city has come to be known as "the Manchester of the South."

In 1996, the Summer Olympics took place in Athens, Georgia.

Answer: New Mexico

Albuquerque is New Mexico's biggest city. It was founded in 1706 and originally named La Villa de Alburquerque. The city was named for the 10th Duke of Alburquerque of Spain.

It was originally known for its farming and sheep. But after World War II, it began to grow and shift from rural to more urban life.

The New Mexico State Fair is held in Albuquerque each year. The city is also known for its restaurants, which feature a global cuisine.

Answer: New Mexico

Anthony, New Mexico, is located on the New Mexico-Texas state line, next to Anthony, Texas. It is about 18 miles north of El Paso, Texas.

The city is known as being "the gateway of trade routes in the Southwest." It is believed it was named by a woman who built the chapel of St. Anthony in Padua around 1884.

Anthony also has many wineries, including La Vina Winery, found on the Don Juan de Onate Trail.

Answer: Georgia

Adairsville, GA is about halfway between Atlanta, GA and Chattanooga, TN. It was originally a Cherokee village, named for John S. Adair. Adair married a Cherokee woman before the Trail of Tears in 1838.

After the Cherokee were removed, the state kept Adairsville as the name, when William Watts, one of the developers, took an interest in the town. Watts was a railroad businessman who had bought the Western and Atlantic Railroad; he needed the land to expand the railroad line. The city's nickname became "Granary of the State."

The city is known for the Barnsley Gardens.

Answer: Georgia

Americus, GA is about 139 miles South of Atlanta, GA. Habitat for Humanity first started in Americus. Today, the international headquarters is located there.

In 1923, Charles Lindbergh made his first solo flight out of Americus. In 2007, an EF3 tornado struck Americus, destroying everything in its path, including parts of the Sumter Regional Hospital.

Answer: Iowa

Agency, IA is about 94 miles southeast of Des Moines, IA. The town was founded in 1843 at the site of a Native American Agency, which was there until the tribes were moved to Kansas. At its peak in the 1960s, the highest population only reached a little over 700.

Answer: Colorado

Aspen, Colorado, was established in 1879 as a mining camp. It is located in the Rocky Mountains. When the Colorado Silver Boom ended in 1893, the population declined, but then the Aspen Mountain ski resort became popular in the mid-1900s. It soon became a popular resort.

John Denver wrote two songs while he lived there: "Aspenglow" and "Starwood in Aspen." The 1970s countercultural youth heard these songs, as well as Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, who helped make Aspen more popular. It started to grow steadily.

Answer: New Mexico

Alamogordo, NM is about 271 miles south of Santa Fe, NM.

In 1945, Alamogordo was connected to the Trinity test. This was the first time an atomic bomb was tested. The test was conducted in the Jornada del Muerto desert, in the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range.

Alamogordo was established in 1898 and incorporated in 1912.

During the 1950s and 1960s, the city was used for pilot safety research. It is also a place where the United States space program was developed.

In 2001, Alamogordo made news when Christ Community Church had a public book burning. Among the books burned were the "Harry Potter" books.

Answer: Iowa

Ackley, Iowa, is about 97 miles southwest of Des Moines, Iowa. The town was named after William Ackley, who purchased land for the railroad and helped build the town. Ackley himself never lived there, however.

Former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Art Reinhart (1899-1946) was born in Ackley, Iowa.

Answer: Colorado

Antonito, CO is about 246 miles southwest of Denver, CO. The city was incorporated in 1889. It started as a camp for sheep herders. When railroads started to be built, it was a major stop on the railroad line.

Today, there are no major industries in the area, but it is still recognized for its railroad history. One can visit the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad there, which is one of the few lava rock depots left in the United States.

"Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989) filmed some of its scenes in Antonito, as well.

Answer: Colorado

Arvada, CO, is about seven miles northwest of Denver, CO. Arvada was named after Hiram Arvada Haskin, the brother-in-law of Mary Wadsworth. It was founded after Lewis Ralston found gold there on the way to California. He didn't find a lot, but returned later. There were already nearby towns called Ralston, which is why it was named Arvada. Benjamin Wadsworth was the first postmaster in Arvada.

People go to Arvada to see things such as Olde Town Arvada (the historic district) and the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge.

Answer: Alaska

Alatna, AK is about 190 miles northwest of Fairbanks, AK. In 2020, the population was fifteen people, making it the smallest place on this quiz. The area is about 36.5 square miles. Historically, many Alaska Native groups have lived in Alatna, which was established around 1851. They do not have any public schools, but there is a health clinic there.

Answer: Iowa

Altoona, IA is about ten miles northeast of Des Moines, IA. It was first settled in 1854. The name Altoona comes from the Latin word "altus" which means high. It was so named when Julian B. Bausman, a surveyor, discovered that Altoona was the highest point on the Des Moines Valley Railroad.

Both Adventureland amusement park and the Prairie Meadows horse racing track can be found in Altoona.

Kyle Orton, who was an NFL quarterback, was born in Altoona, IA.