What causes a new town to appear?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382240)
Rockingham, Australia
March 13, 2017 11:01pm CST
Xavier Bage @franxav thought it was nice that the town of Horseleap in Ireland was named after an animal. In India it seems most towns are named after ideological or political leaders. So I began to wonder how new towns come into being. I don't recall any new towns being created in Australia so what did I do? I googled it.
It seems Roxby Downs was the last new town to be established. This was in 1987. It is mining town situated 563 kilometres north of Adelaide in South Australia. Because of its many leisure and community facilities it is often referred to as the most modern of the outback towns. Roxby Downs is in one of the driest areas of South Australia. In summer, temperatures can reach over 45 °C, while in winter, temperatures drop below freezing. Roxby Downs was given its name by the original station-owner who brought cattle down from Roxby in Queensland.
Jabiru was established in 1982 in the Northern Territory, originally as a closed town to house those living near the Ranger Uranium Mine. The mine and town are surrounded by the Kakadu National Park. It has a tropical monsoon season and often experiences widespread flooding. They also have spectacular electrical storms from time to time. The town gets its name from the jabiru. a large bird which is also known as the black-necked stork. The aborigines call it the 'policeman-bird'.
Do you know of any new towns established near you recently? I guess new suburbs appear all the time on the outskirts of cities but discrete towns probably not so often.
The photo was taken in the Northern Territory by Vince.
Following on from my posts about 'giant' icons in towns, there is a rearing horse in Ireland. When we visited there some years ago we travelled from Dublin to...
14 people like this
11 responses
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
14 Mar 17
Gosh I actually can't even think of any newly established towns. Seems like any town I know of has been around as long as I can remember. It is neat hearing how towns get their names. Here most the rivers and towns were given names based on their Indian meanings.
1 person likes this



@allknowing (153529)
• India
14 Mar 17
The only thing they do here in India is to change names of places and streets. Bangalore is now Bengaluru. Calcutta is Kolkata, and there is no limit to changing the names of streets. After the British left the process is going on rather at a slow pace though.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Mar 17
Quite a few countries have changed their names too.
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
15 Mar 17
We have a town that has been established probably less then twenty years ago near us.
it's the only new one I have ever known of.
it's the only new one I have ever known of.1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
That's very recent then - in 'new town' terms. Do you think it was established to fill a need? A new industry nearby or something?
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
16 Mar 17
I more see towns dying than being formed here
1 person likes this

@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
18 Mar 17
@JudyEv a place to stay, and things to do, places to shop, a good place to eat, all good draw
1 person likes this

@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
14 Mar 17
Love the photo.None near me recently seems all the towns have been around for eternity
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Mar 17
Glad you like the photo. Strange isn't it? No new towns.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
14 Mar 17
I don't know any new cities. My hometown was established in the 1600 and the town we live in now in the 1850s
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Mar 17
I was pretty pleased when I found it. I knew I had a lot of nice ones of the NT but this is a beauty.
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
14 Mar 17
It is nice to know about the new towns being created. I don't know if there is a new town or place here that is newly-created.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Mar 17
These were back in the 1980s but it is still relatively recent.
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
14 Mar 17
For a moment I thought that was Ayers Rock but it isn't?
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43611)
• Denver, Colorado
14 Mar 17
No, no new towns that I'm aware of, but very interesting history there.
1 person likes this













