Can You Name the East Coast City From Three Clues?

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About This Quiz

America's East Coast is its "old country," where the early Europeans landed, founded towns and built new lives. It's where America's two wars on home soil—the Revolutionary War and the Civil War—were fought. As such, the cities and towns of the East Coast are full of historical sites and monuments, of "firsts" and "oldests." They've given America some of its most important historical and cultural figures as well; this includes, of course, all the Founding Fathers. 

But these cities and towns haven't stayed frozen in time. They are thriving parts of the American life, contributing to pop culture, sports, technology, academia and technology. For example, the capital of Connecticut is home to most of America's insurance companies, making it a vital part of the U.S. economy. Do you know this city's name? Another town, a bit to the south, was home to one of America's best-known writers, a poet of the dark and macabre. That city remembered its literary history when it named the expansion NFL team it acquired in 1996. Do you know which Eastern city we're talking about?

You might have known that one right away, and you might also find some of these questions pretty easy (we doubt you'll have much difficulty identifying New York, for example). But trust us, this brain-teasing tour of the East Coast will get harder as you go along!

What city hosted the Olympics, is home to CNN and is called "the city too busy to hate?"

This is, of course, Atlanta. It got its nickname "the city too busy too hate" after the Civil War, when Atlanta was making strides to distance itself from the legacies of the war—segregation, racism and violence.

Which of these has a large Cuban population, was the setting of an '80s TV hit and is situated on Biscayne Bay?

Of course it's Miami. The city grew up in the late 20th-century thanks to (so to speak) the introduction of cocaine from the south. This also gave rise to the TV hit "Miami Vice."

Which city is home to Harvard, world-renowned hospitals and a famous marathon?

Boston is a favorite destination for Revolutionary War buffs and culture lovers in general. Occasionally, you'll hear it called "the Athens of America."

What city has a hospital called Johns Hopkins, a newspaper called the Sun and an NFL team called the Ravens?

Baltimore has been the home of an number of important American cultural figures. Its football team, the Ravens, is named in honor of Edgar Allen Poe, who wrote "The Raven."

You are in a seaport, on a river and in the setting of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." Where are you?

Savannah is a city on the coast of Georgia, known for its beauty and historic architecture. The novel "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" raised its profile back in the 1990s.

Which of these is home to the Eagles, had the nation's first library and is called the "City of Brotherly Love?"

Philadelphia was founded by Pennsylvania's patron and namesake, William Penn. It is chock-full of early American history.

Where are you if you're at latitude 44, on the Kennebec River and in a state capital?

Augusta is the third-least-populated state capital. Only Montpelier in Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota are smaller. Augusta is also a university town, home to the University of Maine.

What city is on Lake Erie, in the state of New York and was an early adopter of electric power?

Buffalo got its Western-sounding name from a creek called "Buffalo Creek." It is home to the NFL's aptly named Buffalo Bills.

Which city is the capital of New York state, is close to Schenectady and is named—in a sense—for Scotland?

There are a number of town in the U.S. called "Albany." It's a connection to the Old World, as Scotland was once known as "Alba," and several of its kings were known as dukes of Albany.

You're in a town with a French name, a state capital and in the state that gave us Ben & Jerry's. Where are you?

Montpelier is the least-populated state capital in the U.S. It has a population that hovers just below 8,000 persons.

You are in a former Puritan colony, the home of Yale and the home of the "Nine Square Plan." Where are you?

The "Nine Square Plan" is the four-by-four grid created by the English religious separatists who founded the town. Today, New Haven is better known for being the home of Yale University.

Where are you if you're in the seat of St. Johns County, the onetime capital of Spanish Florida and a tourist destination?

St. Augustine is a beautiful town on the northeastern coast of Florida. It is the oldest European-established settlement to be continuously occupied by people.

Which of these is located in New England, is near Nashua and shares a name with a city in northern England?

This populous town shares its name with the northern England city of Manchester. The Manchester-Nashua metro area is the largest in New Hampshire.

Which of these is a seaport, has an airport serving New York City and is the seat of Essex County?

Newark is one of three airports serving the New York City area. The other two are John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia.

You're on an island, an affluent enclave for vacationers and the home of an early colony of the deaf. Where are you?

Today, "the Vineyard" is best known as a summer colony for wealthy East Coasters. But it was also home to a colony of deaf people, and there's a subset of sign language called "Martha's Vineyard Sign Language" commemorating this.

Which of these is Maine's most populous city, a seaport and a one-time state capital?

The Portland in Oregon was named for the one in Maine. Fun fact: The movie "Stand by Me" was accidentally set in Oregon after the screenwriter saw the reference to "Portland" in the Stephen King novella "The Body" and thought it was the one on the West Coast. As all King's readers know, most of his work is set in his home state of Maine.

This city is capital of a commonwealth, on the James River and the site of Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty" speech. Which is it?

Richmond is the capital of Virginia—one of four commonwealths (not states) in the U.S. It is also home to the Edgar Allen Poe Museum.

This city is named for a king, shares a name with West Virginia's capital and was the flash point of the Civil War. What is its name?

Charleston is a beautiful city with a tragic history. It was the major port of entry for African slaves prior to emancipation, and the Civil War began when Confederate forces seized Fort Sumter.

Which city is home to the Panthers and Hornets, a hub for US Airways and the birthplace of preacher Billy Graham?

Charlotte is in the approximate center of North Carolina. It is also home to an important research university, the University of North Carolina.

Which of these is near New York City, has a harness-racing venue and lent its name to a Neil Simon play?

The Neil Simon play was called "Lost in Yonkers." The town itself can be considered a suburb of New York City.

Kodak got its start here, it's on Lake Ontario and it shares a name with a Minnesota city. Where is this?

Rochester is New York state's third-largest city. It's highly rated in affordability and livability.

Which of these is in the "Piedmont" region, gave its name to a cigarette brand and is home to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center?

Winston-Salem is the home of the R.J. Reynolds tobacco company, a giant in cigarette manufacturers. They make Camel cigarettes but sold the "Winston" brand to a foreign company.

Which city is on Florida's east coast, is part of Volusia County and is almost synonymous with NASCAR?

Say "Daytona" and most people will think first of motor sports. The association got started because Daytona's hard-packed sand beach was ideal of off-road racing.

Which of these is on Chesapeake Bay, is home to the largest naval station in the world and has a population of about 250,000?

This coastal city is home to Naval Station Norfolk, a huge U.S. Navy base. NATO also has one of its two Strategic Command posts there.

Which city is home to many insurance companies, to the nation's oldest art museum and a newspaper called the "Courant?"

Hartford was founded in the 17th century, prior to American independence, which is why it's home to several "firsts." This includes the nation's oldest public art museum, the Wadsworth Athenaeum.

This city is a state capital, was the home of H.P. Lovecraft and is part of America's smallest state. Which is it?

Rhode Island was another state founded by religious separatists. The "Providence" in question, then, is God's.

This town was named for an English gentleman-poet, is called the "city of oaks" and shares an airport with Durham. What is it named?

Raleigh was named for Sir Walter Raleigh, founder of the ill-fated Roanoke colony, whose population entirely disappeared. Look around online and you can find some crazy conspiracy theories about how the colony's fate might be linked to Raleigh's secret work as a spy for the British throne.

Basketball was invented here, a number of guns were manufactured here and it might be the home of "The Simpsons." What city is this?

The Springfield in Massaschusetts can claim to be the first "Springfield" in America. It has followers in Missouri, Illinois and Oregon—and on TV, where "Springfield" is the home of the Simpson clan.

Which city is on a bay, has a tropical climate and is a neighbor to St. Petersburg?

Tampa is on the west coast of Florida, sharing its name with Tampa Bay. It claims to be home to some of the best Cuban-sandwich makers in Florida. Take that, Miami!

You are in West Virginia's capitol, on the Elk River and on the site of a Civil War battle. Where are you?

Don't confuse the Charleston in West Virginia with the one on the South Carolina coast, though both were sites of Civil War battles. Likewise, West Virginia also does have a Charles Town. This can get confusing!

You are in the home of Fort Jackson, a state capital and the second-largest city in its state. Where are you?

Columbia is second in size to Charleston and is more centrally located. Fort Jackson, located in Columbia, is the central site for U.S. Army Basic Training.

You are on the Chattahoochee River, near the Alabama state line and not far from Fort Benning. Where are you?

Columbus is just across the river from the state of Alabama. It is the third-largest city in Georgia.

What city is composed of boroughs, is home to Rockefeller Center and gave us Donald J. Trump?

Some people, with only a little bit of exaggeration, call New York City "the capital of the world." After all, it is the home of the United Nations.

Which city is west of Boston, mass-produced Valentine's cards and has a silent syllable in its name?

Worcester, Massacusetts, is named for a city in England. Aloud, the name is pronounced "Wooster" or "Wuster."

Which of these takes its name from a Greek city, is home to a to major university and is located in central New York state?

Syracuse is home to Syracuse University, while Ithaca is home to Cornell. Both are major research schools, with Cornell a bit more highly thought of. Carl Sagan, Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye are all affiliated with it.

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