Just like anywhere else in the world, the US has settlements of all sizes. But if you’ve ever engaged with American media (or live there, of course), you’ve probably realised you don’t come across the term “village” that often.
So, what are villages called in America? In America, it’s more common to use the terms “small town” or “suburb” when referring to a smaller settlement. Most Americans would save the word village for quaint English or European settlements rather than something you’d find in the US.
Let’s dive into this in more detail to understand why.
Are There Villages in America?
Technically, there are villages in America. It’s used as a legal term to refer to a specific kind of jurisdiction, although its definition varies between states. For example, in Idaho, all municipalities are cities, but town and village are used informally.
On the other hand, a village in Louisiana is a settlement with a population of 1,000 or fewer.
American Villages
But as mentioned above, “village” isn’t a common term in the US. Many Americans would save the term for speaking about small European settlements rather than something found in their own country.
You’ll still find the word village used in some settlement names. For example, there’s a Greenwich Village in New York City, specifically in Lower Manhattan.
Village is used in this way because it refers to a previously independent settlement that would’ve been named by earlier inhabitants (when it was more common to use village).
Similarly, village can be used to specifically differentiate from larger settlements. Another example comes from New York, where you’ll find the Village of Dryden inside the Town of Dryden.
Although it’s not super important, the terms are used here to refer to a smaller settlement within a larger one.
The bottom line is that American villages do exist in the US, but most people associate the word with an antiquated type of settlement. It’s more common to use terms like “small town”, “suburb” or “district” when talking about settlements that Europeans would typically consider villages.
Is Village an American Word?
It’ll probably come as no surprise to learn that village isn’t an American word. As an English word, it can trace its roots all the way back to Latin. However, the closest word, vilage, came to English from Old French.
The word village is linked to the word villa, which is Latin for house. A village simply meant a collection of homes and buildings, but went on to mean a settlement larger than a hamlet and smaller than a town. It’s only in the last few centuries that settlement definitions have taken on more technical meanings.
English terms for human settlements were well established before Europeans had even found America.
This is because the terms were important for land governance and taxes, and most modern English words (village, suburb, town) come from the early-to-late Middle Ages.
Villages in USA
While villages technically exist in America, it’s not a term you’ll hear very often (unless you work for a local government).
If you asked an American, they’d likely be able to name a few villages, despite it being a term usually saved for European settlements. So, next time you hear an American say “small town”, you’ll know why!
