# How many cities have you lived in? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 14, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161 "2012-06-14T17:41:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/101 "2012-06-18T14:09:59Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Grew up in the Kensington neighborhood (14215) in Buffalo proper, at the time a lower-middle to middle class neighborhood. A couple of years after I left Buffalo for my first “real world” job, the 'rents moved to 14221, when Kensington was experiencing rapid socioeconomic change. I returned to WNY for grad school, so I have a couple of years with a Williamsville address under my belt. My first 9 years had a N Bflo address- near Tonawanda. In '76 we moved out to 14221, just before those prices went up and Buffalo totally crashed. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/102 "2012-06-18T15:26:07Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > My first 9 years had a N Bflo address- near Tonawanda. In '76 we moved out to 14221, just before those prices went up and Buffalo totally crashed. And now, it’s the other way around. Real estate prices in the city are rising, while those in the 'burbs are flat. Black Rock is now starting to experience an influx of hipsters. _Black Rock_. Who would have thought … ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/103 "2012-06-18T19:49:51Z")
Depends on how you count. I’ve lived in DC and in three different DC suburbs; is that one city, or four? 11 or 14, depending. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/104 "2012-06-18T23:11:49Z")
I’ll list them, then count up the total: Chicago, IL (infant) Clarendon Hills, IL (child/elementary school) Hinsdale, IL ( Jr High & HS) Beverly, MA (College) Boston, MA (Summer between school) Evanston, IL (University) Chicago, IL (Married) Oxford, MS (Married then Divorced) Memphis, TN (Single) Anchorage, AK (Single) Palmer, AK (Single then Married) Belfast, ME (Married) That’s 12 (counting Chicago twice). Feels like more, sometimes … but then I’ve been fortunate to travel to many faraway places which had huge impact on my memory … ---
**Author:** ![ASanders](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asanders/32/3367_2.png) [@ASanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASanders)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/105 "2012-06-18T23:26:11Z")
One, unless you count NYC boroughs as separate, and college as a “permanent” address. Under those rules, four. But I’ve moved something like 14 times until finally settling down in a small suburban town. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/106 "2012-06-18T23:49:12Z")
Sixteen. I’m not counting multiple addresses in the same city, but I am counting military training centers where I stayed for six months or more, and one six-month stint in a shipyard. 1. Garden Grove, CA 2. Santa Paula, CA 3. Camarillo, CA 4. Redondo Beach, CA 5. Torrance, CA 6. Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 7. San Diego, CA 8. Great Lakes, IL 9. Orlando, FL 10. Idaho Falls, ID 11. Pearl Harbor, HI 12. Aiea, HI 13. Bremerton/Bangor, WA 14. Westminster, CA 15. Costa Mesa, CA 16. Anaheim, CA I’m not counting the two-to-six week training stints in Norman, OK, either. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/107 "2012-06-19T02:11:38Z")
I have had lived at addresses with five different cities or towns. Two residences weren’t inside the city or town limits, however. One thing I found odd when I moved to south Georgia was that people seemed to care what county they live in. If you ask someone where they live and they’re from south Georgia, they’re as likely to tell you the county name rather than the name of the city in their mailing address. People in central IN know which county they live in (maybe) but will tell you the city name if asked where they live. ---
**Author:** ![applebetty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4af34b/32.png) [@applebetty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/applebetty)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/108 "2012-06-19T02:29:07Z")
Bainbridge, Maryland Portland, Maine Strawberry Point, Iowa Idaho Falls, Idaho Anne Arbor, Michigan Emporia, Kansas El Paso, `Texas Bamberg, Germany Crailsheim, Germany Ozark, Alabama Hammond, Louisiana Mount Hermon, Louisiana And I bought a house and am done moving. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/109 "2012-06-20T02:38:33Z")
Three. San Diego 14 yrs La Mesa (SD suburb) 6 yrs San Diego again 35 yrs Moscow, Idaho 7 yrs ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/110 "2012-06-20T04:49:01Z")
Chicago San Mateo, CA Mountain View, CA San Bruno, CA ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/111 "2012-06-20T05:50:04Z")
Cleveland, TN Addison, AL Lincoln, NE Dallas, OR Salem, OR Tuscaloosa, AL ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/112 "2012-06-20T06:00:08Z")
Anchorage, Alaska _I’m not sure if the next two qualify as cities, but…_ Soldotna, Alaska (sympathy appreciated :D) Nikiski, Alaska (sympathy GREATLY appreciated) Palmer, Alaska (no, I don’t know Sarah Palin). Corsicana, Texas Moore Park, California Ventura, California Maple Valley, WA Seattle (including Renton), WA Maple Valley, WA ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/113 "2012-06-20T09:03:21Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I spent way too much time in Bassett park, lived next to a variety of Sabres and bowled and played Space Invaders at Transit Lanes. Putt Putt? Swimming and ice skating at Clearfield? That was another big one. I went to Maple (East) and Casey Middle. > > I have some friends who stayed in the area and are happy, but most left after college. Hell’s bells. I, too, went to Maple East and Casey, and hit all those high points. Depending on how old you are, we probably know some of the same people. Ah, childhood, when loads of snow meant building forts and throwing snowballs, and not backbreaking labor. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/114 "2012-06-20T11:44:39Z")
> [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](#): > > Hell’s bells. I, too, went to Maple East and Casey, and hit all those high points. Depending on how old you are, we probably know some of the same people. Ah, childhood, when loads of snow meant building forts and throwing snowballs, and not backbreaking labor. Shamelessly snooping in your profile… I graduated WEHS in 1985, so not quite same age! Actually, it was so long ago that when I went to Maple East it was just Maple Elementary, since Maple West had just been built. I used to walk to Maple East and Clearfield we lived so close. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/115 "2012-06-20T13:51:51Z")
Bourne MA Panama city FL Petersburg VA Staunton VA Wellsburg WV Springfield IL Decatur IL San Diego CA Great Lakes IL Norfolk VA 2 yrs NO CITY, CGN 38 underway Lake of the Ozarks MO Manchester MO Tusla OK Fairmont City IL St Louis MO Carbondale IL Makanda IL Collinsville IL University City MO ---
**Author:** ![DeepLiquid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deepliquid/32/14893_2.png) [@DeepLiquid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeepLiquid)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/116 "2012-06-20T13:59:48Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > Bourne MA… Born at Otis AFB?? ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/117 "2012-06-20T14:16:38Z")
> [@DeepLiquid](#): > > Born at Otis AFB?? You Know it…1960 ---
**Author:** ![DeepLiquid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deepliquid/32/14893_2.png) [@DeepLiquid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeepLiquid)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/118 "2012-06-20T14:20:08Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > You Know it…1960 Same here, 1960. Funny note, my brother was born one year earlier in the exact same room… and his place of birth in Sandwich. Guess the base divvied up the births to nearby towns for census purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/119 "2012-06-20T17:26:07Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > My first 9 years had a N Bflo address- near Tonawanda. In '76 we moved out to 14221, just before those prices went up and Buffalo totally crashed. Hey, my wife’s family lived in Tonawanda for many years, from probably the 50s onward. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161/120 "2012-06-20T17:28:35Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > Anchorage, Alaska > _I’m not sure if the next two qualify as cities, but…_ > Soldotna, Alaska (sympathy appreciated :D) > Nikiski, Alaska (sympathy GREATLY appreciated) > Palmer, Alaska (no, I don’t know Sarah Palin). > Corsicana, Texas > Moore Park, California > Ventura, California > Maple Valley, WA > Seattle (including Renton), WA > Maple Valley, WA I’m sure Palmer disassociates itself from Wasilla, so you’re safe there. Jebus: Nikiski AND Soldotna? Could have been worse, though; you could have been in Bethel. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cities-have-you-lived-in/625161.md?page=7)