If you think you will have to travel to Europe to see Madrid, you will be surprised to know that there are many towns named Madrid in the United States. The original Madrid in Spain, no doubt, is very famous, thanks to the classics of Ernest Hemmingway, and also because it is a popular tourist resort.

Madrid, Maine is located in the heart of Franklin County and actually named for the Spanish capital. The tiny town has a population well under 200 residents and sits on the lovely banks of the Sandy River near Salem. Madrid, Maine dates back to 1887 and was settled by Free Baptists, who opened seven schoolhouses for the town's children.

The state of Alabama has its own Madrid. This one is little bigger than Madrid, Maine. This town has a population of more than 300 and is located in Houston County which is a part of metropolitan Dothan. Just like Madrid Maine, this town is also named after the famous Spanish city of Madrid.

The early settlers of the year 1801, who settled in a small area of land adjacent to the Grasse river in New York state called it Madrid. The name kept alternating between Madrid and New Madrid until the city council finally ruled in favor of Madrid. Madrid's neighbours include Potsdam and Lisbon. The town had a big and flourishing grist mill which operated successfully for many years before its closure. Located in St. Lawrence County, Madrid is a lovely town that is a true reflection of its namesake.

There is another town in the "Show Me" state named after the Spanish Capital. This town of New Madrid came into existence in the year 1783 after two French settlers settled here and initially named it L'Anse a la Graisse. Now this town of 4.5 square miles area has nearly 3000 inhabitants. New Madrid is nearly 45 miles south of Cape Girardeau and 145 miles south of St. Louis. It lies directly on the New madrid fault line and was totally damaged by earthquakes in 1811.

Another Madrid is in the Midwestern United States. It is just 25 miles northwest of Iowa's capital city. It was founded in 1846 by Swedish settlers, often referred to as a bedroom community of Des Moines. It happens to be the oldest Swedish settlement in the west of the Mississippi River. This small hamlet has become quite prosperous since the railway traveled through it. The town was renamed in 1882 and incorporated in 1886.

To learn more about these towns, check out their town websites. Some of these towns may be small, but all are hip to the latest technology and have firmly planted their place on the World Wide Web.

If you are interested in visiting the Spanish capital, but don't have the time or money, check out the next best thing?Madrid, USA! There are many other American towns named after European capitals, so get our your atlas and complete a search.