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'''Twin cities''' are a special case of two ] or urban centres which are born in close ] proximity and then grow into each other over time. The term '']'' in the ] refers specifically to the cities ] and ]. '''Twin cities''' are a special case of two ] or urban centres which are born in close ] proximity and then grow into each other over time. The term '']'' in the ] refers specifically to the cities ] and ].


Cities twinned geographically do not necessarily match demographically, economically, or politically. Cities twinned geographically do not necessarily match demographically, economically, or politically.


In the normal course of things, cities which grow into each other's space in this way lose their individual identity and whatever border or barrier still separates them becomes irrelevant until they fuse into one new city. One famous example of this is ] in ], which began as two settlements (] and ]) facing each other across the ] at a strategic ] along a trade route; another is ], which resulted from the merger of two cities, the ] and the ]. But there are twin cities which have been able to resist this final union and have maintained individual identity against the tides of history, economics and demographics. In the normal course of things, cities which grow into each other's space in this way lose their individual identity and whatever border or barrier still separates them becomes irrelevant until they fuse into one new city. One famous example of this is ] in ], which began as two settlements (] and ]) facing each other across the ] at a strategic ] along a trade route; another is ], which resulted from the merger of two cities, the ] and the ]. But there are twin cities which have been able to resist this final union and have maintained individual identity against the tides of history, economics and demographics.
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Twin cities often share an ], into whose ] are integrated the initials of both cities; ] (]-]) and ] (Minneapolis-St. Paul) are well-known examples. Twin cities often share an ], into whose ] are integrated the initials of both cities; ] (]-]) and ] (Minneapolis-St. Paul) are well-known examples.


In some cases, such as ]/] in Australia, the two cities are permenantly divided by a state boarder, often one that strictly adhears to a geographical landmark, such as the ] that divides ] from ], and, thus, Albury from Wodonga. In some cases, such as ]/] in Australia, the two cities are permenantly divided by a state boarder, often one that strictly adhears to a geographical landmark, such as the ] that divides ] from ], and thus, Albury from Wodonga.


==Examples== ==Examples==
] ]


=== Asia === ===Asia===
* The capital of the medieval ] Empire, ]-], which was situated on the western and eastern banks of the ], respectively. * The capital of the medieval ] Empire, ]-], which was situated on the western and eastern banks of the ], respectively.
* ] and ], ] * ] and ], ]
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* ] and ], ] * ] and ], ]


=== Europe === ===Europe===
* ] and ], ] * ] and ], ]
* ], ], though there are several other smaller towns like ] which make up the metropolitan area. * ], ], though there are several other smaller towns like ] which make up the metropolitan area.
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* ] and ], ] * ] and ], ]


=== North America === ===North America===
* ] and ], popularly known as the "]" in North America * ] and ], popularly known as the "]" in North America
* ] and ], often referred to as the "]" * ] and ], often referred to as the "]"
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* ] and ] popularly known as Gregory-Portland or "GP" * ] and ] popularly known as Gregory-Portland or "GP"


=== South America === ===South America===
* ], ] and ], ]. * ], ] and ], ].
* ], ] and ], ]. * ], ] and ], ].
* ] and ], ]. * ] and ], ].
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* ] and ], ]. * ] and ], ].
* ], ], ], ], and ], ]. * ], ], ], ], and ], ].
* ] and ], ] * ] and ], ]
* ] and ], ] * ] and ], ]
* ] and ], ] * ] and ], ]


=== Australia === ===Australia===
* ] and ] * ] and ]
* ] and ] * ] and ]


=== Africa === ===Africa===


* ], capital of ] and ], capital of ]. * ], capital of ] and ], capital of ].
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==Fictional twin cities== ==Fictional twin cities==
*] (the home of ]) and ] (the home of ]) have sometimes been presented as twin cities, mainly in 1970s and 1980s stories by ]. The two cities were shown as located on opposite sides of a large ]. *] (the home of ]) and ] (the home of ]) have sometimes been presented as twin cities, mainly in 1970s and 1980s stories by ]. The two cities were shown as located on opposite sides of a large ].
*] and ], from the current '']'' ]s, are shown as twin cities; earlier comics presented each city as located in the same space but on different ]. *] and ], from the current '']'' ]s, are shown as twin cities; earlier comics presented each city as located in the same space but on different ].
*], from ]'s '']'' novels, is referred to as "the twin cities of proud Ankh and pestilent Morpork", but has been a single political entity in all the books thus far. *], from ]'s '']'' novels, is referred to as "the twin cities of proud Ankh and pestilent Morpork", but has been a single political entity in all the books thus far.


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==Examples of cities formed by merging== ==Examples of cities formed by merging==
* ] grew from its cores in the ] and the ] to encompass many other towns and villages. * ] grew from its cores in the ] and the ] to encompass many other towns and villages.
* ] is the amalgamation of ], ] and ]. * ] is the amalgamation of ], ] and ].
* ]. St. Anthony (not to be confused with ], a modern city which is a ] of Minneapolis) was a twin city to Minneapolis in the two cities' youth. Minneapolis, the larger of the two, annexed St. Anthony in the late 1800s. * ]. St. Anthony (not to be confused with ], a modern city which is a ] of Minneapolis) was a twin city to Minneapolis in the two cities' youth. Minneapolis, the larger of the two, annexed St. Anthony in the late 1800s.
* ] (five boroughs, historically especially between Manhattan and Brooklyn) * ] (five boroughs, historically especially between Manhattan and Brooklyn)
* ] (] and ]) * ] (] and ])
* ] (] and ]). * ] (] and ]).
* ], Canada, on the ]-] border, was formed as a single entity in 1903, when both future provinces were part of the ], but was divided into two separate entities in 1905 because the border between the newly created provinces bisected the community. In 1930, the two towns were reunited as a single town under the shared jurisdiction of both provinces, and Lloydminster was reincorporated as a single city in 1958. * ], Canada, on the ]-] border, was formed as a single entity in 1903, when both future provinces were part of the ], but was divided into two separate entities in 1905 because the border between the newly created provinces bisected the community. In 1930, the two towns were reunited as a single town under the shared jurisdiction of both provinces, and Lloydminster was reincorporated as a single city in 1958.

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This article is about cities geographically close together. For other uses, see twin city.

Twin cities are a special case of two cities or urban centres which are born in close geographic proximity and then grow into each other over time. The term Twin Cities in the United States refers specifically to the cities Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Cities twinned geographically do not necessarily match demographically, economically, or politically.

In the normal course of things, cities which grow into each other's space in this way lose their individual identity and whatever border or barrier still separates them becomes irrelevant until they fuse into one new city. One famous example of this is Budapest in Hungary, which began as two settlements (Buda and Pest) facing each other across the Danube at a strategic fording place along a trade route; another is London, England, which resulted from the merger of two cities, the City of London and the City of Westminster. But there are twin cities which have been able to resist this final union and have maintained individual identity against the tides of history, economics and demographics.

Twin cities often share an airport, into whose airport code are integrated the initials of both cities; DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth) and MSP (Minneapolis-St. Paul) are well-known examples.

In some cases, such as Albury/Wodonga in Australia, the two cities are permenantly divided by a state boarder, often one that strictly adhears to a geographical landmark, such as the Murray River that divides New South Wales from Victoria, and thus, Albury from Wodonga.

Examples

A remarkable example of twin cities: Plaza Internacional of the Frontera de la Paz. On the left, Santana do Livramento (Brazil); on the right, Rivera (Uruguay).

Asia

Europe

North America

South America

Australia

Africa

Fictional twin cities

Tri-Cities

United States

Canada

Mexico

Asia

South America

Europe

Quad Cities

Examples of cities formed by merging

Resistance to merging

Bloomington and Normal, Illinois have always rebuffed any merger referendum, and where the original boundary is the appropriately named "Division Street". In England, the cities of Leeds and Bradford are very close, but have strong separate identities and would not see themselves as part of the same entity. Both cities have individual cathedrals and councils, as well as having separate sports teams.

See also

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