Numerous cities in the United States start with the names "San," "Saint," or "Santa," places such as San Francisco and Saint Paul. In fact, the American map reads like a liturgical calendar!
The custom of naming US cities after saints dates back to the 16th century and the Spanish conquistadors. Following the Catholic tradition of navigating by the feast day calendar, this left in their wake dozens of locations carrying the sacred names of holy people such as Saint Augustine and Saint Monica.
Many of these cities can be found in California, but across the nation you'll come across destinations named in honor of revered figures of faith.
In this gallery, we visit some of the best-known saint-named cities in the United States and explain how they were christened as such. Click on to continue reading.