Municipalities

Southbridge, Massachusetts: Industrial History and Community Profile Southbridge, Massachusetts Overview of Southbridge, Massachusetts—its rise as a 20th-century optics center, legacy of American Optical, shifting economy, demographic diversity, and efforts to redevelop forme…

Southbury, Connecticut Southbury is a town in western New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, known for its mix of residential neighborhoods, conservation land and local historic sites; 2010 popula…

Southfield, Michigan A suburban city in Metro Detroit, located in Oakland County. Incorporated in 1958, Southfield is a residential and commercial center with office parks, educational institutions, an…

Southgate, Kentucky — small city in the Cincinnati metro area Southgate, Kentucky Southgate is a small residential city in northern Kentucky, part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area. The article covers its character, history, governance, services, and regional…

Southlake, Texas — Suburb of the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex Southlake, Texas Suburban city in Tarrant County, Texas, known for high-rated schools, Southlake Town Square, affluent residential neighborhoods, and community amenities near Dallas–Fort Worth.

Southminster, Essex: town and civil parish overview Southminster Southminster is a town and civil parish in the Maldon district of Essex, England, known for its coastal plain setting, local services, and rail connection to the inland network. Po…

Southport, Indiana Small city on the south side of Indianapolis in Marion County, Indiana. Covers history, government, geography, local economy and notable facts about the community.

Southside, Alabama Southside is a city in Etowah County, Alabama, within the Gadsden metropolitan area; this article summarizes its location, history, characteristics, services, and notable facts.

Southwest Sumba Regency (Sumba Barat Daya) Southwest Sumba Regency Overview of Southwest Sumba Regency in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia: geography, administration, culture, economy, infrastructure and environmental challenges.

Souvigné-sur-Même (Sarthe, Pays de la Loire) Souvigné-sur-Même Souvigné-sur-Même is a small rural commune in the Sarthe department of Pays de la Loire, western France, known for its agricultural landscape, riverside setting and local heritage.

Souvigné-sur-Sarthe — commune in Sarthe, Pays de la Loire Souvigné-sur-Sarthe Souvigné-sur-Sarthe is a small rural commune on the Sarthe River in the Sarthe department of Pays de la Loire, western France, noted for its local heritage, agricultural landscape…

Souvigny — historic commune and priory in Allier, central France Souvigny Souvigny is a small commune in Allier, central France, noted for its medieval priory, Romanesque architecture and as a burial place of the Bourbon family; it remains a focal point…

Soyhières (municipality in Jura, Switzerland) Soyhières Soyhières is a small municipality in the district of Delémont, canton of Jura, Switzerland. This article describes its geography, history, community life, administration and notabl…

Sør-Varanger — Norwegian municipality on the Russia border Sør-Varanger Sør-Varanger is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark, Norway, centered on Kirkenes. It borders Russia and contains the Pasvik valley, port facilities, mixed Sámi–Kven–Norwegian cult…

Spa, Belgium: Thermal Springs and Resort Town in the Ardennes Spa, Belgium Spa is a municipality in Wallonia's Liège province, renowned for long-standing mineral springs, historic resort culture, bottled water and nearby Ardennes scenery and motorsport ve…

Spaichingen — town in the Tuttlingen district of Baden-Württemberg, Germany Spaichingen Spaichingen is a small German town in the Tuttlingen district of Baden-Württemberg. Known for its location on the edge of the Swabian Jura, it combines local industry, cultural eve…

Spanish Fork, Utah Spanish Fork is a city in Utah County, Utah, at the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon. It blends agricultural roots, outdoor access and suburban growth and hosts annual community celebr…

Spanish Fort, Alabama Spanish Fort is a coastal city on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay in Baldwin County, Alabama, known for its Civil War history, waterfront setting, suburban growth, and recreational…

Spanish Town, Jamaica Spanish Town Spanish Town is the parish capital of St. Catherine in Jamaica, notable for its colonial-era layout, historic buildings, memorials and archives. It was the island's capital under S…

Spanish Wells: a compact Bahamian community on St. George's Cay Spanish Wells Spanish Wells is a small district of the Bahamas on St. George's Cay. Known for its maritime economy, close-knit community, bridge to Russell Island and frequent use of golf carts,…

Sparta: Ancient Greek City-State and Modern Town Sparta Sparta (Lacedaemon) was a dominant military polis in ancient Greece, famed for its austere culture, unique social institutions and strategic location in Laconia on the Peloponnese.

Sparta, Illinois A small city in southern Illinois, Sparta serves as a local commercial and community center with a history shaped by 19th-century settlement, regional agriculture, and ties to near…

Sparta, Kentucky Small incorporated city in northern Kentucky's Gallatin County, noted for its rural character, 19th-century origins, and location within the Ohio River region of the United States.

Sparta, North Carolina Sparta is a small mountain town and the county seat of Alleghany County in northwestern North Carolina, known for its rural character, courthouse square, outdoor recreation, and sm…

Sparta, Wisconsin County seat of Monroe County on the La Crosse River, known for the Elroy-Sparta State Trail and bicycling tourism. Small city with historical railroad roots and regional recreation…

Spartanburg, South Carolina: city profile, history, economy, and culture Spartanburg, South Carolina Spartanburg is the county seat of Spartanburg County in Upstate South Carolina. This article summarizes its geography, history, economy, institutions, and notable facts, with popul…

Spaulding, Oklahoma: Incorporated Town and Local Government Overview Spaulding, Oklahoma Spaulding, Oklahoma — profile of an incorporated town: local government structure, typical municipal services, and where to find up-to-date population, history, and contact informa…

Spay (Sarthe): Commune in Pays de la Loire, France Spay, Sarthe Spay (Sarthe) is a commune in the Sarthe department of Pays de la Loire in western France. Explore its local government, geography, history and its place within regional administra…

Spechbach-le-Bas: former commune in Haut-Rhin, Alsace (France) Spechbach-le-Bas Spechbach-le-Bas was a small commune in the Haut-Rhin department of eastern France. On 1 January 2016 it became part of the new commune Spechbach. The area shares Alsatian cultural…

Special cities of Japan (Tokureishi): mid‑sized urban municipalities Special cities of Japan Special cities (Tokureishi) were a class of Japanese city established to delegate certain prefectural duties to mid‑sized municipalities with populations over 200,000.

Special wards of Tokyo The 23 special wards are Tokyo's primary municipalities. They have city-like autonomy, elected mayors and assemblies, and share responsibilities with the Tokyo Metropolitan Governm…

Special-purpose district Independent governmental units created to deliver a limited set of public services (water, transit, fire, etc.), with distinct powers, funding methods, and accountability separate…

Speedway, Indiana: Town of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana Speedway, a small town in Marion County, Indiana, is best known for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This article covers its location, character, history, events, government and cu…

Speicher (Appenzell Ausserrhoden) — Swiss municipality Speicher Speicher is a municipality in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden in northeastern Switzerland. It is a rural community with local industry, agricultural landscape, and ties to reg…

Spencer, Idaho A brief encyclopedia entry on Spencer, a very small incorporated city in Clark County, Idaho, covering location, character, history, and local significance.

Spencer, Oklahoma — small city in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area Spencer, Oklahoma Overview of Spencer, a small city in central Oklahoma; its location, development, civic life, and notable features within the Oklahoma City metro area.

Spencer, South Dakota Small city in McCook County, eastern South Dakota, known for its rural character and the devastating F4 tornado of May 30, 1998; population 154 at the 2010 census.

Spencer, West Virginia County seat of Roane County in central West Virginia. Small city of about 2,300 (2010) serving as a local governmental, commercial, and community center for a rural Appalachian reg…

Spéracèdes — a perched commune in Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Spéracèdes Spéracèdes is a small commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department of southeastern France, known for its hilltop setting, Mediterranean surroundings, historic village center and local…

Speyer — historic German city on the Rhine, noted for its Romanesque cathedral Speyer Speyer, a city in Rhineland-Palatinate on the Rhine near Mannheim, is known for its Salian imperial cathedral, medieval heritage, and role in regional politics and culture.

Spiere-Helkijn: small municipality in West Flanders, Belgium Spiere-Helkijn Spiere-Helkijn is a small Belgian municipality in West Flanders, comprising the villages of Spiere and Helkijn. It had about 2,047 inhabitants in 2007 and lies at roughly 50°43′N,…

Spiez — lakeside town and municipality in Canton Bern, Switzerland Spiez Spiez is a lakeside town and municipality in Canton Bern, Switzerland, noted for its castle, vineyards, harbor and Alpine views. It serves as a local cultural, transport and touris…

Spillville, Iowa — small town known for Czech heritage and the Dvořák House Spillville, Iowa Small city in northeastern Iowa with just over 300 residents, noted for its Czech-American history, St. Wenceslaus Church, and the Dvořák House museum where Antonín Dvořák spent a…

Spiringen — mountain municipality in the canton of Uri, Switzerland Spiringen Spiringen is a small, German-speaking mountain municipality in the Swiss canton of Uri. It covers 64.76 km² and combines alpine pastures, forestry, traditional agriculture and seas…

Spirit Lake, Idaho Spirit Lake is a small city in northern Idaho on the shore of Spirit Lake. It functions as a local residential and recreational center in Kootenai County, known for outdoor activit…

Spirit Lake, Iowa — city in the Iowa Great Lakes region Spirit Lake, Iowa Spirit Lake is a city in northwest Iowa's Dickinson County, part of the Iowa Great Lakes. It is a regional hub for recreation, local government and community life with notable lake…

Splügen — Alpine village in Graubünden, Switzerland Splügen Splügen is a historic village in the Rheinwald valley of Graubünden, Switzerland, known for its preserved alpine architecture and for the Splügen Pass linking Switzerland and Italy…

Spokane, Washington: overview, history, geography, and culture Spokane, Washington Spokane is a regional center in eastern Washington known as the 'Lilac City'. This article summarizes its geography, history, economy, culture, transport links and notable events.