Six U.S. Towns Named Ithaca: From New York to Oregon

Six incorporated cities and towns in the United States bear the name Ithaca—each inspired by the Greek island home of Odysseus, reflecting classical education's influence on 19th-century American settlers.

The Six Ithacas

1. Ithaca, New York (pop. ~32,000) – Largest and best known; home to Cornell University and Ithaca College. Finger Lakes region.
2. Ithaca, Michigan (pop. ~2,900) – Gratiot County seat; agricultural community.
3. Ithaca, Nebraska (pop. ~150) – Saunders County village; railroad origins.
4. Ithaca, Ohio (unincorporated) – Darke County; historic crossroads.
5. Ithaca, Oregon (unincorporated) – Washington County; former post office community.
6. Ithaca, Wisconsin (pop. ~650) – Richland County village; Driftless Area terrain.

Why Ithaca?

The name surged in popularity during the Greek Revival era (1820s–1850s) when American towns adopted classical names to signal culture and permanence. Homer's Odyssey was standard curriculum, making Ithaca a symbol of homecoming and endurance—appealing aspirations for frontier communities.

Only Ithaca, NY and Ithaca, MI are county seats. Ithaca, NY dominates culturally (the "Ithaca is Gorges" slogan, Moosewood Restaurant, Carl Sagan's tenure). The others remain small, rural, and largely unknown outside their regions.