Clermont State Historic Site

Where in the world is Livingston? A simple question with a not so simple answer. Travelers will find the name Livingston on the map on five continents and at least 19 states.

            The oldest Livingston is in Scotland, the ancestral home of the Livingston family. Livingston is now the largest town in West Lothian and dates to the 12^th century when it was recorded as Villa Levingi. Thurston, son of Leving built a fortified tower at some point and the town grew up around it.

            The most far-flung Livingston is Camp Livingston, an Argentine research station on Livingston Island, Antarctica. It’s not clear where the name Livingston Island came from, but it was the accepted name of the island by 1820. There are several other places named Livingston where the origin of the name is not clear. Livingston, Saskatchewan, Canada which contains Fort Livingston National Historic Site. The county of Livingstone Australia is probably named after the European branch of the family who more commonly kept the “e” at the end of the name. Livingston, Mississippi is also of unknown origin as is the ghost town of Livingston, Ohio. Livingston Texas, which includes Lake Livingston, Livingston South Carolina and Livingston, West Virginia are also mysteries. The U.S.S. Livingston, a World War II cargo ship was probably named after the entire family. It survived the war and remained part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet until 1973 when it was sold for scrap.

            Of the name origins that are known Edward Livingston is perhaps the most honored. Livingston, Alabama, Livingston, Tennessee, and Livingston, Louisiana are named after him. As are Livingston Parish Louisiana, Livingston County Illinois, Livingston County Michigan and Livingston Missouri. In the 19^th century Fort Livingston stood on the Louisiana coast also named after him. Perhaps the most surprising namesake of Edward is Livingston, Guatemala which was named after him because his legal codes were intended to be the foundation of a government there, but a conservative revolution put and end to that although the name stuck.

            Chancellor Robert R. Livingston also gets some honors in naming. He has counties named for him in Kentucky, and New York. As well as Camp Livingston, a World War II army camp established as a replacement camp and later used to hold both German and Japanese prisoners of war.

            Being a landowner was also a good way to get a town named after yourself. Livingston, Georgia was likely named after Leonidas Livingston, a Confederate veteran and later a Representative to Congress. Livingston, Illinois was laid out by the heirs of one John Livingston who owned the land. Livingston, Kentucky was named after James Livingston. Livingston, Montana was named after Crawford Livingston. Livingston, Wisconsin was named after Hugh Livingston.

            In New Jersey, Livingston is named after William Livingston, first governor of the state. In New York in addition to Livingston County there is the hamlet of Livingston named after John Livingston who owned the land and encouraged settlement on it. The hamlet was originally called Johnstown but when they applied for a post office, they found that the other Johnstown, New York, named of John Johnson had already taken the name.  The town that the hamlet lies in, Livingston, is named after the family that once owned all the land that makes up the town. There is also a Livingston on Staten Island. Named after Anson Livingston who had a notable house along the Staten Island Railway.

            Perhaps the most amusing Livingston is Livingston, California. It was intended to be named after Dr. David Livingstone, the famous explorer, but when they applied for a post office the “e” was left off of the application. The application was accepted without the “e” and Livingston, California was born.

            The Livingston family spread its influence far and wide. Even as the family’s central core of power in the Hudson Valley began to wain individual members of the family, many of whom had made their own fortunes spread the name all over the country. The name carried down the centuries so that the name was still being used as new towns were formed well into the twentieth century. So where is Livingston? Just about anywhere you go.