I suspect it has to do with attempts to make it sound more noble. For example, it is common in the UK to have "The Hempsteads" or "The Rush House" or something equivalent, usually a well-established house or town. I suspect this follows through in other languages (Des, Le, La, El) where it is indicating this is *the* place, and there is no other like it. All copies and flatteries are so far beneath the original as to be beneath notice. I suspect "the Bronx" is derived from an older Dutch word/placename with a "the" equivalent in it, but the Webster's 3rd Intl version doesn't say.

Cheers,
Bryan

You are only wretched and unworthy if you choose to be.

Cheers,
Bryan

You are only wretched and unworthy if you choose to be.