Cathay language, the word Cathay was sometimes used for China, although increasingly only in a poetic sense, until the 19th century when it was completely replaced by "China". A person from Cathay (i.e., a Chinese person) was also written in English as a Cathayan or a Cataian. However the terms "China" and "Cathay" have histories of approximately equal length in English. The term is still used poetically. Cathay is more prevalent as proper noun in names, such as Cathay Pacific Airways or Cathay Hotel. The flagship airline of Hong Kong is called as such because the founders envisioned that one day,
Cathay, North Dakota Cathay, North Dakota Cathay is a city in Wells County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 43 at the 2010 census. Cathay was founded in 1893. Cathay had its start by the building of the railroad through that territory. Cathay is located at (47.553931, -99.411403). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land. As of the census of 2010, there were 43 people, 19 households, and 12 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 29 housing units at an average density of .