There remains a myth that most tile—especially higher-end tile—is made outside the USA.
True, tile is indigenous to areas of the world such as the Mediterranean or Iberian regions where it was popularized first as roofing material (baked clay) and certainly as a decorative covering harkening to the days of the ancient Romans. It is interesting to note that even after 2,000 years, early Roman tile and tile unearthed at the archaeological sites at Pompeii is still intact and doing its job.