On a recent trip to Ireland, a local told me that Ireland had lots of unusually named towns. His favorite was Bastardtown in Wexford County but a close runner up is the difficult-to-pronounce and spell Muckanaghederdauhaulia. Seriously?
After I returned home, a close friend reminded me that unusual names for towns wasn’t just an Irish phenomenon. He pointed out Bridal Veil, Oregon (a popular source for wedding invitations) and Hell, Arizona (perhaps a potential location for divorce notices?). Of course, little kids’ Christmas letters get mailed to North Pole, Alaska.
This got me thinking – what are the most unusual town names in each U.S. state? Here’s my list:
Alabama:Smut EyeAlaska:UnalaskaArizona:NothingArkansas:GoobertownCalifornia:Forks of SalmonColorado:No NameConnecticut:HazardvilleDelaware:Blue BallFlorida:Two EggGeorgia:ButtsHawaii:VolcanoIdaho:SlickpooIllinois:SandwichIndiana:Gnaw BoneIowa:What CheerKansas:GasKentucky:BugtussleLouisiana:WaterproofMaine:Burnt Porcupine IslandMaryland:AccidentMassachusetts:Satan’s KingdomMichigan:White PigeonMinnesota:NimrodMississippi:Hot CoffeeMissouri:TightwadMontana:Bear DanceNebraska:WormsNevada:JiggsNew Hampshire:DummerNew Jersey:Ho-Ho-KusNew Mexico:Angel FireNew York:HorseheadsNorth Carolina:WhynotNorth Dakota:FlasherOhio:KnockemstiffOklahoma:SlapoutOregon:ZigzagPennsylvania:PanicRhode Island:WoonsocketSouth Carolina:KetchuptownSouth Dakota:CrooksTennessee:DifficultTexas:Ding DongUtah:American ForkVermont:Bread LoafVirginia:HurtWashington:ShreckWest Virginia:PinchWisconsin:DiscoWyoming:Chugwater
There are some fantastic names on this list but each state has many others to choose from.
Do you know of an unusually named town that should be on the list? Share it in the comments below.
My son really likes geography. His favorite town name is Poop, Mexico. I’ll definitely be sharing this article with him – he’ll love it!
Climax, Virginia. Right there in Pittsylvania County.
Lol, hope you had a good vacation Jonathan! Recently I came across Buttzville in the good old garden state
I live next to Ho-Ho-Kus. I believe the name of this town has American Indian roots, similar to Mahwah. But down south along the Jersey Shore there are townships of Brick and Wall (that’s 2 different towns – one is Brick and another one is Wall and they are next to each other), which I personally find a little more unusual. Also Pennsylvania besides Panic has “Hope” 🙂
Why, Arizona is called “Why” cause the name the town submitted was turned down by the post office and the sent the letter back With Why written on it and the post office thought it was the name they wanted and not an explanation of the turn down
Lizard Lick, NC