You just may have one in your state – a weird or silly named town – like Hell, Michigan, for example. There really is a Hell on Earth. (See what I mean by weird or funny?) Many of the strangely named towns and villages got their names because a founding father or company left their mark in the area. Other places were named after the topography of the region or because a significant historical event happened nearby.
Still other places received their monikers for a more practical reason: The U.S. Postal Service insisted a name be approved by the time the post office building was erected. Townspeople, in a rush to decide, chose a name that still endures and makes us smile today. Whatever the reason, I love the weird town names. Here are a few of my favorites:
Hell, Michigan
George Reeves settled the area in the 1830s. He traded his home-brewed whiskey for the area farmers’ grain. Farm wives didn’t approve of their husbands’ drinking and would complain, “They’re going to hell again.” Today the town has embraced their name. You can eat at the Hell Hole Diner or get married in Hell’s Chapel of Love. There’s even a Hell Saloon featuring sinfully awesome drinks!
Boring, Maryland
This small village was first named Fairview. Why change the name? There were other towns named Fairview on the railroad route and to avoid confusion, Fairview was renamed Boring to honor its first postmaster, David J. Boring. Hmmm. Maybe they should’ve taken a bit more time to choose a name.
Tightwad, Missouri
This little hamlet was named because the postmaster was cheated out of 50 cents when he purchased a watermelon. Today the Tightwad Bank boasts customers from around the globe. Who wouldn’t like to have checks or a bank card that features Tightwad Bank?
Why Not, North Carolina
When townspeople gathered to decide on this town’s name, some said, “Why not call it this?” “Why not name it that?” The discussion got heated and dragged on until a frustrated local exclaimed, “Let’s just call it Why Not so we can all go home!” They did.
Difficult, Tennessee
The U.S. Postal Service rejected the locals’ first attempt to name their village. “Your name is difficult,” said the letter. Residents mistook the letter as an official directive and accepted the name Difficult.
Ding Dong, Texas
The Bell family settled this area and the town decided to honor them by naming the town Ding Dong. Quite an honor, huh?
Nothing, Arizona
Here’s a town that lives up to its name! Besides a deserted gas station and weather-worn sign, there is truly nothing left in Nothing.
Embarrass, Minnesota
Traversing the river that runs through the area toppled many explorers’ canoes. Fur traders also soon became frustrated and, well, embarrassed. The name stuck, unfortunately.
I’m sure there are many, many more strangely named towns that I’ve missed. Have you visited any that we should know about? If so, leave a comment below!
Related:
Travel books that highlight weird and wacky RV short stops
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There is a town in Arizona called “Hope”. The best part of Hope (to us anyway) is the sign as you leave. It says “Your Now Beyond Hope”. The incorrect spelling is THEIRS on the actual sign. A local propane dealer is named “Passmore Gas” and it’s posted in big letters on a large propane tank. The owner’s name IS Passmore! Naturally, these are ‘Kodak moments’!
In BC Canada there is also a town called ‘HOPE’ It is a town that is at the divide of Highway 1 (Trans-Canada)and highway 5 (The Coquihalla).
Pink, Oklahoma. Bowlegs, Oklahoma. Bugtussle, Oklahoma. Nowata, Oklahoma. Lottawata, Oklahoma. Slapout, Oklahoma.
Don’t forget Peculiar, Missouri https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peculiar,_Missouri
Add “Why”, Arizona.
It used to be just “Y” but the USPS said it had to have 3 letters. (IIRC)
How about Uranus, Missouri, and Toadsuck, Arkansas?
There is also Blue Ball, PA, Bird-in-Hand, PA, and after you visit those three, you are in Paradise, PA.
We have a Climax, MI.
Okay, okay, There is a Two Egg, Florida. The population is 4,449.
In Canada, you’ll find just a few places with duplicate names. That’s because place names needed to approved by Ottawa (Canada’s capital). Ottawa should have been named “Home of the Idiots” since that’s where you’ll find our federal politicians.
Buzzards Bay, MA ………. going towards Cape Cod.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA. (Inc. in 1977 from Cucamonga, Etiwanda & Alta Loma)
Yellowdog, Pa. Named for non union miners.
Not only do we have Hell, Michigan, we also have Climax and Paradise, Michigan!
Christmas, MI. It’s in the Upper Peninsula
Toad Suck, Arkansas
Horseheads, New York. The name is derived from the number of bleached skulls of pack horses left behind by the Sullivan Expedition.
Gail, you want strange place names, pick up a map of Newfoundland/Labrador. Joe Batts Arm, Jerrys Nose, Di*do, Fogo. Just a few examples.
That is an factual place name in Newfoundland, it is a part of a boat. Jimmy Kimmel of late night TV fame will verify this. He was elected Honourary Mayor and his film crew visited here.
Like it or not, the name of the town is Di*do! [I had to edit it because our filter [bleeped] it. –Diane]
There is a town near where I live in Virginia that is called Tightsqueeze. The road through there maintains its proper width.
Frog Pond, Finger and Big Lick, all in NC.
Been to Hell [and back]. Like stopping to see unusual and oddity attractions even though we have to drive an hour out of our way. Makes the USA a very interesting country.
Maybe neglecting the Grand Tetons is how you ended up in Blue Balls instead of Intercourse, Climax and Paradise?
We have Waterproof, Louisiana.
In Michigan you can go from Hell to Paradise, MI in about 6 hours. Lol!
I had a shipmate in the forward engineering space named John Hell. Machinist Mate Fireman (E-3). He was from Hell, MI. He was on the engine room side, I was on the boiler room side. We kept the hell fires burning, I was a Boiler Technician Petty Officer third class.
We were on the USS Juneau LPD-10.
Halfway Oregon….Was once for a year, formally known as Half.com…True
Not all that strange, but we live in Surpise AZ!
You could live in D*ldo, Come By Chance, Conception or Joe Batt’s Arm-Barr’d Islands-Shoal Bay,Newfoundland.
Sorry, Vance. I’ve been moderating comments all day and just noticed your comment in the Trash (put there by our filters). I had to slightly edit a word so it could be published. Take care. 😀 –Diane
Horny Town, NC; Intercourse, PA
Another take on unique names – Reclaw, Texas was named after local landowner Margaret Walker but it was spelled backwards since there was already a town by that name in Texas. Just down the road is Sacul, Texas – Lucas was also already taken as a town name.
Spent the winter in Frostproof Florida. It is said that the region had a hard frost, and one area was spared. That city became Frostproof. Great area to spend the winter.
Peculiar, Missouri!
Hell for Certain, Kentucky, just up the road from Hazard, just down the road from Thousand Sticks.
Not only do we have Hell in Michigan, we also have Paradise!
We drove thru Dogville Ca. (Pop 11) on Pacific Coast Highway in the 80’s or 90’s
Just spent a few days camping in Lancaster, PA. A few odd town names there. One town many years ago had a local inn. Two business travelers were passing through the area and nightfall was approaching. Ghey eere trying to decided should they stay at the local inn. Or push on to a larger town with better accommodations. The locals cited the old witicism A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.,” So they stayed there and the village became know as “Bird in the Hand”
Another local small town had a horse race track near the edge of town. The track bore a sign at the entrance that said ” Enter Course.” The town name was adopted from that sign and is known to this day as “Intercourse.” Some one mistakenly changed the first letter “E” to an “I.”
Can’t vouch for the historical accuracy, only sharing what our tour guide told us.
One of my favorites is Drain OR.
Climax, MN (S of E. Grand Forks, MN)
Uncertain, Texas.
Arkansas has a few: Goobertown, Flippin, Booger Hollow, Possum Grape, Weiner, Smackover, Toad Suck, Bald Knob, Greasy Corner, Fifty-Six, Hog Eye, & Y-City.