If you look at a map of the United States you’ll see countless cities, towns and villages – over 19 500 to be more precise, the vast majority of which have names that make sense.
Some were named for important historical figures, like Washington D.C. Some were named after geographical features or got named by Native American tribes in reference to something logical; such as Cheektowaga, which derives its name from the Seneca language for “land of the crabapples”. An innumerous number of communities were also named after pioneers and colonial settlers, or towns from their homelands.
But then, interspersed throughout this vast nation, there are a handful of towns and communities that have names so hilarious, so peculiar, that one can’t help but be curious about the events that transpired when they were established.
Here are 21 such towns that made us chuckle, along with the (most likely) account of how each was named. In each case we’ve also included the Google Maps listing for the locale so you can scroll around and explore the place.
1. Hell, Michigan
The next time someone tells you to “go to hell”, pack your bags, fly to Detroit and drive about 60 miles due west. This will take you to the quaint, unincorporated community of Hell, Michigan.
There are several theories as to the origins of this community’s name. The most likely theory proposes that one of the original settlers, George Reeves, would pay local farmers with home-distilled whiskey in exchange for their grain. On “pay day”, these workers’ wives would reportedly comment that their significant others had “gone to hell again” when asked about their husbands’ subsequent drunken whereabouts, and the name stuck.
However the settlement really got its name, today it is a popular roadside stop with shops, bars and curious oddities themed around the concept of hell – most of them promising visitors a “hell of a good time”.
PS: In case you were wondering, its location in the southeast-central region of Michigan means it does get quite a bit of snow in winter… so yes, in this case Hell DOES freeze over.
2. Slickpoo, Idaho
If an automobile sometimes leaves behind an oil slick, what does a horse-drawn carriage leave behind?
This tiny community in Lewis County, Idaho, reportedly had its foundations laid when a priest, Father Joseph M. Cataldo, developed a Jesuit mission here at the invitation of the Nez Perce chief. According to some sources, nearby land on which to build the mission church was in turn donated by one Josiah Slickpoo, and it would make sense then that the present day settlement may actually be named after him.
Where this gentleman received such an unfortunate surname, on the other hand, is a mystery.
3. Slaughterville, Oklahoma
With a horror-film-worthy name like Slaughterville, there are, as one would expect, many rumors as to how this small town southeast of Oklahoma City got its name.
Some rumors ascribe the name to brutal slave murders, others to a high number of road accident fatalities – though both of these are unsubstantiated. Another rumor alleges that the town was thusly named because of the large number of meatpacking plants and slaughterhouses in the area. Arguably in response to this rumor, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) tried to persuade the town to change its name to “Veggieville” back in 2004, to no avail.
According to the town website, though, the name is actually derived from a small business that was owned by a man named Jim Slaughter. His popular store was located on the corner of a busy intersection, and after locals started to affectionately refer to this intersection as Slaughter’s Corner, it became somewhat of a community landmark. When the settlement became a chartered town they decided to name it after something that would be instantly recognizable, and by extension arrived at Slaughterville.
4. Why, Arizona
At first glance one might wonder if the original inhabitants named this community to express their dissatisfaction at choosing to settle here in the middle of the Sonoran desert in the first place. The real inspiration behind its name is, well, less existential in nature.
Why was founded at the conjunction of two major highways which, back in the day, formed a Y-shaped intersection. This apparently inspired its founders to simply name it “Y”, though state law at the time required all place names to have at least three characters. They decided to stick with the idea, but to rather spell it out, and the rest was history.
With roughly 167 inhabitants, this tiny unincorporated community in Pima County sure is easy to accidentally pass through, but it is definitely worth checking out if ever driving from Arizona to Mexico or if visiting the nearby Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
5. Whynot, North Carolina
Where Arizonans asked, “Why?”, North Carolinians answered, “Why not?”.
Situated in Randolph County, just off North Carolina’s Pottery Highway, the unincorporated community of Whynot reportedly received its name when residents tiresomely deliberated over what to call their new settlement. One man – as legend has it – got fed up and proclaimed, “Why not name the town Why Not and let’s go home!”, and they did exactly that.
Funnily enough, this isn’t the only community in the United States that decided to call themselves Whynot! There is another located in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, as well as a tiny village in Cedar County, Nebraska (though the latter is spelled Wynot).
6. Unalaska, Alaska
Our first guess for this city was that it was founded by a group of Alaskan hipsters that decided to, like, totally go against the mainstream. #beforeitwascool #totallyunalaska #hashtagsareannoying
In reality, Unalaska’s name actually has nothing to do with trying to disassociate from The Last Frontier. Instead, it is derived from the word “Ounalashka”, which is what the indigenous Aleut (or Unangan) peoples of these islands named it. It means “near the peninsula”.
Unalaska is the largest center of population on the Aleutian Islands and is reportedly home to the largest fisheries port in the entire United States based on volume caught. Thanks to this accolade it has even been featured on shows like Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch.
7. Ding Dong, Texas
Located in… wait for it… Bell County, Texas, the community of Ding Dong was given its hilarious name as a result of a prank… sort of.
According to most reports, the settlement grew around a store opened by uncle and nephew duo – Zulis and Bert Bell – in the 1930s. They had commissioned a sign for their popular store from a man named C.C. Hoover, who was to paint only their names on the sign. Another store owner from the nearby town of Florence, one Fred Foster, reportedly caught wind of it and jokingly suggested that Hoover paint the Bells’ names inside literal bells – captioned with the words “Ding Dong” underneath it. Hoover obliged and since then the community basically ran with it.
Useless fact: though Zulis and Bert Bell ironically shared a surname with Bell County, they actually had nothing to do with the county at all. Bell County was named for the completely unrelated Peter Hansborough Bell, the third governor of Texas.
8. Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
Located in Sierra County, New Mexico, this city’s name sounds like an extreme version of the beloved game we all played as teenagers: Truth or Dare. The real story behind its name is actually very interesting.
Before 1950, the town was known as Hot Springs. In March of that year, the presenter of a popular radio quiz show, Truth or Consequences, vowed that he would air a special, live anniversary program from the first town to name itself after the show. Hot Springs jumped to the occasion immediately and won the contest. The presenter subsequently visited the city for the next fifty years as part of an annual event with beauty contests, parades and more. This became known as the town Fiesta and is still celebrated each year on the first weekend of May.
Truth or Consequences is renowned for its many hot springs (from which it took its original name) and for the nearby Elephant Butte Dam. It is also home to Spaceport America, the world’s first commercial space port and base for Virgin Galactic. The actual Spaceport is located about 30 miles outside of town, though it has a visitor center downtown.
9. Intercourse, Pennsylvania
Intercourse is the largest village in Leacock Township, Pennsylvania; and what causes this place name to evoke giggles is not just its name, but also its ironic context. Located east of Lancaster, this community is situated in the heart of Amish country!
According to their official website, there are a few theories as to how this settlement got its name. One theory postulates that the town used to sit at the entrance to a race course and that residents would call the access point “Entercourse”, which evolved to become Intercourse. Another attributes the village’s odd name to the fact that it was intersected by two major routes, or courses, that connected to important cities in Pennsylvania. A final theory proposes that in the olden days people would utilize the word “intercourse” to refer to fellowship among a body of people of similar faith; which is certainly fitting given this village’s location among Amish and Mennonite communities.
However the town derived its name, Intercourse and its surrounding region – which includes the communities of Fertility, Bird in Hand, Bareville, Blue Ball and Plowville – is definitely worth a visit. Apart from friendly people and delicious food, there are dozens of quaint shops and one-of-a-kind entertainment for young and old – most of it inspired by the region’s rich Dutch/German heritage.
10. Okay, Oklahoma
Scrolling through town on Google Street View, it immediately becomes clear that the city of Okay, OK, is not bad, but also not spectacular. It’s just… Okay?
On 18 October 1919, the town took its name from O.K. Trucks – a brand of oil tanker trucks that used to be manufactured here. Sadly, a fire destroyed much of town in 1936 and only a few businesses were left in its wake. Today it is home to just over 500 people, and is the ideal destination for an okay weekend getaway from Tulsa.
11. Boring, Oregon
What we think happened here: the original settlers had teenagers who ran out of battery power on their cell phones or mobile gaming devices during the arduous road trip to get here, only to come to the dreaded realization upon arrival that the place had no Wi-Fi either.
What really happened here: this unincorporated community, situated about 12 miles southeast of Portland, was actually named for William Harrison Boring, a soldier and pioneer who settled here before Oregon even became a state.
Boring is a quaint little town with breathtaking views of Mt Hood, definitely worth checking out if you’re ever in the Portland region. The locals also have a great sense of humor and have embraced the unintended ambiguity behind the name, even becoming unofficial sister cities with the villages of Dull, Scotland, and Bland, New South Wales, Australia.
12. Colon, Michigan
Nestled between Palmer Lake and Sturgeon Lake, this small town in St. Joseph County, Michigan, was named after the punctuation mark – NOT after the pre-penultimate anatomical constituent of the digestive tract.
The town is often referred to as “The Magic Capital of the World” owing to the large number of magicians that hailed from or relocated here in the 20th century – including the legendary Harry Blackstone, Sr., who was probably its most famous resident. Colon is also home to some of the most renowned manufacturers and suppliers of magician’s products and tricks in the United States, and also hosts one of the largest magic conventions in the nation annually.
13. Fifty-Six, Arkansas
Situated in Stone County, Arkansas, this small city of 158 (a hundred-and-two more than you’d think it would be) got its name when the founding community applied to call their new home “Newcomb”. Their request was rejected – we’re guessing by a clerk that had a deep seated hatred for unused hair-styling implements – and their settlement was instead named after its school district: fifty-six.
There’s not much more to tell you about this tiny city, but it sure would be interesting to find out how one of their main roads – Roasting Ear Road (on the map above) – got its name. If you have any information, let us know in the comments below!
14. Frankenstein, Missouri
It isn’t clear how this community, located about 30 minutes from the state capital of Jefferson City, got its name. It could likely have been named after a gentleman named Godfried Franken, who donated land to the town in 1890. According to Wikipedia, the “donated tract became known as Franken Hill; and, since ‘Stein’ can mean ‘rock,’ the town name may have been a fancy way of honoring Mr. Franken for his donated stein (hill)”.
Okay, so the community may then not purposefully have been named to associate with Mary Shelley’s legendary story of Frankenstein’s monster (which was published in 1818 already, and would therefore have been quite well known by the time the settlement was established). Nonetheless, we can’t help but wonder what the deal is with all the cemeteries in the immediate vicinity…
15. Ketchuptown, South Carolina
This small homestead and census-designated place is located in Horry County, South Carolina, and is home to just over 80 residents that apparently love their condiments. Only, this community’s name has nothing to do with the French fry’s best-enjoyed accompaniment.
Reportedly, in 1927, a man named Herbert Small built a home and opened a tiny shop in this rural locale. His small store would eventually become a popular place for the local farmers to go and “catch up” on the news while shopping for basic staples. According to one source, one of Small’s daughters who worked in the store would occasionally sketch the words “catch up town” on paper while on the job – most probably something she heard the locals say in reference to their little homestead. However, because she loved the letter “k”, she would write it as “katch up town”, and over the years “the spelling just seemed to conform” among their patrons.
16. Rough and Ready, California
The story goes like this: in 1849, a mining company from Wisconsin set up camp here at the height of the California Gold Rush. Their company was called the Rough and Ready Company, named after Zachary “Old Rough and Ready” Taylor – the 12th president of the United States.
Most probably to avoid paying mining taxes, the town declared their secession from the USA on 7 April 1850 and would henceforth be known as The Great Republic of Rough and Ready. Less than three months later though, on 4 July 1850, they voted to rejoin the Union.
Today the town is a California Historic Landmark, a popular tourist stop, and a frequent entry in lists like this one.
17. Toad Suck, Arkansas
More than just a recipe to get warts in your mouth (if the proverbial old wives’ tales are anything to go by), Toad Suck is an unincorporated community in Perry County, Arkansas. It is situated on the banks of the Arkansas River, opposite the city of Conway.
There is no definitive record of how this community got its name, but according to the official website of Toad Suck Daze – an annual fundraising festival with live music, rides and, of course, world championship toad races – the name was possibly derived from an incident at a local tavern. Supposedly, while waiting for the Arkansas River to swell to a navigable depth, boat crewmen would frequent the tavern and get indubitably inebriated. This in turn would prompt local folks to deride the crewmen, commenting that “they suck on the bottle ’til they swell up like toads”.
18. French Lick, Indiana
You’ve heard of a French kiss, but have you ever heard of French Lick? This pretty town started out as a French trading post near a salt lick (hence it’s eventual name), and soon became famous as a spa town thanks to its hot springs and rich mineral resources.
Today, apart from being known as the home town of basketball legend, Larry Bird, it draws visitors to its renowned French Lick Resort Casino, interesting museums, and the French Lick Scenic Railway. The latter is a highly-rated attraction that takes passengers on a picturesque vintage train ride through the nearby Hoosier National Forest.
19. Embarrass, Minnesota
A likely candidate for the birthplace of the ‘dad joke’, Embarrass is located in St Louis County, Minnesota – roughly 370 miles from another town called Embarrass, located in Wisconsin. It is known as the coldest place in the entire state of Minnesota, which means it gets REALLY, REALLY, REALLY cold. The town’s lowest officially recorded temperature ever was -57°F (-49°C), though the coldest known unofficial temperature reading dipped to an almost Ice Age, extinction-level-event-cold -64°F (-53°C)!
Embarrass derived its name from the French word embarras which, although sharing the same meaning as in English, could also mean ‘to impede’ or ‘obstruct’ something. Reportedly, French fur traders of yonder would have difficulty navigating the narrow, shallow waters of the river that runs through this settlement, and decided to name the river Embarras. The community in turn took its name from the body of water.
(PS: In case you were wondering, basically the same thing happened in the case of the eponymous town in Wisconsin.)
20. Tightsqueeze, Virginia
Tightsqueeze is a smallish town north of Danville, Virginia; and while the name may scare away anyone who is remotely claustrophobic, it has more than enough room to fit visitors comfortably. Funnily enough though, the town was named after a literal tight squeeze at the time of its establishment in the late 1800s.
According to legend, a general store owner built his shop close enough to the road that patrons could exit their carriages straight onto his store entrance without getting muddy. Another merchant decided to implement the same smart move and also built his blacksmith/wheelwright shop closer to the road, directly opposite said general store. The resultant narrowing of the thoroughfare forced wagons and cart-drivers to slow down and drive more cautiously when passing through the two buildings, in order to make the “tight squeeze”.
21. Accident, Maryland
With a name that would make any insurance claims administrator shudder, there are quite a few rumors as to how the quaint town of Accident was named. According to Western Maryland’s Historical Library though, the most likely story behind the town’s peculiar name dates back to when Maryland was still a British colony.
When Lord Baltimore, then proprietor of the Colony, opened the land “westward of Fort Cumberland” for settlement; this particular region drew the attention of two speculators, Brooke Beall and William Deakins. Both had warrants to survey several tracts of land in the county, but discovered upon completion that they had both marked out this specific tract by accident. Since they were friends, Deakins conceded and agreed that the survey be made out to Beall, upon which they called the tract of land Accident in commemoration of the incident.
How many of these towns were you aware of? Can you think of any other towns that should have made this list? Let us know in the comments and we’ll do a follow up!
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