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Non-Road Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: golden eagle on June 10, 2010, 12:22:36 AM

Title: Funny-named towns
Post by: golden eagle on June 10, 2010, 12:22:36 AM
Some of my favorites:

Bucksnort, TN
Intercourse, AL
It, MS
Alligator, MS
Possumneck, MS
Two Egg, FL
Hell, MI

And while not a town...

Toad Suck State Park in Arkansas
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: mightyace on June 10, 2010, 02:20:56 AM
Quote from: golden eagle on June 10, 2010, 12:22:36 AM
Some of my favorites:

Intercourse, AL

In Lancaster county PA you also have a town named Intercourse.
Near it are towns called Bird In Hand and Paradise.
Along US 209 along the Delaware River is Dingmans Ferry.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: corco on June 10, 2010, 02:22:23 AM
Lewiston, Idaho.

I'll let you all figure that one out
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: national highway 1 on June 10, 2010, 02:24:14 AM
Broken Arrow OK
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: huskeroadgeek on June 10, 2010, 02:24:25 AM
A few off the top of my head:
Nameless, TN
Bugscuffle, TN
Monkeys Eyebrow, KY
Possum Grape, AR
Pangburn, AR
What Cheer, IA
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: mightyace on June 10, 2010, 02:34:07 AM
Then there's:
Grinders Switch, TN (associated with Sarah Cannon a. k. a. Minnie Pearl)
Bell Buckle, TN (NOT Belt Buckle!) home of the Moon Pie
Cheap Hill, TN
Hohenwald, TN
Crab Orchard, TN
Ozone, TN
Pigeon Forge, TN
Bulls Gap, TN
Powder Springs, TN
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Roadgeek Adam on June 10, 2010, 05:31:32 AM
Quote from: mightyace on June 10, 2010, 02:20:56 AM
In Lancaster county PA you also have a town named Intercourse.
Near it are towns called Bird In Hand and Paradise.
Along US 209 along the Delaware River is Dingmans Ferry.

Dingmans is far from funny:

Andrew Dingman founded the community of Dingman's Choice in the late 18th Century. During this time, he ran a ferry across the Delaware where the present day bridge (the 4th to span it) stands. The town was renamed Dingman's Ferry in honor of the ferry since the first 3 bridges ever built, all wooden covered ones, kept failing. The town remains named such to this date, although most of the "real" Dingmans Ferry hasn't existed since 1903 and/or 1979.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Ian on June 10, 2010, 06:15:47 AM
I think these ones are interesting:

Dildo, NL
Coxsackie, NY
Woonsocket, RI
Shamokin, PA
Wyalusing, PA
Jim Thorpe, PA
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: national highway 1 on June 10, 2010, 06:17:20 AM
Blue Ball PA
Searchlight NV
Nothing AZ
Chugwater WY
Jal NM
Pahrump NV
Needles CA
Bumble Bee AZ (like in Transformers)
Why AZ
Humptulips WA
Climax CO
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: english si on June 10, 2010, 06:59:00 AM
None of these are towns, but:
Westward Ho! (http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/maps/index.php?view=51.040188598278036,-4.220702753553033&map=OSMap&zoom=7&layer=0), Devon
Curry Mallet (http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/maps/index.php?view=50.992845192982436,-2.954505832608379&map=OSMap&zoom=8&layer=0), Devon
Ugley (http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/maps/index.php?view=51.93185816666955,0.21162162957662692&map=OSMap&zoom=8&layer=0), Essex
World's End (http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/maps/index.php?view=51.77727415398441,-0.7526414645680043&map=OSMap&zoom=8&layer=0), Bucks - added bonus of being nearly as far from the edge of Britain as you can get in Britain.
Besses O' Th' Barn (http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/maps/index.php?view=53.54200916457509,-2.285863048332988&map=OSMap&zoom=10&layer=0), Lancs
Wyre Piddle (http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/maps/index.php?view=52.12999654911683,-2.051019424820488&map=OSMap&zoom=8&layer=0), Worcs
Wetwang (http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/maps/index.php?view=54.022792842709755,-0.5687756543796505&map=OSMap&zoom=7&layer=0), E Yorks
Christmaspie (http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/maps/index.php?view=51.24141502615358,-0.6689543178932692&map=OSMap&zoom=8&layer=0), Surrey
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Truvelo on June 10, 2010, 09:21:57 AM
The original post has a two letter town. There's one in Scotland with two letters called Ae. I wondered if there are any more with just two letters?
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: dfilpus on June 10, 2010, 09:43:39 AM
Whynot NC
Lizard Lick NC
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: shoptb1 on June 10, 2010, 09:59:45 AM
Not a town, but enough said.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_vV2-Fg-7T40%2FTBDvsBdMjTI%2FAAAAAAAAB2A%2F6IiHv3kkRfM%2Fs512%2FBBLSP.jpg&hash=4868c310b3cefc9de990c54509f07266e7cf06cf)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Brandon on June 10, 2010, 11:18:25 AM
Gay, MI

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi837.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz298%2Fmidamcrossrds%2FUpperPeninsulaJune2006088.jpg&hash=b9d4e037704335039eaaa7a341a8cc75c5c0622c)

It even has a bar.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi837.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz298%2Fmidamcrossrds%2FUpperPeninsulaJune2006087.jpg&hash=2aa9ca53b2b8d13d9af04bf40154365856766a18)

Then there's the Bong Recreation Area in SE Wisconsin near Racine.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: froggie on June 10, 2010, 12:20:50 PM
Surprised the OP didn't mention Hot Coffee, MS...
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Duke87 on June 10, 2010, 12:37:35 PM
Pennsylvania is the king of funny-named towns. Too many to name. Effort, Kunkletown, Moon, Pillow, Lititz, Gaskill, Jersey Shore, Eighty Four...

As for other states, there's Tuckahoe, NY and Cockeysville, MD

Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Truvelo on June 10, 2010, 01:31:04 PM
This (http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=52.18951,-6.542702&spn=0.020284,0.072098&z=15) one is so bad that I'll link to it rather than type it here.

it's not.  It's "Bastardstown".  That word isn't even censored on the Simpsons!
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: PAHighways on June 10, 2010, 01:32:08 PM
Blue Ball (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Intercourse,+PA&sll=40.931023,-78.279991&sspn=0.061732,0.154324&g=Blue+Ball,+PA&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Intercourse,+Lancaster,+Pennsylvania&ll=40.096721,-76.04908&spn=0.125011,0.308647&z=12), which is located northeast of the aforementioned Intercourse.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Roadgeek Adam on June 10, 2010, 01:35:18 PM
Quote from: Duke87 on June 10, 2010, 12:37:35 PM
Pennsylvania is the king of funny-named towns. Too many to name. Effort, Kunkletown, Moon, Pillow, Lititz, Gaskill, Jersey Shore, Eighty Four...

As for other states, there's Tuckahoe, NY and Cockeysville, MD

Eighty Four is promotional. For 84 Lumber.

Jersey Shore, probably someone infatuated with the *real* Jersey Shore


Guide Board Corners, NY (Town of Caroline, County of Tompkins) comes to mind for me. It was the southern terminus of NY 330, which was decommissioned in 1980. It was named after road signs that were once there.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: triplemultiplex on June 10, 2010, 01:35:55 PM
Some good place names:

Ohio:
Lickskillet
Knockemstiff
Tightwee (suburban Cincy)
Pee Pee (name of both a stream and a township north of Waverly)

Tennessee:
Peckerwood Point
Three Way

Cockrum, MS

Smackover, AR

Minnesota:
Nowthen
Sleepy Eye
Weggeland (I want to pronounce it "wedgie land")

Wisconsin
Butts Corners
Euren
Spread Eagle

These are all place names near Hazard, KY:
Sugartit
Rowdy
Fisty
Gays Creek
Dwarf
Troublesome

Dike, IA

Can't believe Hell, MI hasn't been mentioned yet.
Michigan also has a place name called Horr.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Truvelo on June 10, 2010, 01:44:16 PM
Here's (http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=48.067476,12.86278&spn=0.001382,0.004506&z=19) another one I dare not type here :-o

eh, it's just Fucking, Austria.  Bono's said that word in a lot worse context on US television and gotten away with it.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Ian on June 10, 2010, 03:27:06 PM
Mars, PA
Boring, OR
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Brandon on June 10, 2010, 03:38:03 PM
Quote from: golden eagle on June 10, 2010, 12:22:36 AM
Some of my favorites:

Hell, MI

Quote from: triplemultiplex on June 10, 2010, 01:35:55 PM
Some good place names:

Can't believe Hell, MI hasn't been mentioned yet.
Michigan also has a place name called Horr.

You missed it.  Try turning off M-52.  :pan:
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Brandon on June 10, 2010, 03:44:45 PM
Quote from: Truvelo on June 10, 2010, 01:44:16 PM
Here's (http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=48.067476,12.86278&spn=0.001382,0.004506&z=19) another one I dare not type here :-o

eh, it's just Fucking, Austria.  Bono's said that word in a lot worse context on US television and gotten away with it.

There's also a bus company over there that goes by that name as well, IIRC.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Chris on June 10, 2010, 04:04:49 PM
Yep, Fucking Reise (Fucking Travels). I once took a picture of one of their buses, but I can't find it anymore in my 20,000 pictures.

There is also a neighborhood of Bern, Switzerland that is called "wankdorf".

Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: bugo on June 10, 2010, 04:08:32 PM
Quote from: Truvelo on June 10, 2010, 01:44:16 PM
Here's (http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=48.067476,12.86278&spn=0.001382,0.004506&z=19) another one I dare not type here :-o

eh, it's just Fucking, Austria.  Bono's said that word in a lot worse context on US television and gotten away with it.

Jake has deemed the word "fuck" acceptable on this forum.  And Jake is pretty much the defacto dictator of this board.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: bugo on June 10, 2010, 04:09:29 PM
Quote from: golden eagle on June 10, 2010, 12:22:36 AM
And while not a town...

Toad Suck State Park in Arkansas

Toad Suck is not a state park.  I believe it's run by the Corps of Engineers.

My favorite place name is Knob Lick, Missouri.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: huskeroadgeek on June 10, 2010, 04:24:19 PM
Quote from: bugo on June 10, 2010, 04:09:29 PM
Quote from: golden eagle on June 10, 2010, 12:22:36 AM
And while not a town...

Toad Suck State Park in Arkansas

Toad Suck is not a state park.  I believe it's run by the Corps of Engineers.

It is run by the Corps of Engineers in conjunction with the Toad Suck Lock & Dam on the Arkansas River. Conway has their festival named after it too called Toad Suck Daze.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Scott5114 on June 10, 2010, 08:00:13 PM
Forty One, OK was named after SH-41. Unfortunately, that highway is now SH-152.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: golden eagle on June 11, 2010, 01:01:50 AM
Quote from: dfilpus on June 10, 2010, 09:43:39 AM
Whynot NC

There's a Whynot, MS (near Meridian) and a Soso, MS (near Laurel). I forgot another favorite of mine: Cut 'N Shoot, TX.

Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: national highway 1 on June 11, 2010, 04:24:39 AM
Two Guns AZ
No Name CO
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: mefailenglish on June 11, 2010, 06:01:57 AM
Quote from: PennDOTFan on June 10, 2010, 03:27:06 PM
Boring, OR
There's a Boring in MD too.

I'll never forget Yeehaw Junction, FL.  My then-future wife's car broke down there on her way back north to Tallahassee.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: yanksfan6129 on June 11, 2010, 05:08:28 PM
Anyone ever visit Buttzville, NJ??
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: BigMattFromTexas on June 11, 2010, 06:48:46 PM
Muleshoe, TX
Holiday Lakes, TX
Blanket, TX
Rocky Mound, TX
Flower Mound, TX
White Deer, TX
Whiteface, TX
DISH, TX (yes all caps)
Little Elm, TX
Trophy Club, TX
Ponder, TX
Rule, TX
Blum, TX
Roman Forest, TX
Stagecoach, TX
Uncertain, TX
Negro Crossing, TX  I'm gonna have to kill whoever named that place. AND it's in Tom Green County (my county)
Trust me, theres a WHOLE lot more in Texas. But now I'll list a few Texas cities that are named after already existing places.
Italy, TX
San Diego, TX
Los Angeles, TX
Detroit, TX
Iowa Park, TX (kinda, it has Iowa in it so...)
Arlington, TX (not sure which was settled first, Arlington, Texas, or Arlington, Virginia)
Egypt, TX
Fredericksburg, TX
Thats not even half of the funny Texas town names
BigMatt
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: yanksfan6129 on June 11, 2010, 07:21:50 PM
Negro isn't a bad word.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: golden eagle on June 11, 2010, 08:28:25 PM
Quote from: BigMatt on June 11, 2010, 06:48:46 PM
DISH, TX (yes all caps)

Is this the town that was named after Dish Network? There was a town in Oregon in which Half.com was going to pay to change it's name to Half.com. But when the company was bought out by eBay, it's a possibly it may not happen.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: golden eagle on June 11, 2010, 08:32:05 PM
Quote from: yanksfan6129 on June 11, 2010, 05:08:28 PM
Anyone ever visit Buttzville, NJ??

Nah. But anyone ever been to Butts County, GA?
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Roadgeek Adam on June 11, 2010, 10:50:05 PM
Quote from: yanksfan6129 on June 11, 2010, 05:08:28 PM
Anyone ever visit Buttzville, NJ??

Its not all that big sadly. Its signed from 80, which rocks.

Also lets add Slovenska Narodna Podporna Jednota, Pennsylvania to the list. This town is a 14 (0) population town in Lawrence County that is shrunk to SNPJ. This is also where PA 108 crosses the state line into Ohio as Mahoning CR 2.

Name rocks otherwise. (The discrepancy in population is that the US Census said 0, the residents counted 14)

Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: golden eagle on June 11, 2010, 11:36:34 PM
More towns I've come up with:

Talking Rock, GA
Mexican Water, AZ
Horseheads, NY
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: agentsteel53 on June 11, 2010, 11:43:06 PM
Quote from: golden eagle on June 11, 2010, 11:36:34 PM
Mexican Water, AZ

Mexican Hat is in the same area, but it is in Utah.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: BigMattFromTexas on June 12, 2010, 12:35:42 AM
Quote from: yanksfan6129 on June 11, 2010, 07:21:50 PM
Negro isn't a bad word.
Well how some of the douches here use it, I'm not in love with it. BTW "Douche" is just French for shower.... :-D
BigMatt
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Stephane Dumas on June 12, 2010, 09:27:18 AM
Quote from: BigMatt on June 11, 2010, 06:48:46 PM
Trust me, theres a WHOLE lot more in Texas. But now I'll list a few Texas cities that are named after already existing places.
Detroit, TX
BigMatt

I wondered how the folks of Detroit, TX reacted to this clip from the Kentucky Fried Movie when Dr. Klahn sended that guy to Detroit? (I know they referred to Detroit, MI but I couldn't resist to post that detail ^^;)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: bugo on June 12, 2010, 03:23:59 PM
Quote from: BigMatt on June 12, 2010, 12:35:42 AM
Quote from: yanksfan6129 on June 11, 2010, 07:21:50 PM
Negro isn't a bad word.
Well how some of the douches here use it, I'm not in love with it. BTW "Douche" is just French for shower.... :-D
BigMatt

I've never seen anybody use it here until you did.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: BigMattFromTexas on June 12, 2010, 04:36:31 PM
^ Oh, no I mean here as in Texas :D
BigMatt
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: 74/171FAN on June 13, 2010, 11:38:57 AM
Quote from: golden eagle on June 11, 2010, 08:28:25 PM
Quote from: BigMatt on June 11, 2010, 06:48:46 PM
DISH, TX (yes all caps)

Is this the town that was named after Dish Network? There was a town in Oregon in which Half.com was going to pay to change it's name to Half.com. But when the company was bought out by eBay, it's a possibly it may not happen.
Yes it was.  In VA there's a Cuckoo.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: brownpelican on June 17, 2010, 02:38:37 AM
Due West, S.C.
Ninety Six, S.C.
Promised Land, S.C.
Bude, Miss.
Nitta Yuma, Miss.
Tillatoba, Miss.
Frost, La.
Happy Jack, La.
Zwolle, La.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: national highway 1 on June 17, 2010, 04:39:57 AM
Fairplay CO
Zuzax NM (cousin of Zzyzx Rd, I-40 exit 178)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: golden eagle on June 19, 2010, 01:33:19 PM
More towns:

Chunky, MS
Tickfaw, LA
Finger, TN
Grinders Switch, TN

Here's a bunch from Kentucky (apologies if some are already mentioned): Sassafras, Gunlock, Add, Shoulderblade, Gays Creek, Hi Hat, Moon, Ordinary, Quicksand, Turkey, Gold Bug
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: golden eagle on June 19, 2010, 06:26:08 PM
Just found out about a place called Tightwad, Missouri. I was checking too see how much the Powerball is worth and came across an article where a man in Tightwad won $200K. He matched all the numbers except the Powerball number.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: SP Cook on June 20, 2010, 08:00:04 AM
West Virginia:

Uneeda.  Pronounced You - Need -a.  As in Uneeda School, Uneeda Post Office, etc.
Hurricane.  So named by Charles (brother of George) Washington, who found the results of a recent tornado while surveying for his brother and being a person from the coast figured "hurricane".  There is also a Tornado and a Cyclone.
Nitro.  Actually named for the explosive, made there.
Nutter Fort.  Named for a Col. Nutter.
Big Ugly WMA.  No one lives there any more, but was a town.  As in "Big Ugly man on trial", "Big Ugly woman gives birth", etc.
There is also a Fort Gay, and Mount Gay, and just a Gay.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Chris on June 20, 2010, 08:57:06 AM
How about "Pissouri (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pissouri)", Cyprus. :D
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: national highway 1 on June 21, 2010, 02:02:09 AM
Gay Street, Greenwich Village, NYC
*YAY! MY 200th Post!*
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: agentsteel53 on June 21, 2010, 10:01:17 AM
Quote from: ausinterkid on June 21, 2010, 02:02:09 AM

*YAY! MY 200th Post!*

you do that one more time, you're banned.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: KillerTux on June 21, 2010, 10:56:28 AM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on June 21, 2010, 10:01:17 AM
Quote from: ausinterkid on June 21, 2010, 02:02:09 AM

*YAY! MY 200th Post!*

you do that one more time, you're banned.
Damn. It looks like he made more then 200 posts but his profile says 8?
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: agentsteel53 on June 21, 2010, 11:29:00 AM
Quote from: KillerTux on June 21, 2010, 10:56:28 AM

Damn. It looks like he made more then 200 posts but his profile says 8?

yeah, I went into the secret admin panel and, uh, changed some numbers.

I can even change his username if the going gets too ornery.

really get on our bad side?  we'll do a SQL DELETE query on you.

"banned? why no, you certainly were not banned.  In fact, you never existed!"
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: J N Winkler on June 21, 2010, 12:17:55 PM
A couple of names which have caused me to wonder "What the hell were they thinking":

White Settlement, Texas
Villejuif, France
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: agentsteel53 on June 21, 2010, 12:19:21 PM
Quote from: J N Winkler on June 21, 2010, 12:17:55 PM
A couple of names which have caused me to wonder "What the hell were they thinking":

White Settlement, Texas
Villejuif, France

is White really a reference to the race, as opposed to, say, Captain Theophilus J. White's Merry Band of Explorers, Land Squatters, and Printers of Spurious Private Currency?

and the French - is that "village of Jews"?  My French is pretty rusty.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Duke87 on June 21, 2010, 12:55:32 PM
Going a bit of a different route, here's a couple of redundant names...

First, Table Mesa, CO. "Mesa" is Spanish for "Table", so we've got "Table Table".

Second, in the town of Fishkill, NY (which is kinda funny in and of itself), there is a stream called Fishkill Creek. Here's the thing: "kill" is Dutch for "creek". It's Fish Creek Creek!
And then you have the Wallkill River ("Wall Creek River") - an aquatic "Street Road".
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: hm insulators on July 01, 2010, 07:39:51 PM
Quote from: Duke87 on June 21, 2010, 12:55:32 PM
Going a bit of a different route, here's a couple of redundant names...

First, Table Mesa, CO. "Mesa" is Spanish for "Table", so we've got "Table Table".






There's a Table Mesa Road exit off I-17 north of Phoenix.

Another redundant name: The La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. "Brea" is Spanish for "tar," so translated, it would be "The The Tar Tar Pits." :spin:
Title: MSN: More funny town names
Post by: txstateends on November 09, 2011, 04:49:08 PM
http://www.bing.com/travel/content/search?q=More+Funny+Town+Names%3a+Tightwad%2c+Mo.&cid=msn1200018&form=HPTRAV

Tightwad, MO
Chicken, AK
Hell, Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands)
Monkey's Eyebrow, KY
Crapo, MD
Hot Coffee, MS
Knockemstiff, OH
Hell, MI
Cut and Shoot, TX
Lizard Lick, NC
Title: Re: MSN: More funny town names
Post by: 1995hoo on November 09, 2011, 05:01:00 PM
Everybody's heard of Fucking, Austria, and Dildo, Newfoundland. But the signs in Fucking are made that much funnier by the sign underneath, which translates as "Please–not so fast!"

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snopes.com%2Fphotos%2Fsigns%2Fgraphics%2Faustria2.jpg&hash=bff0c7cfa384a3f383246b75b13b8e00041c80c7)
Title: Re: MSN: More funny town names
Post by: nexus73 on November 09, 2011, 07:22:58 PM
Don't forget Phuket in Thailand!

Oregon's funny town names: Drain.  Boring.  Brothers.  Sisters.  Baker.  Talent.  Amity.  Sublimity.  We also have Detroit and Sagninaw for the automotive-inclined folks.  Go to Florence and see all the mileage signposts pointing to the other Florences in the world.  North Bend is not north of Bend.  Coquille's pronunciation by people not from our area usually gives them away.  Get your power in Powers, home of the Powers Cruisers and no, we're not talking about naval units, we're talking timber cruisers. 

Utah still has the best one.  Beaver.  It's in Beaver County.  The high school is the Beaver Beavers.  Runnerup goes to Millard, which is in Fillmore County.

Are there any orange groves left in Orange County CA?  Humor is where you find it!

Rick   
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Alps on November 09, 2011, 09:04:48 PM
Now y'all can look back and see what names have already come up. One of my favorites from recent travels: Accident, MD. Stay safe!
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Takumi on November 09, 2011, 09:23:01 PM
It's not incorporated, but Skinquarter, VA has always been funny to me.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: formulanone on November 10, 2011, 07:44:51 AM
Quote from: nexus73 on November 09, 2011, 07:22:58 PM
Utah still has the best one.  Beaver.  It's in Beaver County.  The high school is the Beaver Beavers.

Washington also has a Beaver between Forks and Port Angeles on the 101. Didn't recall any prominent signage, though. Our family was going to the Hoh Rain Forest (http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/visiting-the-hoh.htm) (pronounced "hoe").

Florida doesn't have many funny town names, although Frostproof was named because it seemed to be a good place to grow citrus. But the winter of 1895 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Freeze) proved them wrong.

There's Duck Key (not really a town, but quite large and independent enough) along Overseas Highway towards Key West. I feel like a kid pronouncing it.

The city of Boca Raton translates to "Rat's Mouth" in Spanish. Kind of disappointed the town logo nor high school team uses the rat as a mascot. Even more odd is a private housing community (with some nice lots of land) called Boca Grande, which translates to "Big Mouth"...which is apt for a couple of people from the area, based on experience.

There's a Smut Eye (or Smuteye), Alabama...here's a story (http://smuteye.com/history-smuteye.htm) about it.

Passed through a Homer in Ohio, along OH 661.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: DeaconG on November 12, 2011, 12:07:14 PM
Quote from: formulanone on November 10, 2011, 07:44:51 AM
Quote from: nexus73 on November 09, 2011, 07:22:58 PM
Utah still has the best one.  Beaver.  It's in Beaver County.  The high school is the Beaver Beavers.

Washington also has a Beaver between Forks and Port Angeles on the 101. Didn't recall any prominent signage, though. Our family was going to the Hoh Rain Forest (http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/visiting-the-hoh.htm) (pronounced "hoe").

Florida doesn't have many funny town names, although Frostproof was named because it seemed to be a good place to grow citrus. But the winter of 1895 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Freeze) proved them wrong.

There's Duck Key (not really a town, but quite large and independent enough) along Overseas Highway towards Key West. I feel like a kid pronouncing it.

The city of Boca Raton translates to "Rat's Mouth" in Spanish. Kind of disappointed the town logo nor high school team uses the rat as a mascot. Even more odd is a private housing community (with some nice lots of land) called Boca Grande, which translates to "Big Mouth"...which is apt for a couple of people from the area, based on experience.

There's a Smut Eye (or Smuteye), Alabama...here's a story (http://smuteye.com/history-smuteye.htm) about it.

Passed through a Homer in Ohio, along OH 661.

I have cousins that live in Two Egg (on SR 69 between Greenwood and Grand Ridge).

And I always drive by Faver Dykes State Park on the way up there! (St. Augustine)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: roadman65 on November 12, 2011, 06:42:09 PM
Quote from: yanksfan6129 on June 11, 2010, 05:08:28 PM
Anyone ever visit Buttzville, NJ??

Home of Hot Dog Johnnies the best damn hot dog place around!

Ty Ty, GA
Intercourse, PA (up the street is Bird In Hand)  Dirty minds might make a dirty joke here lol!
Cuckoo, VA
Micanopy, FL
Kissimmee, FL (Most mispronounce it as Kiss a me)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Brian556 on November 12, 2011, 10:48:42 PM
Belcherville, TX. Uuuuuuuhhhhhhhh!
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: route29 on November 13, 2011, 12:10:56 AM
Quote from: formulanone on November 10, 2011, 07:44:51 AMThere's a Smut Eye (or Smuteye), Alabama...here's a story (http://smuteye.com/history-smuteye.htm) about it.

Lots of funny names in Alabama.  Here's a few more:
Bug Tussle
Slapout
Weogufka
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: PAHighways on November 13, 2011, 09:42:31 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on November 12, 2011, 06:42:09 PMIntercourse, PA (up the street is Bird In Hand)  Dirty minds might make a dirty joke here lol!

As is Blue Ball.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: US71 on November 13, 2011, 10:37:26 AM
Peculiar, MO

Should I give a shout-out to Yellville, AR ? ;)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: SteveG1988 on November 13, 2011, 12:22:32 PM
Your dirty minds on intercourse PA:


Also, Cheesequake NJ....sounds like a slang term for flatulance caused by cheese.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.visitusa.com%2Fnewjersey%2Fnew-jersey-state-park-images%2FCheesequake-State-Park%2F53f2ba33-2656-48ce-800a-e2853499007c.jpg&hash=0d69ae037447fec45d8eba166e2fe65d2159ea9b)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Icodec on December 03, 2011, 12:49:44 PM
While traveling to St Louis, I went through the town of Benld, IL.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: roadman65 on December 03, 2011, 05:48:56 PM
How about Reddick, FL.  On the original Exxon fold maps, it was hyphened between the two Ds and made on two lines due to space limitiations making it look like a colorful body part.  I remember bringing it in to school to show my class mates as we had a teacher named something similar to what Exxon printed.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: oscar on December 03, 2011, 06:49:37 PM
Quote from: txstateends on November 09, 2011, 04:49:08 PM
Chicken, AK

Local legend has it that town residents wanted to name it for the local game bird, but nobody knew how to spell "ptarmigan". 

For weird and appalling, there's the town near Kirkland Lake in northern Ontario that clings to the name Swastika, which appears on highway signs and the local post office.  (Yeah, it was named for a local mine, and both the mine and the town were so named long before the Nazis gave swastikas a bad name.  Still....)

Asbestos, Quebec still lives, and I made sure to send some postcards from there when I visited back in September.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: 1995hoo on December 04, 2011, 09:30:57 AM
There's a Bumpass, Virginia, near Lake Anna (not too far from the epicenter of the earthquake earlier this year). The name is pronounced like "bump us," as if you told someone to hit your vehicle while parallel parking.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Scott5114 on December 04, 2011, 11:08:46 AM
Potential use for these silly town names: I like to add them to the weather app on my mom's iPhone when she's not looking. The look on her face when the weather for "Bumpass, VA" comes up is just too priceless :spin:
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: J N Winkler on December 04, 2011, 02:11:27 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on June 21, 2010, 12:19:21 PM
Quote from: J N Winkler on June 21, 2010, 12:17:55 PMA couple of names which have caused me to wonder "What the hell were they thinking":

White Settlement, Texas
Villejuif, France

is White really a reference to the race, as opposed to, say, Captain Theophilus J. White's Merry Band of Explorers, Land Squatters, and Printers of Spurious Private Currency?

Yes, says Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Settlement,_TX), though originally in the sense "This is not to be confused with the Native American settlement, which is nearby," not "non-whites not welcome here."  The potential misinterpretation of "White Settlement" has already prompted an unsuccessful attempt to rename it "West Settlement."

Quoteand the French - is that "village of Jews"?  My French is pretty rusty.

Yes, that is exactly what it means.  Per Wikipedia, the origin of the name is obscure (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villejuif), but it dates from 1119 at least.  One theory holds that it means "estate of the Jews" while another (the more widely accepted these days) has it as "estate of Juvius" (a Gallo-Roman landowner).
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: hm insulators on December 12, 2011, 03:57:30 PM
Quote from: oscar on December 03, 2011, 06:49:37 PM
Quote from: txstateends on November 09, 2011, 04:49:08 PM
Chicken, AK



Asbestos, Quebec still lives, and I made sure to send some postcards from there when I visited back in September.

Maybe that's the inspiration for the fictional town called "Port Asbestos" on a Canadian TV program called "The Red Green Show." And all this time, I thought it was one of those "joke names" dreamed up by some TV producer.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: hm insulators on December 12, 2011, 04:00:11 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on December 04, 2011, 09:30:57 AM
There's a Bumpass, Virginia, near Lake Anna (not too far from the epicenter of the earthquake earlier this year). The name is pronounced like "bump us," as if you told someone to hit your vehicle while parallel parking.

There's also a Bumpass Hell in California. It's not a town but a spot in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: bassoon1986 on December 13, 2011, 11:02:58 AM
Quote from: Brian556 on November 12, 2011, 10:48:42 PM
Belcherville, TX. Uuuuuuuhhhhhhhh!


And a plain ole Belcher in Louisiana. the new I 49 will have it as an exit i think
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Takumi on December 29, 2011, 11:41:01 PM
Goose Pimple Junction, VA
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Ian on December 30, 2011, 01:28:32 PM
Quote from: bassoon1986 on December 13, 2011, 11:02:58 AM
Quote from: Brian556 on November 12, 2011, 10:48:42 PM
Belcherville, TX. Uuuuuuuhhhhhhhh!


And a plain ole Belcher in Louisiana. the new I 49 will have it as an exit i think

That reminds me! I passed right near Belchertown, Massachusetts on Wednesday.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: empirestate on December 30, 2011, 02:13:46 PM
Every time I see the control cities for Dumas and Pampa from I-40 in Amarillo, I remember my friend's comment..."What is a Dumb-ass Pampa, anyway?"
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: hobsini2 on December 31, 2011, 07:50:04 PM
My favorite city name is What Cheer IA (east of DSM on I-80). Sidenote - Favorite high school nickname (also happens to be my fantasy football team's name) is Hooker Horny Toads in Hooker OK.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: empirestate on December 31, 2011, 10:26:21 PM
Quote from: hobsini2 on December 31, 2011, 07:50:04 PM
My favorite city name is What Cheer IA (east of DSM on I-80). Sidenote - Favorite high school nickname (also happens to be my fantasy football team's name) is Hooker Horny Toads in Hooker OK.

I'm in Hershey as we speak...I'm not even going to mention what I think their Little League team should be named...
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: kphoger on January 06, 2012, 01:44:25 PM
Wow, I can't believe NONE of the ones I came up with had been mentioned yet!

French Lick, Indiana
Notrees, Texas
Circleback, Texas
Funk, Nebraska
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (Seriously, have I missed something, did NOBODY mention this one?)

By the way, the town of Hooker (OK) has/had a business named "Hooker Hardware Co."  I guess in case she breaks!  :-D :happy: :clap:
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: hobsini2 on January 07, 2012, 01:16:44 AM
Quote from: kphoger on January 06, 2012, 01:44:25 PM
Wow, I can't believe NONE of the ones I came up with had been mentioned yet!

French Lick, Indiana
Notrees, Texas
Circleback, Texas
Funk, Nebraska
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (Seriously, have I missed something, did NOBODY mention this one?)

By the way, the town of Hooker (OK) has/had a business named "Hooker Hardware Co."  I guess in case she breaks!  :-D :happy: :clap:
I completely forgot Funk, NE even though I have driven thru there.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: kphoger on January 17, 2012, 03:17:28 PM
Oh, wow, nobody has mentioned.....

BIGFOOT ???

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=29.058758,-98.999906&spn=0.000038,0.019205&t=m&z=16&vpsrc=6&layer=c&cbll=29.058707,-99.004102&panoid=r1E6jaieea5Mv-UWLAtBQw&cbp=12,79.47,,0,2.12 (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=29.058758,-98.999906&spn=0.000038,0.019205&t=m&z=16&vpsrc=6&layer=c&cbll=29.058707,-99.004102&panoid=r1E6jaieea5Mv-UWLAtBQw&cbp=12,79.47,,0,2.12)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: nyratk1 on January 18, 2012, 05:15:21 AM
Quote from: Duke87 on June 10, 2010, 12:37:35 PM
Pennsylvania is the king of funny-named towns. Too many to name. Effort, Kunkletown, Moon, Pillow, Lititz, Gaskill, Jersey Shore, Eighty Four...

As for other states, there's Tuckahoe, NY and Cockeysville, MD



There's two Tuckahoes - one in Westchester County and one that's out in Suffolk County in the Hamptons.

As for LI locations, I think people would find Hicksville, Islip (eye-slip) and Speonk funny (spee-ahnk).
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: empirestate on January 18, 2012, 11:12:07 AM
^^^I'd laugh at Yaphank a lot sooner than I would at Hicksville.  :-D (I guess since I've known a few people with the surname "Hicks", my mind just goes there first.)

Speaking of Long Island, you also have such gems as Aquebogue and Arshamonaque. And somebody please, there's Quogue, and then next door there's...Qioque? or Quiogue? I've seen both spellings within the same article on the place!
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: nyratk1 on January 19, 2012, 04:31:24 AM
Quote from: empirestate on January 18, 2012, 11:12:07 AM
^^^I'd laugh at Yaphank a lot sooner than I would at Hicksville.  :-D (I guess since I've known a few people with the surname "Hicks", my mind just goes there first.)

Speaking of Long Island, you also have such gems as Aquebogue and Arshamonaque. And somebody please, there's Quogue, and then next door there's...Qioque? or Quiogue? I've seen both spellings within the same article on the place!

Road signs on Montauk Highway say Quiogue.

And I guess living just right next to Yaphank has desensitized me. :(
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: hobsini2 on January 23, 2012, 07:38:27 AM
I noticed no one has mentioned "Big Ugly WV" in Lincoln County.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: webfil on February 25, 2013, 01:53:59 PM
I just found out that Saint-Léonard borough in Montréal used to bear the name Municipalité de la Paroisse de Saint-Léonard-de-Port-Maurice from the 1850s until 1962, when I-don't-know-who found out that Cité de Saint-Léonard (City of Saint-Léonard) was sufficient.

This 55 character length is comparable to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch...
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: djsinco on February 25, 2013, 03:18:33 PM
Quote from: corco on June 10, 2010, 02:22:23 AM
Lewiston, Idaho.

I'll let you all figure that one out

It is across the river from Clarkston, WA, for context.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: agentsteel53 on February 25, 2013, 03:36:15 PM
Quote from: djsinco on February 25, 2013, 03:18:33 PM
Quote from: corco on June 10, 2010, 02:22:23 AM
Lewiston, Idaho.

I'll let you all figure that one out

It is across the river from Clarkston, WA, for context.

why is that funny?  seems like a perfectly reasonable historic naming.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: corco on February 25, 2013, 03:37:32 PM
I honestly can't remember why I said that was a funny-named town 2.5 years ago. There's a non-zero chance I was joking.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: NE2 on February 25, 2013, 03:48:30 PM
Joliet and Romeoville hurr hurr
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: KEVIN_224 on February 25, 2013, 03:54:04 PM
Other than Lewis and Clark, I'm stumped. The twin city/town of Lewiston, Maine is Auburn for comparison.

I know there's a town called Intercourse, PA.

Connecticut has Cockaponsett State Forest, either in eastern New Haven or western Middlesex County.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: kphoger on February 25, 2013, 03:59:02 PM
Quote from: NE2 on February 25, 2013, 03:48:30 PM
Joliet and Romeoville hurr hurr

Joliet was originally called Juliet.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on February 25, 2013, 04:18:38 PM
Thanks to who has bumped this thread.

Here is one which doesn't mean anything in English, but it's pretty hilarious for Spanish speakers like me:
Joder, NE (to f**k).
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: agentsteel53 on February 25, 2013, 04:30:13 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 25, 2013, 04:18:38 PM
Thanks to who has bumped this thread.

Here is one which doesn't mean anything in English, but it's pretty hilarious for Spanish speakers like me:
Joder, NE (to f**k).

I really hope that they become sister cities with that one place in Austria.

to complete the triangle, we need a town called Ficken in a Spanish-speaking country.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: sbeaver44 on February 25, 2013, 04:31:06 PM
Montgomery, WV and Smithers, WV are across from each other on the Kanawha River, connected by WV Route 6.

I always liked the names Forty Fort, PA; Tower City, PA; Pillow, PA; King of Prussia, PA; Horseheads, NY; Bala Cynwyd, PA.

But my all time favorite has got to be Burnt Cabins, PA.  Of course, there is a story about that name here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnt_Cabins,_Pennsylvania (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnt_Cabins,_Pennsylvania)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: kphoger on February 25, 2013, 04:32:22 PM
Quote from: sbeaver44 on February 25, 2013, 04:31:06 PM
Tower City, PA

Am I the only one who doesn't get the joke?  What's humorous about the name Tower City?
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: sbeaver44 on February 25, 2013, 04:45:04 PM
There are no tall buildings in Tower City, nor anything resembling a tower.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: J N Winkler on February 25, 2013, 04:48:02 PM
Quote from: kphoger on January 06, 2012, 01:44:25 PMWow, I can't believe NONE of the ones I came up with had been mentioned yet!

French Lick, Indiana
Notrees, Texas
Circleback, Texas
Funk, Nebraska
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (Seriously, have I missed something, did NOBODY mention this one?)

Panhandle Texas has other descriptive town names:  Brownfield, Levelland, . . .

I don't know if T&C has been mentioned on the AARoads forum, but the story of its naming (from a 1950's gameshow) has been told at least once on MTR.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: webfil on February 25, 2013, 05:00:40 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 25, 2013, 04:18:38 PM
Thanks to who has bumped this thread.

Sorry about that. I searched for one specific, recent thread, but only came up with this one.

See also that one : Odd/Funny/Interesting City Names (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=398)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: jp the roadgeek on February 25, 2013, 08:11:21 PM
Assonet, MA
Cummington, MA
Little Compton, RI (only funny because it's the total opposite of the other Compton)
Tress Shop, KY
Gay Head, Martha's Vineyard.
Ware, MA
Lake Mooselookmegantic, ME
Willow Street, PA
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: yanksfan6129 on February 25, 2013, 09:11:58 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on February 25, 2013, 08:11:21 PM
Gay Head, Martha's Vineyard.
Ware, MA

Except it's not Gay Head anymore. It's Aquinnah.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Duke87 on February 25, 2013, 10:28:23 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on February 25, 2013, 03:36:15 PM
Quote from: djsinco on February 25, 2013, 03:18:33 PM
Quote from: corco on June 10, 2010, 02:22:23 AM
Lewiston, Idaho.

I'll let you all figure that one out

It is across the river from Clarkston, WA, for context.

why is that funny?  seems like a perfectly reasonable historic naming.

Has nothing to do with Clarkston. Say it aloud. "Louis done eyed a ho".
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: corco on February 25, 2013, 10:46:22 PM
There we go. You win the internet!
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Road Hog on February 26, 2013, 12:27:40 AM
Bald Knob, AR
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: NE2 on February 26, 2013, 12:30:27 AM
Wash., Dick.
:bigass:
Title: Re: MSN: More funny town names
Post by: DandyDan on February 26, 2013, 09:06:23 AM
Quote from: nexus73 on November 09, 2011, 07:22:58 PM
Utah still has the best one.  Beaver. 

Nebraska has both Beaver City and Beaver Crossing.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: agentsteel53 on February 26, 2013, 12:51:56 PM
Quote from: Duke87 on February 25, 2013, 10:28:23 PM
Has nothing to do with Clarkston. Say it aloud. "Louis done eyed a ho".

in that case we've got Jerome, Emmett, Rupert, etc... all eying a ho.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: cpzilliacus on February 26, 2013, 12:59:46 PM
Accident, Maryland
Akers Acres, Maryland
California, Maryland
Flintstone, Maryland
Funkstown, Maryland
Ijamsville, Maryland
Pinto, Maryland
Shookstown, Maryland
Texas, Maryland

Scalp Level, Pennsylvania

Disputanta, Virginia
Lucketts, Virginia
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: djsinco on February 26, 2013, 01:53:16 PM
Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ has to up there in the most bizarre category.

Did you even notice that if the origin of a town name is unclear, most usually people say it "is an Indian word."
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: kphoger on February 26, 2013, 03:44:02 PM
Quote from: DandyDan on February 26, 2013, 09:06:23 AM
Quote from: nexus73 on November 09, 2011, 07:22:58 PM
Utah still has the best one.  Beaver. 

Nebraska has both Beaver City and Beaver Crossing.

I don't know if anybody realized this or not, but the beaver is actually an animal.  Placenames with beaver in them generally stop being humorous around the ninth grade.

Unless there's one out there called Wet Beaver.  'Cause that would just be awesome.

Oh, and sports teams named Lady Trojans never stop being funny.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: cpzilliacus on February 26, 2013, 06:04:28 PM
Quote from: djsinco on February 26, 2013, 01:53:16 PM
Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ has to up there in the most bizarre category.

There's at least one sign on the northbound side of the  GSP for Hohokus (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Ho-Ho-Kus,+NJ&hl=en&ll=40.994443,-74.072249&spn=0.009118,0.01929&sll=38.804821,-77.236966&sspn=2.392779,4.938354&t=h&hnear=Ho-Ho-Kus,+Bergen,+New+Jersey&z=16&layer=c&cbll=40.994571,-74.072208&panoid=RnYUSDeyjlOupWtZQkKKwg&cbp=12,22.22,,0,1.3) (not sure why the dashes were left out). 

Quote from: djsinco on February 26, 2013, 01:53:16 PM
Did you even notice that if the origin of a town name is unclear, most usually people say it "is an Indian word."

There may be one southbound too, but  I have not noticed it, and it's not at this interchange, since there's no exit for southbound traffic.

Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: roadman65 on February 26, 2013, 06:15:33 PM
Rehrersburg Pa if it has not been mentioned.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: djsinco on February 26, 2013, 06:23:51 PM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on February 26, 2013, 06:04:28 PM
Quote from: djsinco on February 26, 2013, 01:53:16 PM
Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ has to up there in the most bizarre category.

There's at least one sign on the northbound side of the  GSP for Hohokus (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Ho-Ho-Kus,+NJ&hl=en&ll=40.994443,-74.072249&spn=0.009118,0.01929&sll=38.804821,-77.236966&sspn=2.392779,4.938354&t=h&hnear=Ho-Ho-Kus,+Bergen,+New+Jersey&z=16&layer=c&cbll=40.994571,-74.072208&panoid=RnYUSDeyjlOupWtZQkKKwg&cbp=12,22.22,,0,1.3) (not sure why the dashes were left out). 

Quote from: djsinco on February 26, 2013, 01:53:16 PM
Did you even notice that if the origin of a town name is unclear, most usually people say it "is an Indian word."

There may be one southbound too, but  I have not noticed it, and it's not at this interchange, since there's no exit for southbound traffic.

Leave it to NJ to be so confusing; there is Ho-Ho-Kus, although many refer to it as Hohukus. There was a town actually named Hohokus, NJ, which changed its' name to Mahwah in 1944.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Roadsguy on February 27, 2013, 08:21:41 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on February 26, 2013, 06:15:33 PM
Rehrersburg Pa if it has not been mentioned.

Womelsdorf (further down PA 419) is funnier. When my grandpa mentioned that we were going there when I was little, I thought he was making it up. :P
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: BamaZeus on February 27, 2013, 01:09:51 PM
I don't think I missed it already, but I'm a fan of Walla Walla, Washington.  Of course, that's the home of the Acme Vacuum Cleaner Company and Ace Novelty Company, for whom Daffy Duck is a salesman.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x65404_foghorn-leghorn-daffy-duck-the-high_shortfilms#.US5LefLgKgs (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x65404_foghorn-leghorn-daffy-duck-the-high_shortfilms#.US5LefLgKgs)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: empirestate on February 27, 2013, 01:42:13 PM
Quote from: BamaZeus on February 27, 2013, 01:09:51 PM
I don't think I missed it already, but I'm a fan of Walla Walla, Washington.  Of course, that's the home of the Acme Vacuum Cleaner Company and Ace Novelty Company, for whom Daffy Duck is a salesman.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x65404_foghorn-leghorn-daffy-duck-the-high_shortfilms#.US5LefLgKgs (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x65404_foghorn-leghorn-daffy-duck-the-high_shortfilms#.US5LefLgKgs)

Don't forget the Wishy-Washy Washing Machine Co.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: djsinco on February 27, 2013, 02:16:24 PM
Possibly no one has any interest in this story, but that won't stop me. As Steve said, I am not here to please anyone.

I picked up a load from the K&B Distribution Center in Phoenix. There were several stops at various stores, the last of which was the K&B store in Walla Walla. As they were unloading the truck, I saw a few cases of "Jenga Blocks" were part of the order. I had never heard of them before, and commented to the manager. He motioned across the road, and said, "they are made right there!" Sure enough, there was a medium sized industrial building with a big sign that said "Jenga."

This is the way we distribute products in our country. Those boxes traveled from Walla Walla to Phoenix, then back on my truck through northern CA and OR before being delivered right across the street from where they came!
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: roadman65 on February 27, 2013, 05:05:06 PM
Quote from: BamaZeus on February 27, 2013, 01:09:51 PM
I don't think I missed it already, but I'm a fan of Walla Walla, Washington.  Of course, that's the home of the Acme Vacuum Cleaner Company and Ace Novelty Company, for whom Daffy Duck is a salesman.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x65404_foghorn-leghorn-daffy-duck-the-high_shortfilms#.US5LefLgKgs (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x65404_foghorn-leghorn-daffy-duck-the-high_shortfilms#.US5LefLgKgs)
That is probably where WZAZ  TV originated along with the 555 exchange numbers to start the 7 digit phone number, and maybe the swinging kitchen doors that is used in TV homes are mad there.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Dr Frankenstein on February 28, 2013, 08:29:06 PM
Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ and Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, QC should become sister cities.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: djsinco on March 02, 2013, 02:21:24 PM
D'Lo, MS. Name coined by train engineers who created the contraction when commenting on that "Damned low spot" in the tracks.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: cjk374 on March 03, 2013, 09:48:36 AM
Funny towns in Lousisana:

Waterproof:  Located on US 65 south of Tallulah, right next to the Mississippi River levee.   :spin:
Yellow Bayou
Ajax
Plain Dealing
Latex
Frogmore
Jigger
Shongaloo
Taterville
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: kphoger on March 05, 2013, 05:02:40 PM
Quote from: cjk374 on March 03, 2013, 09:48:36 AM
Funny towns in Lousisana:
Latex

Please, please tell me their school mascot is the Trojans.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Big John on March 05, 2013, 05:27:58 PM
Quote from: kphoger on March 05, 2013, 05:02:40 PM
Quote from: cjk374 on March 03, 2013, 09:48:36 AM
Funny towns in Lousisana:
Latex

Please, please tell me their school mascot is the Trojans.
and in Texas,  named for LA and TEX, like Texarkana is named.  There was a Jefferson Forks school there
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: 1995hoo on March 10, 2013, 08:40:10 AM
Jerry's Nose, Newfoundland, is on the Port-au-Port Peninsula. I think it recently consolidated with two other nearby towns, however.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: SP Cook on March 10, 2013, 09:28:22 AM
Quote from: kphoger on March 05, 2013, 05:02:40 PM
Quote from: cjk374 on March 03, 2013, 09:48:36 AM
Funny towns in Lousisana:
Latex

Please, please tell me their school mascot is the Trojans.

Trojans are actually made in Troy.  Troy, Alabama.  Both Troy State University and the local high school are the Trojans.

Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Stephane Dumas on March 10, 2013, 03:15:50 PM
Quote from: Dr Frankenstein on February 28, 2013, 08:29:06 PM
Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ and Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, QC should become sister cities.

Now then you mention it, strange then Saint-Louis-du Ha!Ha! isn't close to the Bay of the Ha!-Ha! A bay of the Saguenay river.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: civilmaher on March 20, 2013, 02:07:04 PM
Almost anything between Philly and Allentown...

Hosensack
Schwenksville
Bala Cynwyd
Upper Black Eddy
Perkiomen
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: empirestate on March 20, 2013, 02:56:11 PM
Quote from: civilmaher on March 20, 2013, 02:07:04 PM
Almost anything between Philly and Allentown...

Hosensack
Schwenksville
Bala Cynwyd
Upper Black Eddy
Perkiomen

Why limit to a specific portion of PA, when the state as a whole offers such bounty? For example, Jim Thorpe...because that's obviously less weird than the previous name, Mauch Chunk.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: DeaconG on March 24, 2013, 11:49:46 AM
Quote from: civilmaher on March 20, 2013, 02:07:04 PM
Almost anything between Philly and Allentown...

Hosensack
Schwenksville
Bala Cynwyd
Upper Black Eddy
Perkiomen

Bala Cynwyd is right across the county line from where I lived in Philly...I would go shopping at the Acme there (now Albertson's) every time I could come home on visits.

The last name is pronounced "Kin-wid".
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: english si on March 24, 2013, 03:56:25 PM
Yes - that's simply Welsh orthography - or at least slightly distorted Welsh orthography.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: hotdogPi on August 10, 2013, 09:30:37 PM
Sandwich, MA

Florida, MA
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: vtk on August 10, 2013, 10:10:08 PM
Not a town, but some people think it's funny that we have Hancock County and Wood county, and bonus: they're adjacent!

Fredonia, OH.  Sounds like the name of a fictional kingdon imagined by a boy named Fred.

South Charleston, OH. What's funny is people call it South Chuck for short.  See also: West Jeff.

Peebles, OH.  It's in southern Ohio, where Peebles is the name of a fairly prolific grocery store chain.  There is no Peebles in Peebles.

Wonderland, OH.  Formerly a settlement near Gahanna, now mostly abandoned. There's a church, and there's some kind of light industry that I think deals with rocks which has claimed and fenced off most of Wonderland.  There's a metaphor in here somewhere.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: roadman65 on August 10, 2013, 10:12:42 PM
Yonkers, NY always struck me as an odd name. 
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Thing 342 on August 10, 2013, 10:28:07 PM
I have always thought Newport News, Va was an odd name for a city, especially compared to the rather English names of the surrounding cities.
Round O, SC
Ordinary, VA
Due West, SC
Medicine Hat, AB
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: roadman65 on August 10, 2013, 10:42:01 PM
Newport News sounds like the name of a Newspaper.  I know that it got its name from Christopher Newport, but where did the news come in?
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: 1995hoo on August 11, 2013, 01:27:09 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on August 10, 2013, 10:12:42 PM
Yonkers, NY always struck me as an odd name. 

It's a corruption of the Dutch word "Jonker," which was a sort of title given to the guy who owned that land back when the small town on an island nearby was called New Amsterdam.

Regarding Newport News, nobody's sure about "News," but the Wikipedia article about the city has a pretty good summary of various theories.


Other goofy names:

–Wank, Germany

–Crapstone, England

–Chipping Sodbury, England

–East Breast, Scotland

–Shitterton, England

–Penistone, England (pronounced PENNIS-tun)

–Several places in the US and Canada use the word "Negro" in place of an earlier term that is nowadays sometimes deemed offensive to black people (example: Negro Bill Canyon in Utah).
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: NE2 on August 11, 2013, 02:11:44 PM
holy crap Scunthorpe
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on August 12, 2013, 05:48:44 AM
It should be twinned with that Fucking village in Austria.

And there is no town called Cuñt in Spain, they have overlooked the "i" of Cunit.

(And there is no town called genius either. I had to misspell the c-word with the typical Spanish letter since I wasn't insulting anybody)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: hotdogPi on August 12, 2013, 12:58:14 PM
Mexico, ME: directly on US 2

Mexico, NY: directly on NY 3

Alanland, JK: directly on NE2
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on August 13, 2013, 06:05:21 AM
More profan locations:
Puta, Azerbaijan (Spanish for "slut")
Zorra, ON, Canada (Spanish for "bitch")
Shit, Iran
Poo, Spain

A few American placenames in the old continent:
Pennsylvanien, Denmark
Kalifornien, Germany
California, an estate near Barcelona, Spain
Amerika, Netherlands
Philadelphia, England, UK (Named after the American one)
New York, England, UK (It's North of Boston, the town that named the city in MA)

And a few "short" ones:
Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei.
Sri Jayawadenapura Kotte, capital of Sri Lanka.
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, town in Wales, UK.
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu, hill in New Zealand.
And the ceremonial name of Bangkok, capital of Thailand, is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: english si on August 13, 2013, 06:59:07 AM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on August 13, 2013, 06:05:21 AMLlanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, town in Wales, UK.
No - the village is called Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll, it is the station that has the ridiculously long name as a Victorian marketing gimmick.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: 1995hoo on August 13, 2013, 07:55:02 AM
Then you have Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg in Massachusetts. It's also known as Lake Webster (Webster is also the name of a nearby town).
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on August 13, 2013, 01:01:20 PM
Quote from: english si on August 13, 2013, 06:59:07 AM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on August 13, 2013, 06:05:21 AMLlanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, town in Wales, UK.
No - the village is called Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll, it is the station that has the ridiculously long name as a Victorian marketing gimmick.

Well, AFAIK the short form is signed, sometimes without spaces, but the official form is the long one.

And I forgot the true longest placename in the world, at least when pronounced. It is in my country and I've been to all of its neighborhoods, the last one fell in late July. Its name is Zaragozaaaaaaaaaaaaaa... (A load of a's here) ...aaaaa. This is perfect to couple with the Chinese province of Shaaaaaaaa... (Again, another ton of a's here) ...aaaaaanxi.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: english si on August 13, 2013, 01:27:20 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on August 13, 2013, 01:01:20 PM
Quote from: english si on August 13, 2013, 06:59:07 AM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on August 13, 2013, 06:05:21 AMLlanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, town in Wales, UK.
No - the village is called Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll, it is the station that has the ridiculously long name as a Victorian marketing gimmick.
Well, AFAIK the short form is signed, sometimes without spaces, but the official form is the long one.
You knew wrong about the official form and I corrected the two common errors you made (including that it is a town).

The 'short form' is the official (and original) name. Only the station has the long name officially.

The actual short forms are "Llanfairpwll", "Llanfair PG" or just "Llanfair".
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: NE2 on August 13, 2013, 02:00:14 PM
Not funny.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: agentsteel53 on August 13, 2013, 03:30:14 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on August 13, 2013, 06:05:21 AM
More profan locations:
Puta, Azerbaijan (Spanish for "slut")
Zorra, ON, Canada (Spanish for "bitch")
Shit, Iran
Poo, Spain

there's a town in Spain called Feces de Abajo, from what I can tell.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: 1995hoo on August 13, 2013, 03:41:07 PM
Check out this map:

Vaguely Rude Place Names of the World (http://maps.geotastic.org/rude/)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on August 13, 2013, 03:57:01 PM
Oh, and I didn't posted the best one:
Obama, Japan. Yeah, it's true, google it.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: mUtcd33 on August 13, 2013, 08:34:26 PM
We have a ton of them here in PA:

Virginville
Bird-In-Hand
Moon Township
Zelienople
Hokendauqua
Strong
Jim Thorpe
Peach Bottom
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Molandfreak on August 13, 2013, 11:05:26 PM
Quote from: mUtcd33 on August 13, 2013, 08:34:26 PM
We have a ton of them here in PA:

Virginville
Bird-In-Hand
Moon Township
Zelienople
Hokendauqua
Strong
Jim Thorpe
Peach Bottom
King of Prussia
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: hotdogPi on August 14, 2013, 05:40:32 PM
Triangle, New York
Las Vegas, New Mexico
Ã..., Norway
Lion's Head, Ontario
Walla Walla, Washington
Grand Junction, Colorado (not really considered grand)
Anaconda, Montana
Jackpot, Nevada
Alliance, Nebraska
Penguin, Tasmania
Alanland, Delaware

Calvin, Oklahoma
Hobbs1, New Mexico

Brady, Texas
Bunch, Oklahoma

1 There is no town called "Hobbes".
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Molandfreak on August 14, 2013, 05:49:18 PM
DISH, Texas. (yes, you spell it with all caps).
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: DSS5 on August 14, 2013, 09:24:17 PM
Surprised Weed, California hasn't been mentioned. It even has a Weed High School.

Another good one is Hell for Certain, Kentucky.

The NC Outer Banks is home to the towns of Duck and Kill Devil Hills.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Brian556 on August 14, 2013, 09:45:52 PM
Flushing, NY
Fish Kill, NY
Krum, TX (some people think this is funny)
Fucking, England
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: DSS5 on August 14, 2013, 10:11:49 PM
Quote from: Brian556 on August 14, 2013, 09:45:52 PM
Flushing, NY
Fish Kill, NY
Krum, TX (some people think this is funny)
Fucking, England
That reminds me of a story I read where PETA tried to get Fishkill to change it's name, even though it was actually just Dutch for "Fish Creek."
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: national highway 1 on August 14, 2013, 10:20:13 PM
Great Kills, Staten Island, NY (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Kills,_Staten_Island)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: agentsteel53 on August 14, 2013, 10:40:32 PM
Quote from: Brian556 on August 14, 2013, 09:45:52 PM
Fucking, England

okay, I'll bite.  where is this?
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: NE2 on August 14, 2013, 11:14:15 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 14, 2013, 10:40:32 PM
Quote from: Brian556 on August 14, 2013, 09:45:52 PM
Fucking, England

okay, I'll bite.  where is this?

Maybe England took over Austria after WWIII.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: vtk on August 14, 2013, 11:32:25 PM
Quote from: DSS5 on August 14, 2013, 09:24:17 PM
Surprised Weed, California hasn't been mentioned.

I thought it was. Did you read all 160+ posts and not see it?
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: empirestate on August 14, 2013, 11:58:40 PM
Quote from: 1 on August 14, 2013, 05:40:32 PM
Grand Junction, Colorado (not really considered grand)

It was founded on the Grand River at its confluence with another river...what would you have named it?
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: english si on August 15, 2013, 04:44:37 AM
Quote from: NE2 on August 14, 2013, 11:14:15 PMMaybe England took over Austria after WWIII.
I read this as WWII.

And we did (well Britain did), along with the Commies, Frogs and the USA, dividing both Vienna and the country in the same way as we did Germany. We quickly released it back to the people (48?).
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: DSS5 on August 15, 2013, 07:19:18 AM
Quote from: vtk on August 14, 2013, 11:32:25 PM
Quote from: DSS5 on August 14, 2013, 09:24:17 PM
Surprised Weed, California hasn't been mentioned.

I thought it was. Did you read all 160+ posts and not see it?

I used the handy-dandy search box at the top right corner.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: vtk on August 15, 2013, 01:18:12 PM
Perhaps I was thinking of this, in an older but similar thread, and its followups:

Quote from: DrZoidberg on February 15, 2009, 12:36:40 PM
Nobody mentioned Weed, CA? 

On the other hand, why doesn't this come up with a simple search for Weed?  I had to use the Advanced Search.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: agentsteel53 on August 15, 2013, 01:20:44 PM
because this is CA, not WA or CO.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: J N Winkler on August 15, 2013, 01:27:31 PM
Quote from: english si on August 15, 2013, 04:44:37 AMAnd we did (well Britain did), along with the Commies, Frogs and the USA, dividing both Vienna and the country in the same way as we did Germany. We quickly released it back to the people (48?).

I think Allied occupation of Austria (and the resulting partition, although the part of Vienna inside the Ringstrasse was formally an "International Zone" and was patrolled by representatives of all four occupying powers) ended with the signing of the peace treaty in 1953.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: agentsteel53 on August 15, 2013, 01:33:38 PM
I always find it interesting to recall that Austria was officially neutral during the cold war.  growing up, I don't recall any special difficulty in going there from Hungary.  this was similar to going to Czechoslovakia, and very much contrasted with going to West Germany.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: formulanone on August 15, 2013, 01:53:41 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 15, 2013, 01:20:44 PM
because this is CA, not WA or CO.

Zing.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: jwolfer on August 15, 2013, 02:02:58 PM
Quote from: webfil on February 25, 2013, 01:53:59 PM
I just found out that Saint-Léonard borough in Montréal used to bear the name Municipalité de la Paroisse de Saint-Léonard-de-Port-Maurice from the 1850s until 1962, when I-don't-know-who found out that Cité de Saint-Léonard (City of Saint-Léonard) was sufficient.

This 55 character length is comparable to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch...

sort of like Los Angeles full name...El Pueblo de Nuestra Dama de los Angeles de Porincula ( or something like that)

ENGLISH   The town of our lady of the angels of Porincula
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: allniter89 on August 15, 2013, 02:18:56 PM
Quote from: english si on August 15, 2013, 04:44:37 AM
Quote from: NE2 on August 14, 2013, 11:14:15 PMMaybe England took over Austria after WWIII.
I read this as WWII.

And we did (well Britain did), along with the Commies, Frogs and the USA, dividing both Vienna and the country in the same way as we did Germany. We quickly released it back to the people (48?).
Frogs?? Please explain.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: english si on August 15, 2013, 02:24:55 PM
C'est le terme affectueux les rosbifs ont pour ceux qui vivent au sud de la Manche.

You might call them "Cheese-eating surrender monkeys".
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: hobsini2 on August 15, 2013, 02:30:23 PM
Allnighter, I know that the French are referred to by Brits as Frogs. My dad, who is English born, calls them that. According to him it is because they were frog eaters long before the rest of the world discovered how good frog legs are.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: J N Winkler on August 15, 2013, 02:46:27 PM
Los Angeles' name in full:  El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula.

Porziuncola (Porciúncula in Spanish and Portuguese) is the name of a shrine to the Virgin Mary in the basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which is close to Assisi and is in fact almost adjacent to the railway station.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porziuncola

Edit:  I got the name wrong, actually:  it is even longer:  El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Angeles del Río de Porciúncula.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: J N Winkler on August 15, 2013, 02:54:04 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 15, 2013, 01:33:38 PMI always find it interesting to recall that Austria was officially neutral during the cold war.  growing up, I don't recall any special difficulty in going there from Hungary.  this was similar to going to Czechoslovakia, and very much contrasted with going to West Germany.

I think Austrian neutrality was a condition of the peace treaty--I also suspect it is part of the reason Austria entered the EU rather late, in 1995, in the same tranche as Finland and Sweden, both highly developed NATO non-members who pursued a strictly neutralist foreign policy.  (I don't know if any or all of the three were officially members of the non-aligned club.)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: oscar on August 16, 2013, 11:25:44 PM
Pillager, MN (which I passed through today, driving across the state on MN 210).  Rather Viking, huh?

A different kind of odd:  Aiea, HI (suburb of Honolulu).  Four letters, no consonants.  And it's a control city on Interstate H-201 -- could it be the only consonant-free control city in the U.S.?
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: hotdogPi on August 30, 2013, 10:21:28 AM
Every roadgeek's enemy:

Clearview, Oklahoma
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Brandon on August 30, 2013, 11:03:11 AM
Quote from: J N Winkler on August 15, 2013, 02:46:27 PM
Los Angeles' name in full:  El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula.

Porziuncola (Porciúncula in Spanish and Portuguese) is the name of a shrine to the Virgin Mary in the basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which is close to Assisi and is in fact almost adjacent to the railway station.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porziuncola

Edit:  I got the name wrong, actually:  it is even longer:  El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Angeles del Río de Porciúncula.

Makes "Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit" seem short by comparison.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: agentsteel53 on August 30, 2013, 11:19:37 AM
Quote from: Brandon on August 30, 2013, 11:03:11 AMPontchartrain

what is the etymology of this?  there's a lake in Louisiana called the same thing... the French must really have liked the name.  all I can make out is that "Pont" means bridge and "Chartrain" means ... well, that's where my knowledge of French stops.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Brandon on August 30, 2013, 12:26:44 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 30, 2013, 11:19:37 AM
Quote from: Brandon on August 30, 2013, 11:03:11 AMPontchartrain

what is the etymology of this?  there's a lake in Louisiana called the same thing... the French must really have liked the name.  all I can make out is that "Pont" means bridge and "Chartrain" means ... well, that's where my knowledge of French stops.

Actually, both are named for Louis Phélypeaux, comte de Pontchartrain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Ph%C3%A9lypeaux_%281643-1727%29).  Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_de_la_Mothe_Cadillac) named Detroit after him (and subsequently, the auto marquee Cadillac and Cadillac, Michigan were both named for Antoine Laumet), and the lake was named by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Le_Moyne_d%27Iberville).  D'Iberville, Mississippi is named for him.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: agentsteel53 on August 30, 2013, 12:44:37 PM
thanks for the info.  names always trip me up when I try to work through etymology! 

(also, I always thought Cadillac was a native American name, similar to Pontiac.)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Brandon on August 30, 2013, 12:52:34 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 30, 2013, 12:44:37 PM
thanks for the info.  names always trip me up when I try to work through etymology! 

(also, I always thought Cadillac was a native American name, similar to Pontiac.)

Another one people don't always realize is Calumet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calumet_%28pipe%29).  Calumet is of French origin, but most folks usually assume it is of Amerind origin due to the application of the term to Amerind peace pipes.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: agentsteel53 on August 30, 2013, 01:07:23 PM
Quote from: Brandon on August 30, 2013, 12:52:34 PM
Another one people don't always realize is Calumet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calumet_%28pipe%29).  Calumet is of French origin, but most folks usually assume it is of Amerind origin due to the application of the term to Amerind peace pipes.

I'd never heard of the pipe... I always thought Calumet was French, as so many "-et" names are.

as for "Amerind"; I think you're the first person I've ever note use that term.  I tend to use "native American", figuring "Indian" to work well for people from the country in South Asia, but kinda silly-sounding otherwise.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: yakra on August 30, 2013, 05:40:00 PM
Dorking, Surrey
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: english si on September 01, 2013, 04:40:50 PM
Quote from: yakra on August 30, 2013, 05:40:00 PMDorking, Surrey
Never spotted that.

Barking, Essex
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on September 01, 2013, 05:52:25 PM
Reading, also in England. Although I believe is pronounced "RED-in", not "REED-in". Another one is in PA.

For an abundance of gerunds see Germany and Austria. Most notable are the German towns of Kissing (Western Bavaria) and Petting (Southeastern Bavaria), and of course the Austrian village of Fucking, just across the border from Petting.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: J N Winkler on September 01, 2013, 08:01:14 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on September 01, 2013, 05:52:25 PM
Reading, also in England. Although I believe is pronounced "RED-in", not "REED-in".

This is correct--the pronunciation is close to that of "Redding," and in fact that is an older spelling of the name of the English city.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: english si on September 02, 2013, 06:20:00 AM
Quote from: J N Winkler on September 01, 2013, 08:01:14 PMthe English city.
Town...

Not that it won't win the next competition for city status.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: cpzilliacus on September 02, 2013, 01:21:58 PM
Quote from: J N Winkler on August 15, 2013, 02:54:04 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 15, 2013, 01:33:38 PMI always find it interesting to recall that Austria was officially neutral during the cold war.  growing up, I don't recall any special difficulty in going there from Hungary.  this was similar to going to Czechoslovakia, and very much contrasted with going to West Germany.

I think Austrian neutrality was a condition of the peace treaty--I also suspect it is part of the reason Austria entered the EU rather late, in 1995, in the same tranche as Finland and Sweden, both highly developed NATO non-members who pursued a strictly neutralist foreign policy.  (I don't know if any or all of the three were officially members of the non-aligned club.)

Sweden has long been officially neutral (and proclaimed that policy during the Cold War).  But after the Soviet Union went out of business, declassified Swedish documents revealed that the Swedish Ministry of Defense had a long and close history of cooperation with NATO generally and the United States in particular. 

Two examples:

Finland, which fought two wars against Stalin's Soviet Empire, was forced to cede territory after the second conflict ended, and had accept neutrality on Russian terms, including a so-called Friendship and Assistance Pact in 1948, which was to last until the end of the Cold War ended (and shortly after that, the Soviet Union).

Both Sweden and Finland are now EU members, and even  though there have been some that feel that both nations should join NATO, that has not happened, at least not yet.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: hm insulators on September 10, 2013, 05:35:59 PM
Quote from: oscar on August 16, 2013, 11:25:44 PM
Pillager, MN (which I passed through today, driving across the state on MN 210).  Rather Viking, huh?

A different kind of odd:  Aiea, HI (suburb of Honolulu).  Four letters, no consonants.  And it's a control city on Interstate H-201 -- could it be the only consonant-free control city in the U.S.?

Also on the island of Oahu (same island Honolulu is on) is a little town called Kaaawa. (That's not a typo; there really are three A's in a row. It's pronounced kah-ah-AH-vah.)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: agentsteel53 on September 10, 2013, 05:38:26 PM
Quote from: hm insulators on September 10, 2013, 05:35:59 PM

Also on the island of Oahu (same island Honolulu is on) is a little town called Kaaawa. (That's not a typo; there really are three A's in a row. It's pronounced kah-ah-AH-vah.)

it is a bit easier to parse if you put in the apostrophes: Ka'a'awa.  the apostrophe represents a glottal stop.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CA%BBOkina

(yes, ScottN, I am aware that it's not literally an apostrophe, doesn't look like one, etc... but it's close enough within the confines of a standard US keyboard)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: yakra on September 11, 2013, 04:47:21 PM
https://maps.google.com/?cbp=12,200.89,,2,1.42&cbll=55.489724,-5.712278&layer=c&ie=UTF8&ll=55.489626,-5.712322&spn=0.003446,0.006899&t=m&z=17&vpsrc=0&panoid=pK1RQDHrmDb7cxp7BfchAg
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: oscar on September 12, 2013, 04:50:31 PM
Quote from: hm insulators on September 10, 2013, 05:35:59 PM
Quote from: oscar on August 16, 2013, 11:25:44 PM
Pillager, MN (which I passed through today, driving across the state on MN 210).  Rather Viking, huh?

A different kind of odd:  Aiea, HI (suburb of Honolulu).  Four letters, no consonants.  And it's a control city on Interstate H-201 -- could it be the only consonant-free control city in the U.S.?

Also on the island of Oahu (same island Honolulu is on) is a little town called Kaaawa. (That's not a typo; there really are three A's in a row. It's pronounced kah-ah-AH-vah.)

And the Big Island has Kea'au (junction of HI 11 and HI 130).  But three or four vowels in a row isn't that exceptional in Hawaii.  No consonants at all, OTOH, is unusual. 
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Alps on September 13, 2013, 11:55:45 PM
Quote from: hm insulators on September 10, 2013, 05:35:59 PM
Quote from: oscar on August 16, 2013, 11:25:44 PM
Pillager, MN (which I passed through today, driving across the state on MN 210).  Rather Viking, huh?

A different kind of odd:  Aiea, HI (suburb of Honolulu).  Four letters, no consonants.  And it's a control city on Interstate H-201 -- could it be the only consonant-free control city in the U.S.?

Also on the island of Oahu (same island Honolulu is on) is a little town called Kaaawa. (That's not a typo; there really are three A's in a row. It's pronounced kah-ah-AH-vah.)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alpsroads.net%2Froads%2Fhi%2Fhi_83%2Fkaaawa.jpg&hash=e13314c08d86f9347039a4c7566bbe5d992c58cb)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: DSS5 on September 20, 2013, 11:00:40 PM
Quote from: brownpelican on June 17, 2010, 02:38:37 AM
Ninety Six, S.C.

According to Wikipedia the origin of this name is a mystery. I always just figured it was the 96th parcel of land or something.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: deathtopumpkins on September 20, 2013, 11:35:35 PM
Freedom, NH (http://goo.gl/maps/zbQSJ)
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: NE2 on September 21, 2013, 12:00:35 AM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on September 20, 2013, 11:35:35 PM
Freedom, NH (http://goo.gl/maps/zbQSJ)
Am I missing a joke here?
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: formulanone on September 22, 2013, 10:22:58 AM
Quote from: NE2 on September 21, 2013, 12:00:35 AM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on September 20, 2013, 11:35:35 PM
Freedom, NH (http://goo.gl/maps/zbQSJ)
Am I missing a joke here?

I guess the "Live free or die" motto might have something to do with it. An added insurance policy?
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Big John on September 22, 2013, 10:38:34 AM
There is also a Freedom in several other states.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: deathtopumpkins on September 22, 2013, 05:52:50 PM
Quote from: NE2 on September 21, 2013, 12:00:35 AM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on September 20, 2013, 11:35:35 PM
Freedom, NH (http://goo.gl/maps/zbQSJ)
Am I missing a joke here?

No joke, I just thought Freedom was an interesting and unusual name for a town.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Zmapper on September 22, 2013, 07:36:23 PM
The hamlets of Liberty and Liberty Pole, WI are only 11 miles apart.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: yakra on September 25, 2013, 10:24:51 AM
https://maps.google.com/?q=freedom+me+to+liberty+me
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: elsmere241 on September 25, 2013, 11:07:30 AM
Quote from: DSS5 on September 20, 2013, 11:00:40 PM
Quote from: brownpelican on June 17, 2010, 02:38:37 AM
Ninety Six, S.C.

According to Wikipedia the origin of this name is a mystery. I always just figured it was the 96th parcel of land or something.

According to William Least Heat-Moon in Blue Highways it's from the (historical) perceived distance to some landmark.  I'd have to look it up.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: PHLBOS on September 25, 2013, 12:28:41 PM
Moon, PA

The BGS on the right's always good for laughs IMHO.

http://goo.gl/maps/G8BIf (http://goo.gl/maps/G8BIf)

Add Beaver, PA as well.
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Molandfreak on September 25, 2013, 03:18:40 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on September 25, 2013, 12:28:41 PM
http://goo.gl/maps/G8BIf (http://goo.gl/maps/G8BIf)
If you thought I-476 was too long for a 3di, you thought wrong :bigass:
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: PHLBOS on September 25, 2013, 03:36:14 PM
Quote from: Molandfreak on September 25, 2013, 03:18:40 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on September 25, 2013, 12:28:41 PM
http://goo.gl/maps/G8BIf (http://goo.gl/maps/G8BIf)
If you thought I-476 was too long for a 3di, you thought wrong :bigass:
A Business 3di no less.  :sombrero:
Title: Re: Funny-named towns
Post by: Indyroads on September 25, 2013, 03:44:22 PM
Other wierd names.

Floyds Knobs, IN

French Lick, IN