The opposite thread to the ambiguous city/town name thread.
What are some city/town names that occur once, and only once - no doubles anywhere on the planet?
So even if you mentioned said city/town to a stranger, they could look it up and know exactly what you were talking about.
Skaneateles, NY
Irondequoit, NY
Canandaigua, NY
I believe everything else in my area is either generic, recurring, or named after someone or something else.
All in MA, near me:
Dracut
Billerica
North Reading
North Andover
Swampscott
West Newbury
Nahant
Boxborough
Framingham
Quote from: 1 on January 14, 2019, 12:11:20 PM
North Reading
North Andover
I wouldn't really count those since Reading and Andover are so common.
But the rest definitely qualify!
I would have thought that my hometown of Beattyville was the only one in the world. But years ago, I found a Beattyville shown in the Rand McNally atlas in Quebec. It hasn't been shown in years. Apparently it was an old logging town that no longer exists.
Truth or Consequences, NM
Quote from: webny99 on January 14, 2019, 12:30:34 PM
Quote from: 1 on January 14, 2019, 12:11:20 PM
North Reading
North Andover
I wouldn't really count those since Reading and Andover are so common.
But the rest definitely qualify!
There's a West Newbury, Vermont so that one is at least not unique.
Illinois
Normal
Naperville
Herrin
Machesney Park
Crest Hill
Romeoville
Bolingbrook
Des Plaines
Winnetka
Streator
Rare Names, but not totally unique:
Joliet (also Joliette - Texas, Montana, North Dakota, & Quebec)
Schaumburg (there's one in Germany)
Quote from: Brandon on January 14, 2019, 01:20:23 PM
Illinois
Normal
Herrin
Winnetka
Normal is a word, so there's no way it can only refer to the city.
Herrin: one exists in France, and it's also a last name.
Winnetka: Neighborhood in Los Angeles.
Quote from: 1 on January 14, 2019, 01:24:32 PM
Quote from: Brandon on January 14, 2019, 01:20:23 PM
Illinois
Normal
Herrin
Winnetka
Normal is a word, so there's no way it can only refer to the city.
Herrin: one exists in France, and it's also a last name.
Winnetka: Neighborhood in Los Angeles.
1. There's only one incorporated "Normal" around.
2. Herrin in France is more like a township than a town, but I'll grant you that.
3. Neighborhoods don't count. These are at the municipal level if I read the OP correctly.
There's actually a Napierville in Quebec, believe it or not.
Quote from: kevinb1994 on January 14, 2019, 01:40:48 PM
There's actually a Napierville in Quebec, believe it or not.
But not spelled the same, nor related in way, shape, or form. Nor even pronounced the same (English versus French).
a few in Ohio:
Put-in-Bay
Uhrichsville
Tipp City
Blanchester
Zaleski
Front Royal, VA
Anything place name derived from Native American words stands a good chance of being unique.
For example, I think about all the "wau's" here in Wisconsin.
Waukesha
Wautoma
Wausau
Wausaukee
Waunakee
Waubesa
Waupun
One isn't going to find those in other places.
Quote from: Brandon on January 14, 2019, 01:20:23 PM
Illinois
Normal
Naperville
Herrin
Machesney Park
Crest Hill
Romeoville
Bolingbrook
Des Plaines
Winnetka
Streator
Rare Names, but not totally unique:
Joliet (also Joliette - Texas, Montana, North Dakota, & Quebec)
Schaumburg (there's one in Germany)
I'll throw Skokie and Wauconda IL
Is there another Green Bay in existence? (I am aware of an 'Appleton, MN', though.)
Other larger city names in Wisconsin that exist in other states include Oshkosh (NE), Madison (several), Watertown (several), Fond du Lac (MN).
OTOH, Milwaukee, Stevens Point, Eau Claire, Racine, Kenosha, Janesville, Beloit, Marinette, Menasha, Neenah, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, De Pere, and Ashwaubenon are unique. (Yes, there is a 'Milwaukie, OR' and a 'Cheboygan, MI', but their spellings are different).
Mike
My gut tells me Fucking, Austria, is unique. Wank, Germany, probably is as well.
Quote from: mgk920 on January 14, 2019, 03:10:42 PM
Is there another Green Bay in existence?
Unincorporated, yes.
In Utah, any of the Mormon-derived names, like
Lehi
Nephi
Manti
Moroni
Deseret
As well as a few names from various Native American languages:
Parowan
Paragonah
Panguitch
Koosharem
Tabiona
Tooele
Swayzee, IN, or so they claim.
Quote from: Brandon on January 14, 2019, 01:43:42 PM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on January 14, 2019, 01:40:48 PM
There's actually a Napierville in Quebec, believe it or not.
But not spelled the same, nor related in way, shape, or form. Nor even pronounced the same (English versus French).
One time David Letterman had a science teacher on his show from Illinois, and he pronounced the town NapIerville.
Zilwaukee, Michigan which was purposely named that so people would confuse it with Milwaukee, Wisconsin in hopes of luring people there to work.
Some that I'm familiar with:
Ninety Six, SC
Honea Path, SC
Six Mile, SC
Walhalla, SC
Clemson, SC
Olathe, KS
Tonganoxie, KS
Basehor, KS
Peculiar, MO
Tightwad, MO
Auxvasse, MO
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 14, 2019, 05:16:21 PM
Zilwaukee, Michigan which was purposely named that so people would confuse it with Milwaukee, Wisconsin in hopes of luring people there to work.
Tell me it didn't work.
My favorite unique town name is
Funk (https://goo.gl/maps/nqBcxUcLbGA2).
Michigan in addition to Zilwaukee
Kalamazoo
Oshtemo
Otsego
Novi
Muskegon
Makatawa
Dowagiac
Allegan
Saugatuck
Hesperia
Newaygo
Onekama
Mackinac/Mackinaw
Tawas
Alpena
Escanaba
Cheboygan
Ontonagon
Petoskey
Charlevoix (or is there one in France?)
Epoufette
Naubinway
Brevort
Brimley
Munising
Manistee
Manistique
Ishpeming
Negaunee
Michigamme
Watersmeet
Copper Harbor
There's an Otsego, MN.
MN contenders:
Bemidji
Mahtomedi
Elko New Marlet (the formerly separate towns of Elko and New Market merged via voter referendum)
Grand Portage
Shakopee
Owatonna
Albert Lea
Zumbrota
Castle Danger
Illgen City
Brainerd
Miesville
Minnetonka
Marine on St. Croix
I don't know if they're right, but Stephentown, New York, is very proud of being the only Stephentown on Earth. New York 43 East. May 11, 2003.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teresco.org%2Fpics%2Fsigns%2F20030511%2Fstephentown.jpg&hash=fea34e20de0292c5fd8b554b80df744f7ad09757)
Quote from: kphoger on January 14, 2019, 06:19:17 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 14, 2019, 05:16:21 PM
Zilwaukee, Michigan which was purposely named that so people would confuse it with Milwaukee, Wisconsin in hopes of luring people there to work.
Tell me it didn't work.
My favorite unique town name is Funk (https://goo.gl/maps/nqBcxUcLbGA2).
Lol it didn't work. Zilwaukee is a small city right outside of Saginaw.
I would imagine Niskayuna,
Coxsackie (forget Coxsackie - there's both the town and village), and Castleton-on-Hudson are pretty unique. Not Schenectady, though - the city is in the county of the same name.
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on January 14, 2019, 07:21:58 PM
There's an Otsego, MN.
Also the name of a county in New York.
Quote from: GaryV on January 14, 2019, 07:01:21 PM
Michigan in addition to Zilwaukee
Kalamazoo
Oshtemo
Otsego
Novi
Muskegon
Makatawa
Dowagiac
Allegan
Saugatuck
Hesperia
Newaygo
Onekama
Mackinac/Mackinaw
Tawas
Alpena
Escanaba
Cheboygan
Ontonagon
Petoskey
Charlevoix (or is there one in France?)
Epoufette
Naubinway
Brevort
Brimley
Munising
Manistee
Manistique
Ishpeming
Negaunee
Michigamme
Watersmeet
Copper Harbor
There's Sheboygan in Wisconsin.
There are two (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=13239.msg2000683#msg2000683) prior (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=2951.0) threads about funny/strange place names, that would be good places to look for one-off city/town names. Some of them have been mentioned here already.
For some others from those threads, which I've visited:
Dildo and South Dildo, Newfoundland (NL also has a Dildo Run, but that's just a waterway in a different part of the province)
Asbestos, Quebec
Swastika, Ontario (but there is an unincorporated community in New York also named Swastika)
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan might also be a unique city name, as might Saskatoon.
Maybe also Heart's Content and Heart's Desire, both near each other in Newfoundland and on the same peninsula as Dildo and South Dildo.
Quote from: oscar on January 14, 2019, 08:16:57 PM
There are two (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=13239.msg2000683#msg2000683) prior (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=2951.0) threads about funny/strange place names, that would be good places to look for one-off city/town names. Some of them have been mentioned here already.
For some others from those threads, which I've visited:
Dildo and South Dildo, Newfoundland (NL also has a Dildo Run, but that's just a waterway in a different part of the province)
Asbestos, Quebec
Swastika, Ontario
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan might also be a unique city name.
Maybe also Heart's Content and Heart's Desire, both near each other in Newfoundland and on the same peninsula as Dildo and South Dildo.
There isn't much to do in Newfoundland, is there? ;)
Quote from: kevinb1994 on January 14, 2019, 08:16:34 PM
Quote from: GaryV on January 14, 2019, 07:01:21 PM
Michigan in addition to Zilwaukee
Kalamazoo
Oshtemo
Otsego
Novi
Muskegon
Makatawa
Dowagiac
Allegan
Saugatuck
Hesperia
Newaygo
Onekama
Mackinac/Mackinaw
Tawas
Alpena
Escanaba
Cheboygan
Ontonagon
Petoskey
Charlevoix (or is there one in France?)
Epoufette
Naubinway
Brevort
Brimley
Munising
Manistee
Manistique
Ishpeming
Negaunee
Michigamme
Watersmeet
Copper Harbor
There's Sheboygan in Wisconsin.
They are spelled differently.
Quote from: Takumi on January 14, 2019, 08:19:44 PM
Quote from: oscar on January 14, 2019, 08:16:57 PM
Dildo and South Dildo, Newfoundland (NL also has a Dildo Run, but that's just a waterway in a different part of the province)
There isn't much to do in Newfoundland, is there? ;)
There is a lot of commercial fishing. And "dildo" means, among other things, a part of a boat.
Quote from: GaryV on January 14, 2019, 07:01:21 PM
Michigan in addition to Zilwaukee
Kalamazoo
Oshtemo
Otsego
Novi
Muskegon
Makatawa
Dowagiac
Allegan
Saugatuck
Hesperia
Newaygo
Onekama
Mackinac/Mackinaw
Tawas
Alpena
Escanaba
Cheboygan
Ontonagon
Petoskey
Charlevoix (or is there one in France?)
Epoufette
Naubinway
Brevort
Brimley
Munising
Manistee
Manistique
Ishpeming
Negaunee
Michigamme
Watersmeet
Copper Harbor
Kalamazoo – several others in the US
Otsego – several others in the US
Novi – "new" in some languages; "nine" in others
Saugatuck – river and neighborhood in Connecticut
Hesperia – city in California that's 100× as populous as the one in Michigan
Mackinaw – one in Illinois
Tawas – a word, but not particularly common
Alpena – Arkansas, South Dakota
Charlevoix – several things with that name in Quebec
Brevort – township was named after a person
Brimley – last name of several people
Manistee – one in Alabama
Manistique – racehorse, not named after the city in Michigan
Watersmeet – town in South Africa, plus several buildings in England
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on January 14, 2019, 07:21:58 PM
There's an Otsego, MN.
MN contenders:
Bemidji
Mahtomedi
Elko New Marlet (the formerly separate towns of Elko and New Market merged via voter referendum)
Grand Portage
Shakopee
Owatonna
Albert Lea
Zumbrota
Castle Danger
Illgen City
Brainerd
Miesville
Minnetonka
Marine on St. Croix
Albert Lea – named after a person
Brainerd – one in Kansas
Minnetonka – there's a cave with that name in Idaho
Quote from: mgk920 on January 14, 2019, 03:10:42 PM
Is there another Green Bay in existence? (I am aware of an 'Appleton, MN', though.)
Other larger city names in Wisconsin that exist in other states include Oshkosh (NE), Madison (several), Watertown (several), Fond du Lac (MN).
OTOH, Milwaukee, Stevens Point, Eau Claire, Racine, Kenosha, Janesville, Beloit, Marinette, Menasha, Neenah, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, De Pere, and Ashwaubenon are unique. (Yes, there is a 'Milwaukie, OR' and a 'Cheboygan, MI', but their spellings are different).
Mike
Milwaukee – Pennsylvania and North Carolina
Racine – several in other states and one in Quebec, and it is a last name
Janesville – several
Beloit – several
Marinette – a current community in Nova Scotia and a ghost town in Arizona
Plainwell, MI. There are no other Plainwell's in the United States. I have no idea about other countries.
Quote from: triplemultiplex on January 14, 2019, 02:22:20 PM
Anything place name derived from Native American words stands a good chance of being unique.
I remember seeing Judy Collins on TV once, and she was talking about her early days. At one point, having mentioned Tatamagouche and another town with a similarly strange-sounding name, she stopped in the middle of her thought and said something like–
You know, those town's names sound completely normal in Nova Scotia, but they sound really funny out here in Manitoba.
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on January 14, 2019, 07:21:58 PM
Elko New Market (the formerly separate towns of Elko and New Market merged via voter referendum)
If we're going to include that, then we can't forget Norwood Young America. (Same thing: city merger.)
I've got another one for Michigan. Ann Arbor named for the wives of the founders, both named Ann and the stands of bur oak trees.
This thread is pretty much going to be a bunch of indigenous names.
The largest U.S. cities with indigenous names (that were not significantly Anglicized/rendered in other European languages) are Seattle, Milwaukee, Albuquerque, Miami, Oklahoma City, and Tucson.
Quote from: Bruce on January 15, 2019, 02:33:50 AM
This thread is pretty much going to be a bunch of indigenous names.
The largest U.S. cities with indigenous names (that were not significantly Anglicized/rendered in other European languages) are Seattle, Milwaukee, Albuquerque, Miami, Oklahoma City, and Tucson.
There's a Miami (
mi-ami-uh) in Oklahoma and the Miami River Valley representing a good deal of south central Ohio along the Miami River.
Though Florida also has many Seminole, Miccosukee, and Creek place names...doubtful there's another
Tallahassee,
Okeechobee, or
Weeki Wachee somewhere else in the world - though not impossible - in the way things can be Anglicized.
I was surprised that there's multiple places called "Bug Tussle" in the US, figuring Alabama had that one to herself.
My very own hometown, Huesca. I still have to find another. Actually, pick a random village in Aragon, Spain and chances it's the only place in the world with that name are very high. Although most of them are also last names, these are derived from the places, not the other way round as it mostly happens in the USA.
However, I can shot down Moran (https://www.google.es/maps/@42.2829964,-0.7560288,3a,19.1y,327.03h,89.17t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suN1R7pAtJNDuUsPS80uuyg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) Junction in the Grand Teton NP, WY from this thread.
There are several (presumably) unique names of communities in Texas, though they are often unincorporated. A quick search is only showing one each of
Gun Barrel City
Cut and Shoot.
See Hawai'i
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on January 14, 2019, 07:21:58 PM
There's an Otsego, MN.
Not sure who you were responding to, but there is an Otsego County, NY, also.
Quote from: GaryV on January 14, 2019, 07:01:21 PM
Michigan in addition to Zilwaukee
Otsego
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on January 14, 2019, 07:21:58 PM
There’s an Otsego, MN.
Quote from: vdeane on January 14, 2019, 07:57:12 PM
Also the name of a county in New York.
Quote from: webny99 on January 15, 2019, 10:49:53 AM
Not sure who you were responding to, but there is an Otsego County, NY, also.
^ Now I look like a fool, but at least everybody can have a good laugh about it! :-D
Quote from: US 89 on January 15, 2019, 11:18:29 AM
Quote from: GaryV on January 14, 2019, 07:01:21 PM
Michigan
Otsego
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on January 14, 2019, 07:21:58 PM
There's an Otsego, MN.
Quote from: vdeane on January 14, 2019, 07:57:12 PM
Also the name of a county in New York.
Quote from: webny99 on January 15, 2019, 10:49:53 AM
Not sure who you were responding to, but there is an Otsego County, NY, also.
I was actually wondering, maybe Otsego would qualify for this thread. :hmmm:
Quote from: formulanone on January 15, 2019, 06:52:06 AM
I was surprised that there's multiple places called "Big Tussle" in the US, figuring Alabama had that one to herself.
You mean "Bug Tussle", right?
Makes me think of some podunk little corner of the South where there's nothing to do but crack open a Busch Light and watch a couple of insects throw down.
Indiana (almost certainly one-of-a-kinds)
Nappanee
Oolitic
Gnaw Bone
Indiana (maybes)
Birdseye
Popcorn
Santa Claus
Quote from: Rushmeister on January 15, 2019, 12:52:41 PM
Indiana (almost certainly one-of-a-kinds)
Nappanee
Oolitic
Gnaw Bone
Indiana (maybes)
Birdseye
Popcorn
Santa Claus
I've been to Nappanee and think that's a cool name lol. It also is the longest city name containing each letter in it's name twice.
Quote from: triplemultiplex on January 15, 2019, 12:07:03 PM
Quote from: formulanone on January 15, 2019, 06:52:06 AM
I was surprised that there's multiple places called "Big Tussle" in the US, figuring Alabama had that one to herself.
You mean "Bug Tussle", right?
Makes me think of some podunk little corner of the South where there's nothing to do but crack open a Busch Light and watch a couple of insects throw down.
Yup, that's the one.
There are a handful in northeastern PA
Catawissa
Shickshinny
Wapwallopen (sounds like a bowling term, LOL!)
Paxinos
Selinsgrove
Then there's Shamokin, but there's also a Shamokin Dam in the region.
Quote from: lepidopteran on January 15, 2019, 04:07:36 PM
There are a handful in northeastern PA
Catawissa
Shickshinny
Wapwallopen (sounds like a bowling term, LOL!)
Paxinos
Selinsgrove
Then there's Shamokin, but there's also a Shamokin Dam in the region.
What about those Amish names, Intercourse and Bird-in-Hand? Are those unique?
Kissimmee in Florida I would guess there is none other like it.
CT
Middle Haddam
Haddam Neck
Clarks Falls
(North) Grosvenor Dale
Killingly (and all derivatives)
Attawaugen
Ballouville
Putnam Heights
Scitico
Hadlyme
Old & East Lyme
Old Saybrook
Eastford
Northford
Gaylordsville
Barkhamsted
Yalesville
Jewett City
Gales Ferry
Uncasville
Upper Stepney
South Britain
Weatogue (there is a Wetaug, IL)
Occum
Old Mystic
Harwinton
Torringford
Poquoson, VA
Also Newport News, though Newport by itself is far from unique.
Interesting fact about data: If you gather the names of all cities/towns in the country or in the world, almost exactly half of names will be unique.
Half of names, not half of cities. For example, if the list has 25000 places and 3000 unique names, then there will be 1500 unique names and 1500 names with more than one entry from the other 23500 places.
This is true for other data sets, as it is a mathematical property.
The number qualifying for this thread is lower than half, though; some unique town names are also people's names, words that can be found in a dictionary, etc.
Like many states, Maine has a fair amount of town names derived from the local Native tribes, usually named for nearby water or geological features. To name a few, we have...
Skowhegan
Passadumkeag
Kenduskeag
Millinocket (and East Millinocket)
Macwahoc
Damariscotta
Allagash
Wiscasset
Meddybemps (my favorite)
When I started working for my railroad, we had a depot agent job in Gibsland. In the depot, I had access to the KCS's system-wide computer system called MCS. An option it had was a nation-wide station master list of every city, town, community (incorporated or not), and railhead (siding, no town necessary). It also gave the zip code of all of these communities. I would type in a community name and see how unique of a name it was.
I typed in my downtown's name in one day. I found out there are 3 places named "Simsboro" in all of North America...AR, TX, & LA. After looking on GMSV, I discovered that my Simsboro is the biggest of the three. The one in AR is unincorporated on AR highway 50 southwest of Memphis & has place signs. The one in TX is located on an old branch line of the Rock Island RR. It doesn't have place signs on the roads, and you wouldn't even know you were in a named community.
I wish I still had access to MCS. That was a fun system to play with.
I am sure it's good bet Milwaukee suburbs like Muskego, Mukwonago, Pewaukee, Menomonie Falls and Mequon are unique. Most likely Cudahy too as it was named after Patrick Cudahy. I am also sure there isn't another South Milwaukee since the only other Milwaukees that exist are tiny unincorporated areas.
Quote from: dvferyance on February 05, 2019, 06:23:43 PM
Most likely Cudahy too as it was named after Patrick Cudahy.
California has one with more than 20k people.
Without doing exhaustive research I'm gonna say Knob Noster and Tightwad, both in the State of Missouri.
In Arkansas lies the unincorporated community of Drasco in Cleburne County. I had to scroll through four pages on Google before I found someone with even the surname of Drasco.
Coalinga, California is unique. The name apparently originated as a shortening of the rail siding name "Coaling Station A." I'm fairly certain Firebaugh is unique to California as well. It is named after a guy who operated a ferry on the San Joaquin River and toll road over Pacheco Pass.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoosick_Falls,_New_York
There's a Hoosick Falls, NY a Village.
Quote from: formulanone on January 15, 2019, 06:52:06 AM
Quote from: Bruce on January 15, 2019, 02:33:50 AM
This thread is pretty much going to be a bunch of indigenous names.
The largest U.S. cities with indigenous names (that were not significantly Anglicized/rendered in other European languages) are Seattle, Milwaukee, Albuquerque, Miami, Oklahoma City, and Tucson.
There's a Miami (mi-ami-uh) in Oklahoma and the Miami River Valley representing a good deal of south central Ohio along the Miami River.
Though Florida also has many Seminole, Miccosukee, and Creek place names...doubtful there's another Tallahassee, Okeechobee, or Weeki Wachee somewhere else in the world - though not impossible - in the way things can be Anglicized.
I was surprised that there's multiple places called "Big Tussle" in the US, figuring Alabama had that one to herself.
Close but no cigar: there's a Tullahassee, OK.
Keep in mind that even indigenous names can repeat, because the indigenous residents had a tendency to get kicked off their land and moved to Oklahoma, where they reused names from home for features that reminded them of the originals.
An indigenous name in Washington State that a lot of people struggle with is "Puyallup". One-of-a-kind for sure.
Oregon South Coast unique names: Port Orford, which to those who are more familiar with Port Orchard WA, gets confused with. Coquille was originally on US 101 until the bypass was built in 1961 to tie Coos Bay and Bandon directly. Pronounced as koh-queel by locals, the ones not from here say koh-quill.
Powers sounds like a plebian name but it is the only city of Powers I could find with a web search. Their high school is called the Cruisers, which is about timber cruising, not car cruising or naval warships. Myrtle Point also sounds like something which should be common but once again, the name surprises by being unique. Myrtlewood is a tree which grows here. If you go to their football stadium, a gorgeous myrtlewood tree is just outside the east endzone. Their team name is ordinary though. They are the Bobcats.
Coos Bay is the name of the bay here. After an election to consolidate the adjacent cities of North Bend (Bulldogs) and Marshfield (Pirates) failed in 1943, Marshfield went ahead with the name change that was part of the consolidation measure, so they became the city of Coos Bay. There are no other cities of Coos Bay but strangely enough, there is another Coos County. It is in New Hampshire and has half the population of Oregon's Coos County. Here is a short blurb about it:
Coös County, frequently spelled Coos County, is a county in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. As of the 2010 census, the population was 33,055, the least of any New Hampshire county. The estimated population as of 2017 is 31,634. en.wikipedia.org
County Seat: Lancaster
Population: 31,634
By the way, Coquille is the county seat for Oregon's Coos County while Coos Bay is the city with the largest population, a bit over 16K currently.
Curry County's county seat also has an unique name which one would think would be found elsewhere. Gold Beach is on US 101 at the mouth of the Rogue River. The drive from Brookings in the south to Port Orford in the north has Gold Beach at the midway point. You can see the Pacific Ocean for almost the entire mileage.
Names of our cities which show up elsewhere: Lakeside (various), Bandon (Ireland), Brookings (South Dakota).
Oregon is so full of unique city names. I will leave room for other Oregonians here on the forum to post those from their areas.
Rick
The city of New Britain, CT has roughly 72,000 people. It's only 9 miles southwest of Hartford. The only other New Britain I've heard of is northwest of Philadelphia. I believe it's on one of the SEPTA rail lines. There's nothing there, from what I've been told, however.
I've seen Hartford, VT (contains the village of White River Junction) and New Haven, IN before.
Quote from: nexus73 on March 14, 2019, 01:53:15 AM
Powers sounds like a plebian name but it is the only city of Powers I could find with a web search. Their high school is called the Cruisers, which is about timber cruising, not car cruising or naval warships.
Powers, Michigan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powers,_Michigan), a village in the UP.
Two from Ohio:
Fairborn (created by merger of Fairfield and Osborn Ohio)
Beavercreek (As opposed to Beaver Creek, CO)
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on March 14, 2019, 07:18:22 AM
The only other New Britain I've heard of is northwest of Philadelphia. I believe it's on one of the SEPTA rail lines. There's nothing there, from what I've been told, however.
New Britain, PA is just west of Doylestown and is served by its Regional Rail line (formerly known as R5). And while it isn't particularly populous or significant, it's still a bit more than nothing–an incorporated borough with a population of about 3,100.
Galion , Ohio
Sweetser, Indiana
Loves Park, Illinois
Pretty sure my hometown of Anaheim, CA is the only Anaheim. Its name derives from the original founders who emigrated from Germany and named their town using the Santa Ana River (which is nearby) and the German word for "home".
Quote from: Brandon on March 14, 2019, 12:04:21 PM
Quote from: nexus73 on March 14, 2019, 01:53:15 AM
Powers sounds like a plebian name but it is the only city of Powers I could find with a web search. Their high school is called the Cruisers, which is about timber cruising, not car cruising or naval warships.
Powers, Michigan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powers,_Michigan), a village in the UP.
Is a village in Michigan incorporated or unincorporated? Powers in Oregon is an incorporated city. The police department is one man, the chief. Recently he was set upon by some who wished to do him harm and the citizenry came to his rescue. It sounds like something from the Wild West but that ~is~ the ethos of Powers, an isolated logging town in the Coast Range.
Rick
Quote from: Scott5114 on March 14, 2019, 01:11:24 AM
Quote from: formulanone on January 15, 2019, 06:52:06 AM
Quote from: Bruce on January 15, 2019, 02:33:50 AM
This thread is pretty much going to be a bunch of indigenous names.
The largest U.S. cities with indigenous names (that were not significantly Anglicized/rendered in other European languages) are Seattle, Milwaukee, Albuquerque, Miami, Oklahoma City, and Tucson.
There's a Miami (mi-ami-uh) in Oklahoma and the Miami River Valley representing a good deal of south central Ohio along the Miami River.
Though Florida also has many Seminole, Miccosukee, and Creek place names...doubtful there's another Tallahassee, Okeechobee, or Weeki Wachee somewhere else in the world - though not impossible - in the way things can be Anglicized.
I was surprised that there's multiple places called "Big Tussle" in the US, figuring Alabama had that one to herself.
Close but no cigar: there's a Tullahassee, OK.
Keep in mind that even indigenous names can repeat, because the indigenous residents had a tendency to get kicked off their land and moved to Oklahoma, where they reused names from home for features that reminded them of the originals.
Plus there's plenty of repeated names that have no connection due to the rather limited forms of Anglicization afforded in the 19th century. "Sauk" comes up in several locations despite having no connection between native language families.
Is Cuckoo, VA duplicated?
Newport News, VA there maybe Newports in other places, but none with News in the end.
Frelinghuysen, in New Jersey I doubt would be anyplace else as that was named after a person. Most uncommon sir names with towns after them will be one of a kind.
Griggstown, in Franklin (Somerset County), NJ is most likely one.
Here's an Utah grouping that will be hard to beat. The city of Beaver is the county seat of Beaver County. Their high school is called Beaver High School and of course, they are the Beavers!
For a more humorous combo from the Beehive State there is Millard County and its county seat is Fillmore.
Rick
There is a incorporated town in Tennessee called Bulls Gap. There is also a Bean Station, TN.
Quote from: nexus73 on March 19, 2019, 12:55:05 AM
Here's an Utah grouping that will be hard to beat. The city of Beaver is the county seat of Beaver County. Their high school is called Beaver High School and of course, they are the Beavers!
For a more humorous combo from the Beehive State there is Millard County and its county seat is Fillmore.
Rick
There is a Beaver County in Pennsylvania as well, with Beaver Borough as its county seat.
Quote from: roadman65 on March 19, 2019, 12:05:34 AM
Newport News, VA there maybe Newports in other places, but none with News in the end.
Dozens of places named Newport in the U.S., Canada and Europe. I couldn't find anywhere else that have a dual name with News.
Not really sure how the city got the name --
No one knows for sure where Newport News got its name, but "Newportes Newes" first appears in the Virginia Company records in 1619, making it one of the oldest place names in the New World. The most widely accepted folktale is that our city is the namesake of Captain Christopher Newport, commander of Susan Constant, which was the flagship of the three-ship English fleet that landed on Jamestown Island in 1607. He made several voyages to Newport News in the early days of the Jamestown Colony, bringing "good news" of supplies and settlers.
https://www.newport-news.org/visitors/about-our-city/overview-and-fun-facts/
Quote from: nexus73 on March 18, 2019, 07:00:31 PM
Quote from: Brandon on March 14, 2019, 12:04:21 PM
Quote from: nexus73 on March 14, 2019, 01:53:15 AM
Powers sounds like a plebian name but it is the only city of Powers I could find with a web search. Their high school is called the Cruisers, which is about timber cruising, not car cruising or naval warships.
Powers, Michigan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powers,_Michigan), a village in the UP.
Is a village in Michigan incorporated or unincorporated? Powers in Oregon is an incorporated city. The police department is one man, the chief. Recently he was set upon by some who wished to do him harm and the citizenry came to his rescue. It sounds like something from the Wild West but that ~is~ the ethos of Powers, an isolated logging town in the Coast Range.
Rick
A village in Michigan is incorporated.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_villages_in_Michigan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Michigan
Hogeye, AR
Peculiar, MO
There used to be a Bugtussle, AR, but they got assimilated years ago.
In Texas, there are some names that seem unusual but I could see being used elsewhere, such as Mobeetie and Tacubaya. Then there are names that don't even seem to fit together as words. One is Darrouzett, although the town was named after someone. Another is Lazbuddie. This one was named after two people, so is more likely to be unique. Also in the compound name category is Iraan, which is (almost) a combination of Ira and Ann, but I wouldn't be surprised to hear of another one.
A short word that seems like it could be unique is Toyah, an American Indian word for "flowing water." Nearby is Toyahvale, which suggests "flowing water valley." These are both in the area of Balmorrhea, which has a state park with a beautiful swimming pool. It's 25 feet deep, absolutely clear, is over an acre in size, and holds 3.5 million gallons of water. It's fed by a spring that produces 15 million gallons of water per day. It's the reason the towns in this desert area have water names. Balmorrhea (pronounced bal-morray) is also a contender.
Of the places I mentioned, Darrouzett, Iraan, Toyah, and Balmorrhea are incorportated. The two I like best for this purpose are Lazbuddie, named after D. Luther (Laz) Green and Andrew (Buddie) Sherley, and Balmorrhea, which I just found out "is an amalgamation of Balcom, Morrow, and Rhea, the surnames of its founders" (quoth Wickerpaedia). That explains the short "a" sound at the beginning and the "ray" at the end. I suspect these amalgamatia may be a good source of names for this list because they're more likely to be unique.
Quote from: Brandon on March 19, 2019, 10:41:02 AM
Quote from: nexus73 on March 18, 2019, 07:00:31 PM
Quote from: Brandon on March 14, 2019, 12:04:21 PM
Quote from: nexus73 on March 14, 2019, 01:53:15 AM
Powers sounds like a plebian name but it is the only city of Powers I could find with a web search. Their high school is called the Cruisers, which is about timber cruising, not car cruising or naval warships.
Powers, Michigan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powers,_Michigan), a village in the UP.
Is a village in Michigan incorporated or unincorporated? Powers in Oregon is an incorporated city. The police department is one man, the chief. Recently he was set upon by some who wished to do him harm and the citizenry came to his rescue. It sounds like something from the Wild West but that ~is~ the ethos of Powers, an isolated logging town in the Coast Range.
Rick
A village in Michigan is incorporated.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_villages_in_Michigan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Michigan
Thank you for that information! Knowing about parishes instead of counties in Louisiana was about the extent of my knowledge regarding unusual political subdivision names.
Rick
Since I live in Amish Country, there are a lot of unique town names to play with. Here's a sample...
Bird-in-Hand
Intercourse
Blue Ball
Fivepointville
Leacock
Quote from: noelbotevera on March 19, 2019, 07:40:31 PM
Since I live in Amish Country, there are a lot of unique town names to play with. Here's a sample...
Bird-in-Hand
Intercourse
Blue Ball
Fivepointville
Leacock
We drove through a couple of them as part of Jason's Central PA Road Meet back in April of 2016, except for Bird-in-Hand, Intercourse, and Fivepointville, which were not on the itinerary route. Driving through Blue Ball and Leacock was quite the experience, no?
Quote from: wxfree on March 19, 2019, 01:52:53 PMAlso in the compound name category is Iraan, which is (almost) a combination of Ira and Ann, but I wouldn't be surprised to hear of another one.
Even though not quite a match, there's the one country formerly known as Persia :sombrero:.
Quote from: noelbotevera on March 19, 2019, 07:40:31 PM
Since I live in Amish Country, there are a lot of unique town names to play with. Here's a sample...
Intercourse
There's the well known Austrian village of Fucking, which basically means the same thing as Intercourse :bigass:.
Okay, now more seriously, Fucking in itself isn't unique, since there are Öberfucking and Unterfucking (literally "Upper Fucking" and "Lower Fucking") in another part of Austria, and Fugging used to be called Fucking too, but got renamed perhaps because it's too close to Vienna and thus it would have got more troubled than the Fucking near Salzburg. Now that I think, what a f***ing post I've written.
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on March 20, 2019, 09:05:33 AM
Quote from: wxfree on March 19, 2019, 01:52:53 PMAlso in the compound name category is Iraan, which is (almost) a combination of Ira and Ann, but I wouldn't be surprised to hear of another one.
Even though not quite a match, there's the one country formerly known as Persia :sombrero:.
Quote from: noelbotevera on March 19, 2019, 07:40:31 PM
Since I live in Amish Country, there are a lot of unique town names to play with. Here's a sample...
Intercourse
There's the well known Austrian village of Fucking, which basically means the same thing as Intercourse :bigass:.
Okay, now more seriously, Fucking in itself isn't unique, since there are Öberfucking and Unterfucking (literally "Upper Fucking" and "Lower Fucking") in another part of Austria, and Fugging used to be called Fucking too, but got renamed perhaps because it's too close to Vienna and thus it would have got more troubled than the Fucking near Salzburg. Now that I think, what a f***ing post I've written.
Don't forget Phuket in Thailand...LOL!
Rick
Quote from: nexus73 on March 20, 2019, 10:42:41 AM
Don't forget Phuket in Thailand...LOL!
Rick
That's a result of transliteration. The name of the city, pronounced correctly, doesn't sound like a swear.
Quote from: hbelkins on January 14, 2019, 12:48:22 PM
I would have thought that my hometown of Beattyville was the only one in the world. But years ago, I found a Beattyville shown in the Rand McNally atlas in Quebec. It hasn't been shown in years. Apparently it was an old logging town that no longer exists.
There's a Beatty, NV. It's NW of Las Vegas on US-95. It's always been a desire of mine to go there since it's my last name. Now I'm also going to have to stop by your hometown next time I'm in the area.
Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO.
It has has the distinction of being the longest named city in America.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellefontaine_Neighbors,_Missouri (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellefontaine_Neighbors,_Missouri)
Texahoma has to be one of a kind being that the two states the town straddles is its namesake. I doubt there is another town between Texas and Oklahoma that would duplicate it.
Marydel along the DE- MD border has the same issue I would imagine, though a Delmar but not another Marydel. Delmar is duplicated in California even though not on the DE- MD state border.
Quote from: oscar on January 14, 2019, 08:16:57 PM
For some others from those threads, which I've visited:
Asbestos, Quebec
Spelled "Asbestos" maybe, but there is Shimian (石棉) county in Sichuan, China, which translates to "Asbestos".
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on March 29, 2019, 04:39:56 AM
Quote from: oscar on January 14, 2019, 08:16:57 PM
For some others from those threads, which I've visited:
Asbestos, Quebec
Spelled "Asbestos" maybe, but there is Shimian (石棉) county in Sichuan, China, which translates to "Asbestos".
And Asbest, Russia. Guess what they mine there?
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on March 29, 2019, 04:39:56 AM
Quote from: oscar on January 14, 2019, 08:16:57 PM
For some others from those threads, which I've visited:
Asbestos, Quebec
Spelled "Asbestos" maybe, but there is Shimian (石棉) county in Sichuan, China, which translates to "Asbestos".
If we're going to count translations, then many names in the US that are derived from Native American languages don't count either.
Chugwater, WY.
Rahway in New Jersey has to be one of a kind.
Another big no for this thread. Houma, Louisiana isn't unique, as there is the county-level city of 侯马 (Hóumǎ) in Shanxi, China.
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on April 02, 2019, 08:17:41 AM
Another big no for this thread. Houma, Louisiana isn't unique, as there is the county-level city of 侯马 (Hóumǎ) in Shanxi, China.
I don't think that counts.
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on April 02, 2019, 02:28:00 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on April 02, 2019, 08:17:41 AM
Another big no for this thread. Houma, Louisiana isn't unique, as there is the county-level city of 侯马 (Hóumǎ) in Shanxi, China.
I don't think that counts.
It should. A city named Beijing in the US wouldn't count because of the one in China, even though it's also transliterated.
Quote from: 1 on April 02, 2019, 02:29:20 PM
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on April 02, 2019, 02:28:00 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on April 02, 2019, 08:17:41 AM
Another big no for this thread. Houma, Louisiana isn't unique, as there is the county-level city of 侯马 (Hóumǎ) in Shanxi, China.
I don't think that counts.
It should. A city named Beijing in the US wouldn't count because of the one in China, even though it's also transliterated.
Sure, but that's because a hypothetical Beijing in the US is likely named for the Chinese city.
Houma, LA was named for the natives who formerly lived there. Vastly different etymology from whatever the Chinese city is named after.
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on April 02, 2019, 02:32:23 PM
Quote from: 1 on April 02, 2019, 02:29:20 PM
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on April 02, 2019, 02:28:00 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on April 02, 2019, 08:17:41 AM
Another big no for this thread. Houma, Louisiana isn't unique, as there is the county-level city of 侯马 (Hóumǎ) in Shanxi, China.
I don't think that counts.
It should. A city named Beijing in the US wouldn't count because of the one in China, even though it's also transliterated.
Sure, but that's because a hypothetical Beijing in the US is likely named for the Chinese city.
Houma, LA was named for the natives who formerly lived there. Vastly different etymology from whatever the Chinese city is named after.
So, then, what about towns named Clinton that aren't named after the same person?
Quote from: kphoger on April 02, 2019, 02:47:57 PM
So, then, what about towns named Clinton that aren't named after the same person?
The name "Clinton" likely has the same origin/etymology between two different people with that same last name, even if they're not related. I would count that as the same.
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on April 02, 2019, 08:17:41 AM
Another big no for this thread. Houma, Louisiana isn't unique, as there is the county-level city of 侯马 (Hóumǎ) in Shanxi, China.
Houma I almost moved there. Great city not too much development and far enough away from NOLA to want to go to the big city without a lengthy drive.
If my friend did not wiggle out of a deal he made with someone and meet a conman in the process I would have helped him build a community there. I liked the people there and though not one of a kind name a one of a kind type of city.
Houma, Shanxi has 290,000 people
Houma, Louisana has...34,000.
Cal-Nev-Ari, NV
Kanorado, KS
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on March 29, 2019, 04:39:56 AM
Quote from: oscar on January 14, 2019, 08:16:57 PM
For some others from those threads, which I've visited:
Asbestos, Quebec
Spelled "Asbestos" maybe, but there is Shimian (石棉) county in Sichuan, China, which translates to "Asbestos".
Tom Scott did a segment on Asbestos, Quebec due to the history of mining in that area.
Quote from: Rushmeister on January 15, 2019, 12:52:41 PM
Indiana (almost certainly one-of-a-kinds)
Nappanee
Oolitic
Gnaw Bone
Don't forget East Oolitic.
Question: would Texarkana, TX/AR and Kansas City, KS/MO be considered one city or two for the purposes of this thread?
This one is a challenge for Iowa, if native American names don't count. The one that definitely fits is Le Mars. I suspect Dubuque and Bettendorf are unique.
A few I can think of off the top of my head:
Bad Axe, MI
Frankenmuth, MI
Pinconning, MI
Pigeon Forge, TN
Elizabeth City, NC
Kill Devil Hills, NC
Kitty Hawk, NC
Virginia Beach, VA
Myrtle Beach, SC
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 22, 2020, 12:10:46 AM
Elizabeth City, NC
This seems like a cop-out. There's a lot of cities named "Elizabeth".
Quote from: jakeroot on April 22, 2020, 01:19:59 AM
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 22, 2020, 12:10:46 AM
Elizabeth City, NC
This seems like a cop-out. There's a lot of cities named "Elizabeth".
Yes, but not "Elizabeth City" .
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 22, 2020, 01:33:27 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on April 22, 2020, 01:19:59 AM
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 22, 2020, 12:10:46 AM
Elizabeth City, NC
This seems like a cop-out. There's a lot of cities named "Elizabeth".
Yes, but not "Elizabeth City" .
So adding "City" makes it one-of-a-kind? I guess it gets in on a technicality**, but I feel like it misses the spirit of the thread.
Then again, I ain't the OP. Just my opinion.
** There was an Elizabeth City (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_City_(Virginia_Company)) in the Virginia Colony
Quote from: jakeroot on April 22, 2020, 03:15:15 AM
** There was an Elizabeth City (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_City_(Virginia_Company)) in the Virginia Colony
This is where the name comes from. Used to be where Hampton is today.
Quote from: nexus73 on March 18, 2019, 07:00:31 PM
Quote from: Brandon on March 14, 2019, 12:04:21 PM
Quote from: nexus73 on March 14, 2019, 01:53:15 AM
Powers sounds like a plebian name but it is the only city of Powers I could find with a web search. Their high school is called the Cruisers, which is about timber cruising, not car cruising or naval warships.
Powers, Michigan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powers,_Michigan), a village in the UP.
Is a village in Michigan incorporated or unincorporated? Powers in Oregon is an incorporated city. The police department is one man, the chief. Recently he was set upon by some who wished to do him harm and the citizenry came to his rescue. It sounds like something from the Wild West but that ~is~ the ethos of Powers, an isolated logging town in the Coast Range.
Rick
Powers is incorporated. Fun fact about the Michigan Powers: Their high school (the North Central Jets) won three state titles in a row in boys basketball from 2015 to 2017, winning 84 consecutive games along the way
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 22, 2020, 08:03:46 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on April 22, 2020, 03:15:15 AM
** There was an Elizabeth City (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_City_(Virginia_Company)) in the Virginia Colony
This is where the name comes from. Used to be where Hampton is today.
This website (https://web.archive.org/web/20091203163008/http://www.carolina-north.com/elizabeth_city.html) seems to indicate that Elizabeth City was named after either Queen Elizabeth or Elizabeth Tooley, the latter being more likely as that was the name of a woman who owned a large chunk of the land where the city is today. It could have been named after Queen Elizabeth, but that would simply mean that both the colonial city, as well as the city in North Carolina, had the same eponym.
Statesboro, GA is the only Statesboro in existence.
Other possible one-of-a-kind places that I can think of:
Hohenwald, TN
Tullahoma, TN
Vonore, TN
Sneedville, TN
Alcoa, TN
Quote from: GaryV on January 14, 2019, 07:01:21 PM
Michigan in addition to Zilwaukee
Kalamazoo
Oshtemo
Otsego
Novi
Muskegon
Makatawa
Dowagiac
Allegan
Saugatuck
Hesperia
Newaygo
Onekama
Mackinac/Mackinaw
Tawas
Alpena
Escanaba
Cheboygan
Ontonagon
Petoskey
Charlevoix (or is there one in France?)
Epoufette
Naubinway
Brevort
Brimley
Munising
Manistee
Manistique
Ishpeming
Negaunee
Michigamme
Watersmeet
Copper Harbor
and Hell MI.
Let's see... New Jersey.
My birth town, Hoboken.
Piscataway (it's an unincorporated place in Maryland, so doesn't count against the Jersey one).
Parsippany
Hackensack
Paramus
Barnegat
Oradell
Shamong
Hi-Nella
And of course, Ho-Ho-Kus.
A few in NEPA:
- Brodheadsville
- Kunkletown
- Blakeslee
- Jim Thorpe
- Lehighton
- Stroudsburg
- Effort
- Dunmore
- Throop
- Moosic
- Olyphant
Niceville, Ebro, Kissimmee, Gulf Breeze & DeFuniak Springs, FL
Quote from: allniter89 on April 29, 2020, 02:21:37 AM
Ebro
The Ebro river is a major Spanish river. So not quite unique :-P
Arkansas has a bunch of, mostly unincorporated, town names that are assuredly unique:
1) Figure Five
2) Blue Ball
3) Toad Suck
4) Bald Knob
5) Possum Grape
6) Stinking Bay
7) Goobertown
8) Monkey Run
9) Greasy Corner
10) Bee Branch
11) Negro Head Corner
12) Fifty-Six
13) Piggott
14) Portia
15) Texarkana (well, two of a kind)
16) Marked Tree
17) Tyronza
18) Weiner (good one to end on)
Quote from: MikieTimT on April 29, 2020, 01:46:40 PM
Arkansas has a bunch of, mostly unincorporated, town names that are assuredly unique:
1) Figure Five
2) Blue Ball
3) Toad Suck
4) Bald Knob
5) Possum Grape
6) Stinking Bay
7) Goobertown
8) Monkey Run
9) Greasy Corner
10) Bee Branch
11) Negro Head Corner
12) Fifty-Six
13) Piggott
14) Portia
15) Texarkana (well, two of a kind)
16) Marked Tree
17) Tyronza
18) Weiner (good one to end on)
Great job! :thumbsup:
That was 100x more fun and enjoyable than most of the other lists of random unpronounceable items that I just skipped entirely.
Pennsylvania edition II, or: Whose Idea Was This?
Balls Mills
Loyalsockville
English Center
Quiggleville
Quakake
Bryn Athyn
Slovenska Narodna Podporna Jednota (it's real! (https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1988/09/29/the-town-that-does-nothing-but-polka/a37ecb4f-f29a-4f99-bcec-e40743f00ab5/))
Smethport
And my favorite: Jersey Shore, located in the middle of the woods
Quote from: allniter89 on April 29, 2020, 02:21:37 AM
Kissimmee
I know of at least one additional Kissimmee–in Pennsylvania (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kissimmee,_Pennsylvania).
Quote from: wriddle082 on April 23, 2020, 07:04:21 AM
Statesboro, GA is the only Statesboro in existence.
Other possible one-of-a-kind places that I can think of:
Hohenwald, TN
Tullahoma, TN
Vonore, TN
Sneedville, TN
Alcoa, TN
How could you forget Soddy-Daisy or Gruetli-Laager?
Quote from: DandyDan on April 21, 2020, 05:12:24 AM
This one is a challenge for Iowa, if native American names don't count. The one that definitely fits is Le Mars. I suspect Dubuque and Bettendorf are unique.
Dubuque, I'm not aware of any other.
Bettendorf, Haut-Rhin, Grand Est, France (https://goo.gl/maps/w9mfn8Ez89MKV4Jv6)
Bettendorf, Diekirch, Luxembourg (https://goo.gl/maps/z2KjMWd6yaB8B15K9)
There's also a
Bettendorf in Rheinland-Pfalz (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bettendorf_(Taunus)), but Germany doesn't really do GSV.
Le Mars, Pliboux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France (https://goo.gl/maps/cPeZQi6esobjYDXR9)
Le Mars, Clion, Nouvelle-Acquitaine, France (https://goo.gl/maps/3Vn2uwhYJUXsy1oj6)
Le Mars, Moings, Nouvelle-Acquitaine, France (https://goo.gl/maps/skNmxep3Wenwv5P29)
I can't find any signs for
Dubuque, Kansas (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubuque,_Kansas). But I'm not sure there are any people left living there, really.
Quote from: hbelkins on April 30, 2020, 03:48:02 PM
How could you forget Soddy-Daisy or Gruetli-Laager?
I always think of some sort of lawn care supplement and an obscure small-batch beer when I see those two town names.
For that matter, there probably will never be another
Helena-West Helena (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena%E2%80%93West_Helena,_Arkansas) because it sounds so ridiculous.
Quote from: formulanone on May 01, 2020, 11:35:54 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on April 30, 2020, 03:48:02 PM
How could you forget Soddy-Daisy or Gruetli-Laager?
I always think of some sort of lawn care supplement and an obscure small-batch beer when I see those two town names.
For that matter, there probably will never be another Helena-West Helena (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena%E2%80%93West_Helena,_Arkansas) because it sounds so ridiculous.
I can't imagine the mental gyrations that were behind West Helena maintaining its name in the consolidation.
Quote from: MikieTimT on April 29, 2020, 01:46:40 PM
Arkansas has a bunch of, mostly unincorporated, town names that are assuredly unique:
1) Figure Five
2) Blue Ball
3) Toad Suck
4) Bald Knob
5) Possum Grape
6) Stinking Bay
7) Goobertown
8) Monkey Run
9) Greasy Corner
10) Bee Branch
11) Negro Head Corner
12) Fifty-Six
13) Piggott
14) Portia
15) Texarkana (well, two of a kind)
16) Marked Tree
17) Tyronza
18) Weiner (good one to end on)
Speaking of Arkansas, Paragould may be the only one of its kind. It's a portmanteau of railroad magnates JW Paramore and Jay Gould.
Hattiesburg, MS and Ann Arbor, MI, are probably the only cities with their names.
Quote from: golden eagle on May 31, 2020, 11:28:45 PM
Speaking of Arkansas, Paragould may be the only one of its kind. It's a portmanteau of railroad magnates JW Paramore and Jay Gould.
Hattiesburg, MS and Ann Arbor, MI, are probably the only cities with their names.
I believe you're correct for all three.
Any other Tuscaloosas besides Alabama? I
Quote from: golden eagle on May 31, 2020, 11:28:45 PM
Quote from: MikieTimT on April 29, 2020, 01:46:40 PM
Arkansas has a bunch of, mostly unincorporated, town names that are assuredly unique:
1) Figure Five
2) Blue Ball
3) Toad Suck
4) Bald Knob
5) Possum Grape
6) Stinking Bay
7) Goobertown
8) Monkey Run
9) Greasy Corner
10) Bee Branch
11) Negro Head Corner
12) Fifty-Six
13) Piggott
14) Portia
15) Texarkana (well, two of a kind)
16) Marked Tree
17) Tyronza
18) Weiner (good one to end on)
Speaking of Arkansas, Paragould may be the only one of its kind. It's a portmanteau of railroad magnates JW Paramore and Jay Gould.
Hattiesburg, MS and Ann Arbor, MI, are probably the only cities with their names.
Yeah, and it pissed off Jay Gould to no end that his name came second!
Contra Costa Centre, CA
Lodoga, CA
Duncans Mills, CA
Temecula, CA
Calexico, CA
Cal-Nev-Ari, NV
Copperopolis, CA
Bat Cave, NC.
The only other place that is used is in Batman Reruns, " Right Robin, Let's go the Batcave."
Has anyone mentioned Lizard Lick, NC yet?
Appomattox, VA
Aquebogue, NY
White Sulphur Springs, WV
West Virginia (trying not to duplicate those I mentioned in a recent thread):
Anawalt
Anmoore
Ansted
Barrackville
Bayard
Belington
Black Betsy*
Bolivar
Bramwell
Bruceton Mills
Camden-on-Gauley
Capon Bridge
Carpendale
Delbarton
Droop*
Dunlow*
Durbin
East Lynn*
Elk Garden
Ellenboro
Falling Spring
Fort Gay
Gassaway
Gauley Bridge
Grant Town
Granville
Great Cacapon*
Grimms Landing*
Hacker Valley*
Hambleton
Harpers Ferry
Hartford City
Hazelgreen*
Hedgesville
Hurricane
Huttonsville
Iaeger
Jane Lew
Jumping Branch*
Kanawha Falls*
Kanawha Head*
Kiahsville*
Lavalette*
Lesage*
Looneyville*
Lost Creek
Lumberport
Mabscott
Marlinton
Matewan
Matoaka
Meadow Bridge
Middlebourne
Minnehaha Springs*
Mineralwells*
Mitchell Heights
Monongah
Mount Carbon*
Nutter Fort
Oakvale
Oceana
Paw Paw
Pax
Petroleum*
Pie*
Pipestem*
Poca
Queen Shoals*
Quinwood
Quinnimont*
Rainelle
Rhodell*
Rivesville
Rowlesburg
Salt Rock*
Scott Depot*
Shepherdstown
Sissonville
Six*
Skygusty*
Spanishburg*
Spurlockville*
Star City
Terra Alta
Triadelphia
Tunnelton
War
Wardensville
West Milford
West Union
Wharncliffe*
Womelsdorf (Coalton)
Yawkey*
The ones without an asterisk are purportedly incorporated. I have added some of the more interesting unincorporated placenames, marked with an asterisk*.
And the ones with interesting names ending in "crick", "hollar", "ferk" and "bottum" can be found here: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=31050.msg2709558#msg2709558
Quote from: Dirt Roads on March 11, 2022, 11:21:41 AM
Bolivar
Nope. I've driven through Bolivar, MO, several times.
Quote from: Dirt Roads on March 11, 2022, 11:21:41 AM
Granville
Nope. Granville, OH, and Granville, NY, each have more than 5000 people living there.
Quote from: Dirt Roads on March 11, 2022, 11:21:41 AM
Hurricane
Nope. Hurricane, UT, has a population of more than 20,000.
Quote from: Dirt Roads on March 11, 2022, 11:21:41 AM
Paw Paw
Nope. I've guerilla-camped in and hitchhiked out of Paw Paw, MI.
Quote from: Dirt Roads on March 11, 2022, 11:21:41 AM
Star City
Nope. Star City, AR, is a county seat.
Quote from: Dirt Roads on March 11, 2022, 11:21:41 AM
West Union
Nope. West Union, IA, and West Union, OH, would have something to say about that.
And those are just the ones
I know of. I'm sure there are others on your list that aren't unique to WV.
Quote from: kphoger on March 11, 2022, 11:38:41 AM
Quote from: Dirt Roads on March 11, 2022, 11:21:41 AM
Bolivar
Nope. I've driven through Bolivar, MO, several times.
Quote from: Dirt Roads on March 11, 2022, 11:21:41 AM
Granville
Nope. Granville, OH, and Granville, NY, each have more than 5000 people living there.
Granville, WI was an unincorporated township in Milwaukee County before it joined the City of Milwaukee in the late 1950s.
Mike
Quote from: mgk920 on March 11, 2022, 12:45:47 PM
Quote from: kphoger on March 11, 2022, 11:38:41 AM
Quote from: Dirt Roads on March 11, 2022, 11:21:41 AM
Granville
Nope. Granville, OH, and Granville, NY, each have more than 5000 people living there.
Granville, WI was an unincorporated township in Milwaukee County before it joined the City of Milwaukee in the late 1950s.
Fixed the quote string for you.
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on March 14, 2019, 07:18:22 AM
The city of New Britain, CT has roughly 72,000 people. It's only 9 miles southwest of Hartford. The only other New Britain I've heard of is northwest of Philadelphia. I believe it's on one of the SEPTA rail lines. There's nothing there, from what I've been told, however.
I've seen Hartford, VT (contains the village of White River Junction) and New Haven, IN before.
There is also a City of Hartford, WI. It's not far northwest of Milwaukee.
Nike
Nebraska (for sure):
Wahoo (there's a church in Florida but it's not an actual town)
Wymore
Weeping Water
South Dakota:
Spearfish
Wounded Knee
Wanblee
Dupree?
Yankton (there's an unincorporated place in Oregon, but it's not an actual town)
Sioux Falls
Pierre (especially how we pronounce it lol)
Belle Fourche
Lemmon/North Lemmon ND (same town)
Wakonda
This is just off like 10 minutes digging, but SD/ND probably have a lot more because of placenames derived from Lakota.
Funnily enough, there are two places named Conde in the world. Condé in France, from where we get the famous Princes of Condé etcetera... and Conde, South Dakota, a dying farm town in the middle of nowhere.
A quick search in my travel expense software shows there's only one Winner (in South Dakota).
Quote from: formulanone on March 11, 2022, 02:23:03 PM
A quick search in my travel expense software shows there's only one Winner (in South Dakota).
But can you get a chicken dinner there?
The Homesteader – Winner, SD (https://goo.gl/maps/uGu6xLYMGgcFQMkg6)
Quote from: Pamela Squires
A chicken strip dinner was around $24.
Quote from: Rushmeister on January 15, 2019, 12:52:41 PM
Indiana (almost certainly one-of-a-kinds)
Nappanee
Oolitic
Gnaw Bone
Adding:
Loogootee
Toad Hop
Floyds Knobs
Churubusco
Young America
Roachdale
Hessen Cassel
Jeff
French Lick
Odon
Quote from: westerninterloper on March 11, 2022, 04:10:54 PM
Quote from: Rushmeister on January 15, 2019, 12:52:41 PM
Indiana (almost certainly one-of-a-kinds)
Nappanee
Oolitic
Gnaw Bone
Adding:
Loogootee
Toad Hop
Floyds Knobs
Churubusco
Young America
Roachdale
Hessen Cassel
Jeff
French Lick
Odon
There's Nappanee, Ontario. It's the hometown on singer Avril Lavigne.
Preview, people. Preview.
Here's some possible places in Mississippi that could be only ones in the world:
Bay St. Louis
Belzoni
Escatawpa
Gautier
Hushpuckena
Learned
Pass Christian
Rolling Fork
Saucier
Shuqulak
Peculiar, MO
If I somehow get really rich I'm going to buy a bunch of land, build houses and a post office on it, and name it Waunakee.
Quote from: westerninterloper on March 11, 2022, 04:10:54 PM
Young America
Nope–there's a Young America, MN as well (I only know that because when I was a kid there was some sort of promotion I took part in that involved mailing bottle caps to Young America, MN). Technically the town in MN is called "Norwood Young America" because it merged with a town called Norwood, but I think that's still enough to be able mark Young America, IN off the list of "one-of-a-kind" names.
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 14, 2019, 05:16:21 PM
Zilwaukee, Michigan which was purposely named that so people would confuse it with Milwaukee, Wisconsin in hopes of luring people there to work.
There's also Waukee, Iowa, which was apparently named for the Milwaukee Railroad, but it is pronounced with the accent on the second syllable (wau-KEE). I'm not aware of any other places named Waukee.
Quote from: Scott5114 on March 11, 2022, 09:07:30 PM
Quote from: westerninterloper on March 11, 2022, 04:10:54 PM
Young America
Nope–there's a Young America, MN as well (I only know that because when I was a kid there was some sort of promotion I took part in that involved mailing bottle caps to Young America, MN). Technically the town in MN is called "Norwood Young America" because it merged with a town called Norwood, but I think that's still enough to be able mark Young America, IN off the list of "one-of-a-kind" names.
The one in Minnesota is the only one I was familiar with, actually.
I've driven through that town a few times. Back when my wife's grandparents lived in Waverly, Norwood Young America was along
my somewhat convoluted back-road route (https://goo.gl/maps/1daNBgdmYCvpad9s5) from I-35.
And yes, Norwood and Young America were two separate towns until 1997. I've heard it referred to as simply "Young America" for short, though–as well as simply "Norwood".
Some I suspect are unique to Ontario:
Penetanguishene
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Kawartha Lakes
Batchawana Bay
Kakabeka Falls
Moonbeam
Moosonee
Moose Factory
Petawawa
EDIT: How did I forget Mississauga?
Has anyone mentioned "Cut and Shoot" Texas.
Quote from: iowahighways on March 11, 2022, 09:08:20 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 14, 2019, 05:16:21 PM
Zilwaukee, Michigan which was purposely named that so people would confuse it with Milwaukee, Wisconsin in hopes of luring people there to work.
There's also Waukee, Iowa, which was apparently named for the Milwaukee Railroad, but it is pronounced with the accent on the second syllable (wau-KEE). I'm not aware of any other places named Waukee.
That's kind of funny to me because I lived in Zilwaukee for the first 7 years of my life and the street I lived on is called Waukee Lane. I lived there during the years that the Zilwaukee Bridge was being built as well and remember watching it as it was being built.
Quote from: Rushmeister on January 15, 2019, 12:52:41 PM
Indiana (almost certainly one-of-a-kinds)
Nappanee
Oolitic
Gnaw Bone
Adding:
Loogootee
Toad Hop
Floyds Knobs
Churubusco
Young America
Roachdale
Hessen Cassel
Jeff
French Lick
Odon
How about another one for Indiana: Indianapolis
How about Tittabawassee? It's the name of a township, road and river in Michigan.
Quote from: oscar on January 14, 2019, 08:16:57 PM
There are two (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=13239.msg2000683#msg2000683) prior (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=2951.0) threads about funny/strange place names, that would be good places to look for one-off city/town names. Some of them have been mentioned here already.
For some others from those threads, which I've visited:
Asbestos, Quebec
Due to the controversal reputation of asbestos, the town of Asbestos was renamed Val-des-Sources last year.
Btw, there's no other villages or cities named Coaticook, Magog, Shawinigan. ;)
A few I haven't seen mentioned
Shawano WI
De Pere WI (pronounced Dee Pier or Deep Ear)
Thiry Daems WI
Omro WI
Taycheedah WI
Grantwood Village MO
Webster Groves MO
Olivette MO
Cool Valley MO
Bel-Ridge MO
Moline Acres MO
Dardenne Prairie MO
Des Peres MO (pronounced Day Pair)
Quote from: kphoger on March 11, 2022, 11:38:41 AM
Quote from: Dirt Roads on March 11, 2022, 11:21:41 AM
Bolivar
Nope. I've driven through Bolivar, MO, several times.
Quote from: Dirt Roads on March 11, 2022, 11:21:41 AM
Granville
Nope. Granville, OH, and Granville, NY, each have more than 5000 people living there.
Quote from: Dirt Roads on March 11, 2022, 11:21:41 AM
Hurricane
Nope. Hurricane, UT, has a population of more than 20,000.
Quote from: Dirt Roads on March 11, 2022, 11:21:41 AM
Paw Paw
Nope. I've guerilla-camped in and hitchhiked out of Paw Paw, MI.
Quote from: Dirt Roads on March 11, 2022, 11:21:41 AM
Star City
Nope. Star City, AR, is a county seat.
Quote from: Dirt Roads on March 11, 2022, 11:21:41 AM
West Union
Nope. West Union, IA, and West Union, OH, would have something to say about that.
And those are just the ones I know of. I'm sure there are others on your list that aren't unique to WV.
Probably so; indeed I should have remembered Paw Paw, Michigan since I've been to Kalamazoo (using US-131 and I-94 east of there). I should also point out that Bolivar sounds like Oliver [Twist], and Hurricane rhymes with gun (and locals will remind you of the difference). But in the case of the latter, most folks in West Virginia would say pronounce "Hurricane Katrina" the same way as herr-ee-cun, but they would not pay attention to the difference if you said hurr-eh-cane.
Quote from: kphoger on March 11, 2022, 11:38:41 AM
Quote from: Dirt Roads on March 11, 2022, 11:21:41 AM
Granville
Nope. Granville, OH, and Granville, NY, each have more than 5000 people living there.
And there's a Granville in France as well, in the department no. 50 (Manche) to be exact.
Quote from: DandyDan on April 21, 2020, 05:12:24 AM
This one is a challenge for Iowa, if native American names don't count. The one that definitely fits is Le Mars. I suspect Dubuque and Bettendorf are unique.
Council Bluffs fits the bill, as does Sioux City (unless you count its directionally-named neighbors in Nebraska and South Dakota).
While it's a Native American name, Muscatine is also unique; it was originally named Bloomington, which is anything but unique. I'll add Sigourney; while it's a personal name, unlike the actress, it has a different pronunciation (SIG-er-nee).
I know there are places named Des Moines in Washington and New Mexico, but am not aware of any other place named West Des Moines.
There are also places named Iowa City in California (although Wikipedia says it's called Iowa Hill (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_Hill,_California) now) and Florida (northeast of Orlando), but Iowa City, IA, is the only incorporated place with that name. I thought neighboring Coralville was unique as well (aside from a fictional ghost town on an episode of
The Snorks when I was a kid), but there's one in New South Wales, Australia.
Quote from: Dirt Roads on March 12, 2022, 12:14:00 PM
I should also point out that Bolivar sounds like Oliver [Twist],
:-| So does the one in Missouri.
Quote from: kphoger on March 12, 2022, 06:44:51 PM
Quote from: Dirt Roads on March 12, 2022, 12:14:00 PM
I should also point out that Bolivar sounds like Oliver [Twist],
:-| So does the one in Missouri.
And the one in New York (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bolivar,+NY+14715/@42.070094,-78.1826886,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89d20e48d775a595:0x39fcfeef2eea7620!8m2!3d42.0667332!4d-78.1677878).*
*Actually, I'm not entirely sure if it sounds like Oliver. I've always said Boliv
ar with a hard -ar at the end. But, regardless of how it's pronounced, it definitely exists!
How about Saint-Louis-du-Ha!-Ha! in Quebec?
Golf, Florida.
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on March 12, 2022, 11:01:38 PM
How about Saint-Louis-du-Ha!-Ha! in Quebec?
Yeah good luck finding another one of those! Ha! Ha!
I'm pretty sure there's no other TaumatawhakatangiÂhangakoauauotamateaÂturipukakapikimaungaÂhoronukupokaiwhenÂuakitanatahu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taumatawhakatangi%C2%ADhangakoauauotamatea%C2%ADturipukakapikimaunga%C2%ADhoronukupokaiwhen%C2%ADuakitanatahu).
Quote from: LilianaUwU on March 15, 2022, 01:55:38 AM
I'm pretty sure there's no other TaumatawhakatangiÂhangakoauauotamateaÂturipukakapikimaungaÂhoronukupokaiwhenÂuakitanatahu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taumatawhakatangi%C2%ADhangakoauauotamatea%C2%ADturipukakapikimaunga%C2%ADhoronukupokaiwhen%C2%ADuakitanatahu).
How do you even say that word? It has 85 letters in it holy shit.
Quote from: LilianaUwU on March 15, 2022, 01:55:38 AM
I'm pretty sure there's no other TaumatawhakatangiÂhangakoauauotamateaÂturipukakapikimaungaÂhoronukupokaiwhenÂuakitanatahu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taumatawhakatangi%C2%ADhangakoauauotamatea%C2%ADturipukakapikimaunga%C2%ADhoronukupokaiwhen%C2%ADuakitanatahu).
not a city/town name
Quote from: Flint1979 on March 15, 2022, 07:24:53 AM
How do you even say that word?
[tɐʉmɐtɐ.ɸɐkɐtɐŋihɐŋɐ.koːɐʉɐʉ.ɔ.tɐmɐtɛɐ.tʉɾi.pʉkɐkɐ.piki.mɐʉŋɐ.hɔɾɔ.nʉkʉ.pɔkɐi.ɸɛnʉɐ.ki.tɐnɐ.tɐhʉ]
Llanfairpwyllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Wales.
Quote from: kphoger on March 15, 2022, 09:45:55 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on March 15, 2022, 07:24:53 AM
How do you even say that word?
[tɐʉmɐtɐ.ɸɐkɐtɐŋihɐŋɐ.koːɐʉɐʉ.ɔ.tɐmɐtɛɐ.tʉɾi.pʉkɐkɐ.piki.mɐʉŋɐ.hɔɾɔ.nʉkʉ.pɔkɐi.ɸɛnʉɐ.ki.tɐnɐ.tɐhʉ]
I give up lol.
Pretty sure Naubinway MI is unique.
Truth or Consequences, NM
Puyallup, WA
Sequim, WA
Anaheim, CA (my hometown)
Mancos, CO
Mexican Hat, UT
Moab, UT
Kayenta, AZ
Tonalea, AZ
Quote from: Mark68 on March 16, 2022, 02:00:30 PM
Mexican Hat, UT
Unique as it is, it may not be one-of-a-kind enough as there is a Mexican
Water very close by across the border in Arizona. There's even a sign with both places on it at the US 191/163 split, which has to be confusing if you aren't familiar with the area...
(https://i.imgur.com/uQokQpz.jpg)
Beaverlick Kentucky located in Boone County
Dwarf, Kentucky located in Perry County