Have you ever wondered about the stories behind some of the funniest town names in the United States? Let’s take a journey through some of these amusingly named places and discover the tales behind them!
First up is Hell, Michigan. This small town, located about 50 miles from Detroit, has embraced its fiery name with a sense of humor. You can get married at the Hell Chapel of Love or even become the mayor of Hell for a day! The origin of the name is debated, but one story suggests it came from German tourists who exclaimed “soan hell,” meaning “so beautifully bright,” on a sunny day.
In Vermont, there’s a place called Satan’s Kingdom. Legend has it that a disappointed settler named it after finding rocks and hills instead of fertile land. Despite its ominous name, it’s just another quirky town with a story to tell.
Arizona has a town named Why. Originally, it was supposed to be called “Y” after a Y-shaped highway intersection, but state law required at least three letters for a town name. Thus, “Why” was born!
Gas, Kansas, got its name when natural gas was discovered there in 1898. The town has fun with its name, using the motto “Don’t pass gas; stop and enjoy it.”
Belchertown, Massachusetts, might sound funny, but it’s actually named after Jonathan Belcher, a colonial governor. The name might not have a humorous origin, but it certainly raises a smile today.
Pennsylvania is home to Blue Ball and Intercourse, two towns with names that often make people chuckle. Blue Ball was named after an inn, while Intercourse has a more historical origin related to the town’s location.
Bumpass, Virginia, is pronounced “Bumpus,” but that doesn’t stop the jokes. The town’s residents have learned to embrace the humor in their name.
Butts, Missouri, is named after a local family, but it still gets plenty of laughs. It’s located in the scenic Mark Twain National Forest.
Why Not, North Carolina, got its name when residents couldn’t agree on a name. Someone suggested, “Why not name it Why Not?” and the name stuck.
No Name, Colorado, is near No Name Creek and No Name Canyon. The name might seem mysterious, but it’s simply a reflection of the area’s geography.
Knockemstiff, Ohio, has a colorful history. One story says a local woman threatened to “knock him stiff” during a fight, giving the town its unique name.
Bacon Level, Alabama, got its name when travelers were robbed of their supplies, including bacon, at a level spot on the trail. The name has stuck ever since.
Two Egg, Florida, was named during the Great Depression when two boys traded eggs for sugar at a local store. The name reflects the town’s resourceful past.
There are several towns named Sandwich in the U.S., including one in Massachusetts and another in Illinois. The Massachusetts town is named after John Montague, the Fourth Earl of Sandwich, while the Illinois town was renamed after a politician’s hometown.
Hot Coffee, Mississippi, was a popular stop for travelers. A local store claimed to serve the best hot coffee, and the name became a lasting part of the town’s identity.
Bug Tussle, Kentucky, reportedly got its name from a bug problem in hay piles where workers napped. The name captures the town’s quirky history.
Boring, Maryland, was named after its first postmaster, David J. Boring. The town’s name might sound dull, but it’s anything but boring!
Rough and Ready, California, was named after a local mining company. The town’s residents were known for their strong beliefs and even declared independence from the U.S. in the 1850s.
Catch Corner, Delaware, got its name from a group of rowdy bar patrons. Locals would warn strangers about the corner, saying they’d “catch ye at the corner.”
Hazardville, Connecticut, was named after Colonel Augustus George Hazard, who expanded a local gunpowder company. Despite its name, the town has a safe and friendly atmosphere.
Volcano, Hawaii, is near active volcanoes in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The name is a straightforward reflection of the area’s volcanic activity.
Unalaska, Alaska, is the largest city in the Aleutian Islands. Its name evolved from “Aunola” and reflects its proximity to Alaska.
Smackover, Arkansas, may have gotten its name from the French “Chemin Couvert,” referring to a covered trail. The name has stuck, adding to the town’s charm.
Santa Claus, Indiana, was originally named Santa Fe, but when a post office was needed, the name was changed to Santa Claus. The town embraces its festive name with holiday-themed attractions.
What Cheer, Iowa, was named by a settler who wanted a cheerful name for the town. Today, it hosts a popular flea market and events at its opera house.
Yas, Louisiana, was named after the slogan “You need us” from a local lumber company. The town’s name serves as a clever marketing tool.
The Porcupine Islands near Bar Harbor, Maine, are named for their spiky appearance due to clustered trees. The islands include Burnt Porcupine Island, Long Porcupine Island, and others.
Nimrod, Minnesota, is named after a mighty hunter from the Bible. The name might sound funny, but it’s a nod to the town’s historical roots.
Magnet, Nebraska, was named to attract people to the town. The simple name reflects the town’s welcoming spirit.
Jigs, Nevada, was named by a local hotel owner after a comic strip character. The name adds a playful touch to the town’s identity.
Loveladies, New Jersey, is named after Thomas Lovelady, a local figure. The name has a romantic ring to it, making it a unique place to visit.
Candy Kitchen, New Mexico, got its name during Prohibition when a moonshine distillery used a candy shop as a front. Today, the town is home to a wolf sanctuary.
Neversink, New York, was ironically flooded in the 1950s to create a reservoir. The town was relocated, but its name remains a reminder of its history.
Cannonball, North Dakota, is named after spherical rock formations resembling cannonballs. These natural wonders can be seen along the Cannonball River.
Gene Autry, Oklahoma, was named after the famous singing cowboy who lived there. The town celebrates his legacy with a museum dedicated to his life.
Zigzag, Oregon, is named after the Zigzag River and Glacier. The town’s name reflects its winding natural features.
Wocket, Rhode Island, might sound French, but its origins are unclear. The name adds a whimsical touch to the town’s character.
Ketchup Town, South Carolina, got its name from farmers who gathered at a local store to “catch up” on news. The name captures the town’s social spirit.
Difficult, Tennessee, was named after a post office found the original name too hard to pronounce. The town embraced the challenge with its unique name.
Ding Dong, Texas, is located in Bell County, but the names aren’t directly related. The town’s name adds a fun twist to its identity.
Mexican Hat, Utah, is named after a sombrero-shaped rock formation. The name is a literal reflection of the town’s distinctive landmark.
Twisp, Washington, might be named after the sound of a wasp. The name adds a whimsical element to the town’s character.
Lick Fork, West Virginia, is likely named after local mineral licks. The name might sound funny, but it reflects the area’s natural features.
Boss, Wisconsin, was named after a local store owner known for being bossy. The name captures the town’s quirky history and adds a playful touch.
These funny town names each have their own unique stories and histories, making them fascinating places to learn about and visit. Whether it’s a name born out of humor, history, or happenstance, each one adds a little charm to the map of the United States.
Imagine you are founding a new town. Think of a funny or quirky name for it and write a short story about how it got its name. Be creative and use your imagination to come up with a unique backstory!
Using a blank map of the United States, mark the location of each funny town name mentioned in the article. Research one additional funny town name not listed and add it to your map. Share your map with the class and discuss any patterns or interesting findings.
In groups, choose one of the funny town names and create a short skit that explains its origin story. Perform your skit for the class, highlighting the humor and history behind the town’s name.
Design a welcome sign for one of the funny towns. Include the town’s name, a catchy slogan, and an illustration that represents its story or unique feature. Present your sign to the class and explain your design choices.
Choose two funny town names and hold a debate on which town has the more interesting or humorous origin story. Use facts from the article and additional research to support your arguments. The class can vote on which town wins the debate!
Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript, with inappropriate language and any potentially sensitive content removed or altered for clarity:
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What’s in a name? If you’re doing it right, possibly a few hearty chuckles. Case in point: Hell, Michigan. This small community, located on Hell Creek just about 50 miles from Detroit, has been around since about 1840, which means they’ve heard all the jokes and turned them into a clever tourism campaign. Want to get married in Hell? The Hell Chapel of Love is waiting for you! There’s also a place to scatter the ashes of your loved ones for about $13. You can also buy one square inch of Hell or preside as its official mayor for one day for $100. Who knew evil was so affordably accessible?
Exactly how this fiery moniker came to be is the source of some debate. One popular theory involves a couple of German tourists stopping there in the 1830s on one particularly sunny day and declaring “soan hell,” which translates to “so beautifully bright.” Another tale points to the appropriately challenging conditions faced by explorers who first encountered the area. An older story puts the origin at a local distillery and the significant amount of fighting it caused. Wherever the truth lies, the people of Hell would like to point out that more people tell you to go to their town than anywhere else on Earth.
I’m Aon McCarthy, editor-in-chief of Mental Floss, and that’s just one of the 50 funny town names from each state we’ll be talking about in this episode of The List Show. Let’s get started! We’ve got 49 more ridiculous town names to go, but I imagine there are a few out there that not even the internet knows about. If you come from a place with a less-than-normal name, let us know about it in the comments. Someone has to live in a place called Hairball, Missouri!
When it comes to weird town names, Michigan is far from the only state with unusual names. The community of Satan’s Kingdom in Leicester, Vermont, was said to have been given its name by a disenchanted settler who expected fertile rolling acres but received rocks and hills instead. If you prefer a little positivity in your hometown designation, Montana’s Paradise Valley, not far from Yellowstone National Park, is where you’ll find Pray, a community of less than 800 people that has been around since the early 20th century. Despite its religious-sounding etymology, it was named for Charles Nelson Pray, who was the state’s Congressman at the time.
Why Arizona? Nope, that’s not a question; it’s the official name of this tiny community located near the U.S.-Mexico border. Originally, it was simply supposed to be named “Y,” as in the letter, after the Y-shaped intersection of two nearby highways, which hardly seems inspired. But the story goes that Arizona law requires a minimum of three letters for any place name, hence the more existential-sounding “Why.”
In many cases, three letters are all it takes to paint a vivid picture of a town and what it’s known for. Gas, Kansas, got its name when natural gas was discovered in the area in 1898, but they’ve also made sure to have a little fun with the name. The town’s motto? “Don’t pass gas; stop and enjoy it.”
Let’s move up north to Belchertown, Massachusetts, which, like Gas, has a decidedly less funny origin story than you might hope. It’s named after Jonathan Belcher, who was the governor of both Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, as well as New Jersey during colonial times.
If we can keep the playful theme going for another minute here, try these town names on for size. It might barely qualify as a settlement, but officially, Dickshooter, Idaho, is classified as a populated place. The best guess as to how this place got its moniker seems to be that there was once a guy living in the area named Dick Shooter.
Blue Ball, Pennsylvania, a village in Lancaster County, was named for an inn that sat at the center of town, which was sadly torn down in 1997. If you want to take the most immature road trip of all time, grab some souvenirs in Blue Ball, then hit the road and drive south, where you’ll find Intercourse, Pennsylvania, less than 10 miles away. And while it may be more than 900 miles away from either of those Pennsylvania towns, the most satisfying way to end that particular car ride might be in Climax, Georgia, which got its name from its location at the highest point on the railroad between Savannah and the Chattahoochee River.
Virginia is for lovers, and Bumpass, Virginia, is for lovers of words that sound naughty. The town’s residents seem to have tired of being the butt of so many jokes, though they’d like you to know that the name is pronounced “Bumpus,” thank you very much. Speaking of playful names, in 1981, this town in South Dakota made headlines when the sixth-ever T. rex dinosaur skeleton was discovered there. It is, of course, pronounced “but,” and it was named for a nearby butte, which is an isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top.
But that doesn’t stop the jokes from coming. Genuine enthusiasts can pay a visit to Butts, Missouri, which is located within the Mark Twain National Forest and takes its name from a prominent local family named, you guessed it, the Butts.
In less juvenile names, if Arizona can have a “Y,” then North Carolina can have a “Why not?” It makes even more sense when you learn that the name was decided on when residents of the town, which originally had no name, had to come up with one when the United States Post Office came to town. Suggestions were thrown out and summarily rejected, at which point a resident apparently suggested, “Why not name the town Why Not?” and everyone agreed.
But they could have decided on No Name, which would have put them in contest with No Name, Colorado. Well, there are all sorts of explanations for why the community went with No Name. The real answer is that it’s probably near No Name Creek and No Name Canyon.
Though there are multiple versions of how Knockemstiff, Ohio, came to deserve that title, its residents were said to have a pugnacious reputation in the town’s earliest days. The most popular story centers around a local woman who was in a fight with either her husband or her husband’s girlfriend and commented that she was going to “knock him stiff.”
It may sound like some higher plane of breakfast meat existence, but Bacon Level, Alabama, is a tiny town that’s been around since the pioneer days. It reportedly got its name when a couple of travelers were robbed of their supplies, including their meaty provisions. They were apparently told that a couple of local outlaws were known to be staying in an area where the trail leveled out. They checked it out, and sure enough, there was their breakfast—hence Bacon Level.
Few things go better with bacon than eggs, but why not up the ante with Two Egg, Florida? This town supposedly got its name during the Great Depression when two enterprising youngsters in need of sugar traded with a shopkeeper for two eggs.
The U.S. is home to a few different places named Sandwich, including one in Massachusetts, but there’s a connection between Sandwich, New Hampshire, and Sandwich, Illinois. In the 1760s, a town in New Hampshire’s White Mountains was chartered and named after a prominent British politician, John Montague, the Fourth Earl of Sandwich, who is credited with the invention of the sandwich. Sandwich in Illinois, meanwhile, was originally founded as Almond, Illinois. It got a name change when a prominent politician worked to get a train stop in the area, and it was renamed Sandwich after the politician’s New Hampshire hometown.
Oh, and the guy responsible for Sandwich, New Hampshire? Benning Wentworth. Illinois’ John Wentworth—yay nepotism!
Hot Coffee, Mississippi, used to be a popular pit stop for horse and carriages traveling in the area. It was the perfect midpoint between Naches, Mississippi, and Mobile, Alabama. It’s said an enterprising local decided to capitalize on this foot traffic by building a store that claimed to serve the best hot coffee around. Given that there was literally nothing else around, who are we to argue?
Bug Tussle, Kentucky, is a tiny village not far from the Tennessee border that apparently once faced a pretty big bug problem. The bugs could often be found in the piles of hay that local workers used for napping and reportedly got so big that people would have to tussle with them in order to nab the best napping spot.
This sounds like my worst nightmare. Fairview, Maryland, is a fine town name, but it wasn’t good enough for the postal service. When setting up a post office in the village in 1880, the town was informed that because there were so many Fairviews, they should change their name. So they decided to name it after their first postmaster, David J. Boring, and Boring, Maryland, was born.
It’s not just politicians and town founders who have places named after them. Rough and Ready, California, may have been named for a local mining company, but it also may have been a self-fulfilling prophecy. The town’s earliest residents were known to stand up for their beliefs and, in the 1850s, seceded from the Union and became their own republic. They were unhappy about taxation.
Catch Corner, Delaware, an unincorporated community located just about a mile from the Pennsylvania border, reportedly got its name from a group of belligerent folks who frequented a local bar. They were so belligerent that locals would reportedly warn strangers off of going near the place, as they’ll “catch ye at the corner.”
While Hazardville, Connecticut, was well-known as a production hotspot for gunpowder, the name came about in a much less hazardous way. It was named after Colonel Augustus George Hazard, who purchased and expanded the company in 1837.
Volcano, Hawaii, is a stone’s throw away from the active volcanoes within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It was named Volcano because, well, do I really need to keep going? Based on the name alone, you might think that Unalaska is located in any state but Alaska, but you would be wrong. In fact, it’s the largest city in the Aleutian Islands. Its name just sort of morphed into that after being originally known as Aunola, then Unalaska, and probably references that it’s near Alaska rather than not Alaska.
Smackover, Arkansas, was originally settled by French trappers, and it’s believed that the town earned its semi-violent-sounding name as a result of the French name of the local creek, Sheman CU. But some pose other possibilities, like the name just sticking after someone marveled about how a settler had jumped smack over the local creek.
If you’ve ever wondered where your childhood letters to Old St. Nick ended up, the answer might lie in Santa Claus, Indiana. This very festive town in the Hoosier State didn’t always have that name, though. It was originally named Santa Fe, or maybe Santa Fe, Indiana, but when they tried to open a post office, they were denied as a different town in Indiana had grabbed the name first. So they chose Santa Claus.
I see no problem with this! Iowa may not be on everyone’s road trip bucket list, but one small town might be a cheerful incentive. What Cheer, Iowa, was founded over 150 years ago by a settler named Peter, who narcissistically named the town Petersburg. But someone else had the idea to change the name to What Cheer, and the rest is history. While the town has less than a thousand residents, they do have a killer flea market and events at their opera house, making it a pretty cheerful place to visit, if I do say so myself.
Some town names have seemingly random or inscrutable origins; others are simple marketing ploys. Take Yas, Louisiana. At first glance, this town name might not sound like much until you separate it a bit: “You need us.” Okay, maybe a bit self-aggrandizing, but why? Well, the town formed around the Lake Superior Piling Company, a lumber company that built model farms in the area. Their slogan? “You need us.” With a bit of nudging, they made the whole town’s name essentially free advertising for themselves. Brilliant or dastardly? I can’t say.
The next one is less of a formal residential town with a silly name and more of a group of islands off the coast of Maine that all have unique names. The Porcupine Islands are near Bar Harbor, Maine. If you look at a photo of them and squint a little bit, you can sort of get why they got their moniker—they’re round and look spiky due to their clustered trees. Sure, why not? There are five islands in total: Burnt Porcupine Island, Long Porcupine Island, Bald Porcupine Island, Sheep Porcupine Island, and Rum Key. Yeah, that last one frustrates me too.
Nimrod, Minnesota, sort of speaks for itself. Well, actually, maybe it doesn’t. It’s named after the mighty hunter from the book of Genesis, not the band. So it’s not as insulting as the name might first appear. Sometimes the simplest answer is the best answer. When settler B. Smith was tasked with naming a new town in Nebraska, he had one goal: attract as many people to the town as possible. So naturally, he named the town Magnet.
Jigs, Nevada, is just plain fun to say. The town, which is on the opposite side of the state from any Nevada city you’ve heard of, didn’t have a proper name before 1918. A man named Albert Henkins was put in charge of giving it a title. Why him? Well, he owned the town’s hotel, general store, and dance hall, so naturally, he was the most important person for miles. His kid suggested the name Jigs, which was the name of a protagonist from a popular comic strip at the time. He gave it the stamp of approval, and Jigs was born.
They say New Jersey is for lovers, which, okay, no one has ever said that, but if you do go, you can visit Loveladies, which is named after a local named Thomas Lovelady. If you have a sweet tooth, you might be drawn to Candy Kitchen, New Mexico. As the story goes, during Prohibition, a local moonshine distillery needed a front—”No, no, no, we don’t sell liquor; we sell candy!” The name stuck, and the western New Mexico town has been Candy Kitchen ever since. Fun fact: there’s now a wolf sanctuary in Candy Kitchen.
The town of Neversink in New York sounds more like a boat than a town, but I suppose having your town be unsinkable is just as important. Unfortunately, either out of some divine irony or just plain bad luck, the town of Neversink literally sunk in the 1950s. It was one of multiple Catskills towns that were flooded in order to create reservoirs to provide water to New York City. It was luckily relocated, but the original Neversink now sits about 175 feet below water.
Cannonball, North Dakota, is obviously named after some sort of battle that happened 200 years ago, right? Wrong! The town is named after a river, which is named after very peculiar natural formations that can be found lying on the ground. Sediment over the course of millions of years formed around plants and shells to create rocks that resemble unnaturally perfect spheres, kind of like cannonballs. Make sure to travel along the Cannonball River to see your fair share of these natural wonders.
Gene Autry, if you’re unfamiliar, was known as the singing cowboy. He was an actor, musician, rodeo mogul—the whole nine yards. He moved to a small town named Berwyn, Oklahoma, before World War II and opened up a ranch. The town was so excited about having the famous Gene Autry in town that they did what any reasonable people would do: changed the name of the town to Gene Autry, Oklahoma. Gene’s Radio Ranch is gone now, but you can find a museum dedicated to the late actor in the middle of Mount Hood National Forest.
There lies an unincorporated area called Zigzag, Oregon. It’s named after the Zigzag River, which drains from the Zigzag Glacier. It’s just a real zigzaggy place! Wocket, Rhode Island, was once known as the most French city in the United States, so you might be thinking that Wound Socket might have some sort of French origin. Nope! It might be a corruption from a Native American language, but experts aren’t sure. But I, on the other hand, am sure about one thing: Wound Socket is a very silly word.
Ketchup Town, South Carolina, sounds like it could be home to the Heinz headquarters, but surprisingly, the town isn’t named after the condiment at all. As the story goes, farmers were at the local country store every week to gossip and catch up. It became such an important tradition that the name stuck.
If you’re looking for easy living, look no further than Difficult, Tennessee. This community in the Volunteer State may not be very big, but its name definitely stands out. There are a few competing stories, but one says that when the original name was submitted to the post office, they were informed that either the pronunciation or spelling of their proposed name was too difficult. So they responded in perfectly spiteful form by submitting the name Difficult.
If you’re looking for some beautiful wordplay, boy, do I have a town for you! The town of Ding Dong, Texas, is amazing in its own right, but it’s also part of a county named—wait for it—Bell. Hilariously, the two names aren’t actually directly related; they’re both named after a person or family named Bell, but they’re totally different Bells.
Sometimes things just work out. Mexican Hat, Utah, is about as literal as it comes. Northeast of the town, there’s a 60-foot wide rock formation in the shape of a sombrero. If you’re wondering why they didn’t just name the place Sombrero, Utah, I don’t know either!
Who doesn’t love an anomaly? In Washington, there lies a small town that is potentially named after the sound of a wasp. Its origins are unclear. The town is Twisp, Washington, and if you’re thinking to yourself, “I would have gone for Washington,” I don’t disagree. But Twisp is undeniably whimsical.
There are very few town names that are basically complete sentences, but sometimes you get a gem like Lick Fork, West Virginia. While this might sound like a place dedicated to eating every crumb of delicious food from your plate, it’s most likely named after some local mineral licks. A girl can dream, can’t she?
There’s a story in Wisconsin about a man named William Henry D. who was ill as a child and got used to the attention he received. As an adult, this led to him being a very bossy man. He received the nickname “Boss,” and after he opened a store in town,
Town – A populated area that is smaller than a city and larger than a village, often having its own local government. – The town of Gettysburg is famous for the pivotal battle that took place there during the American Civil War.
Name – A word or set of words by which a person, place, or thing is known, addressed, or referred to. – The name “Boston” is associated with many significant events in American history, including the Boston Tea Party.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Learning about the history of ancient Egypt helps us understand how early civilizations developed.
Geography – The study of the physical features of the Earth and its atmosphere, and how human activity affects and is affected by these. – Geography helps us understand why certain civilizations thrived in specific locations due to natural resources and climate.
Michigan – A state in the northern United States, known for its Great Lakes and automotive industry. – Michigan played a crucial role in the industrialization of the United States, particularly with the rise of the automobile industry in Detroit.
Vermont – A state in the northeastern United States, known for its natural landscapes and maple syrup production. – Vermont was the first state to join the Union after the original thirteen colonies, becoming the 14th state in 1791.
Arizona – A state in the southwestern United States, known for its desert climate and the Grand Canyon. – The Grand Canyon in Arizona is one of the most famous natural landmarks in the world, attracting millions of visitors each year.
Kansas – A state in the central United States, known for its flat plains and agricultural output. – Kansas was a key battleground during the period known as “Bleeding Kansas,” which was a precursor to the American Civil War.
Massachusetts – A state in the northeastern United States, known for its colonial history and role in the American Revolution. – Massachusetts is home to Plymouth, where the Pilgrims landed in 1620, marking one of the earliest settlements in North America.
Florida – A state in the southeastern United States, known for its warm climate and tourist attractions like Disney World. – Florida was the site of the first European settlement in what is now the United States, established by the Spanish in St. Augustine in 1565.
