Does the name of a town in the United States really matter? Well, apparently not in Colorado.
No Name, Colorado – pop 269 2022 – Garfield County and a part of the Glenwood Springs area. Rumor has it residents wrote “No Name” on a state form asking for the town’s name, but it’s actually named for nearby No Name Creek and No Name Canyon.
The age old question – and answer
Why ask “Why” when you can ask “Why Not”! That’s what the states of Arizona and North Carolina decided when they named their towns, and they are still debating these questions.
When you’re on your next cross-country road trip in the United States, I suggest starting the debate for yourself out West by asking “Why?” in Arizona, and then getting your answer, “Whynot,” when you hit North Carolina.
Why, Arizona – an unincorporated community in Pima County. Locals called the spot “the Y” after the Y-shaped intersection of State Routes 85 and 86, and they wanted the town to be named “Y”. However, because of the pesky legalities, the name had to be at least three letters long so…Y became “Why” and there ends the question we all ask…Why, Arizona? Why?
Whynot, North Carolina – pop. 100 residents (approximately) founded in 1860 and is a part of the North Carolina Pottery Highway. During the voting of the new town’s name, one man got so fed up with the bureaucratic process that when the new residents around him continued to argue “Why not?!” for each suggestion he proclaimed “Let’s just call it Whynot and go home!” And that’s how legends are born!
Pardon our English
Many of us have heard of the following town names and either laughed the Yoo-hoo! out of our noses or dropped our jaws in “the horror!” Me? I’m still finding remnants of yoohoo! in my car seats.
Here are just some of the facts to these known and less known towns that will keep your roadtripping interesting this summer.
Boring, Maryland – a tiny Baltimore County community of about 40 houses in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area. Was originally named Fairview but changed due to all of the Fairviews along the railways. Now, it is named after postmaster, David Boring. It was also once known for its annual Boring Gas Engine Show and Flea Market.
Intercourse, Pennsylvania – pop 1,494 2020 – Nestled right near the town of Blue Ball, this town has provided many teenagers and teenage minded adults chuckles throughout the years. It is located in, of all places, Amish country. Originally named Cross Keys after a local tavern. But how did it get its very suggestive name? Many theories are out there. Some are conspiracies, some just absurd, but the most factual theory points to the two main roads that “cross” each other, and back in 1814, when the village was renamed, the word “intercourse” didn’t have a sexual connotation, so the name was very innocent then. Until the teenagers took over! Now it’s fun for all of us.
Climax, Georgia – pop. 276 2020 – part of Decatur county. Named Climax because it is near the highest part of the railroad and apparently, when you reach the top of this peak you get filled with such joy and overwhelming senses. So, after visiting Intercourse, PA, head on down to GA and get the full experience of your road trip. But don’t rush it or you might prematurely give up on your journey.
Rough and Ready, California – pop. 905 2020 – The town got its name from an old mining company out of Wisconsin during the California Gold Rush. The name of the company was “Rough and Ready” which is the nickname of our 12th President of the United States, Zachary Taylor. This is the only surviving of three towns in California that carried the same name.
Screamer, Alabama – In Henry County, Alabama, about 12 miles north of Abbeville, sits the quiet little unincorporated community of Screamer, not far from the Georgia border. There is not much that can be found about this town. I guess those who know have been silenced.
Knockemstiff, Ohio – pop. about 200 – There are many bar jokes, tall tales, and conspiracy theories debated as to how in the heck this town got this name. Most rely on the tales of adulterers who were given a preacher’s advice to a wife to knock her cheating husband stiff. Others talk about this being a prominent moonshine town who created concoctions that would knock their consumer stiff after drinking. All of them are great stories and so many jokes to be had. Nonetheless, perhaps after a night over at Rough and Ready, California, you might want to or need to go to Knockemstiff, Ohio to blow off some steam.
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico – 6,052 2020 – This one is my favorite but only because I’ve been there and spent time in some of their hot springs. I was always interested in how the name got to be and learned, during this research, that this was all due to a radio show contest. The town was originally named Hot Springs. However, because in 1950 host Ralph Edwards announced to the world that the radio show “Truth or Consequences” would air its 10th anniversary broadcast from the first town in the United States willing to change its name to the show’s name, Hot Springs, New Mexico won the contest and is forever known as Truth or Consequences, outliving the show that started all of this bewilderment.
Satan’s Kingdom, Vermont – or – Massachusetts – I guess the Kingdom is larger than we all wish. Let’s start with Vermont. Satan’s Kingdom, VT (in the town of Leicester) – Once upon a time there was a farmer who was trying desperately to farm the land but exclaimed after many failed attempts “Nothing will grow here because it is Satan’s Kingdom!” due to the rocky and infertile soil. Down south in Massachusetts, a second Satan’s Kingdom, a tiny village in Northfield near the Vermont line, has its own devilish legend. Satan has his secrets here. This town is named also, as history recalls, when during a local sermon about the fires of a hell a parishioner saw through the stained glass windows a huge fire blazing on the Connecticut River and in horror at the sight, yelled “Satan’s Kingdom is on fire!” Now that’s not a nice thing to say about Connecticut.
Hell, Michigan – pop. 72 2020 – Within the Livingston County of Michigan lies Hell. It seems that Hell is actually Heaven on Earth; well, according to the locals. Nobody knows for sure how Hell, Michigan got its name. The favorite legend says that when settler George Reeves was asked what to call the place, he answered, “I don’t care, you can name it Hell if you want to.” Another says a pair of German travelers stepped out of their stagecoach and declared, “So schön hell!” (“So beautifully bright!”).
Why ya gotta be so rude?
Tightwad, Missouri
Nimrod, Minnesota
Ding Dong, Texas
What’s for dinner?
Two Egg, Florida
Hot Coffee, Mississippi
Ketchuptown, South Carolina
Candy Kitchen and Pie Town, New Mexico