# Bizarre city and town names? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 10, 2003, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427 "2003-07-10T07:55:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/41 "2003-07-10T23:44:01Z")
Few UK ones here: Cockermouth Bury St. Edmunds (queue old joke: “I’m going to Bury St. Edmunds today” “What!!? I didn’t even know he’d died!”) Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch ---
**Author:** ![Mastema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@Mastema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mastema)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/42 "2003-07-10T23:45:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zeldar \* > \*\*Across the Ohio River from Cincinnati is [Big Bone Lick Kentucky](http://www.uky.edu/KGS/education/bigbonelick.html) \*\* I live 15 or so miles from here. You will find Big Bone Lick State Park conveniently located on Beaver Lick Road. We are all much embarrased by this unfortunate occurance. ---
**Author:** ![c\_carol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@c\_carol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_carol)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/43 "2003-07-10T23:58:42Z")
Verbena beat me to Soddy Daisy, darnit. How about these: Bucksnort, TN; Lizard Lick, NC; Fuquay-Varina, NC. Also, there’s the town where I went to college, beautiful Cullowhee, NC (it’s not exactly _funny_, but it’s tremendously fun to say.) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/44 "2003-07-11T00:03:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mastema \* > \*\*I live 15 or so miles from here. You will find Big Bone Lick State Park conveniently located on Beaver Lick Road. We are all much embarrased by this unfortunate occurance. \*\* How cool, **Mastema**. We visited a buddy from work who moved to the Cincy area and had the distinct pleasure of seeing both those landmarks. This was back in 86 or so. Not back there since. Lovely area. ---
**Author:** ![Anita\_Vacation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Anita\_Vacation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anita_Vacation)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/45 "2003-07-11T00:05:25Z")
Nowhere near as silly as those above, but an interesting story none the less: They say that the mailman couldn’t pronounce Chicamacomico, so he changed the name to Rodanthe, NC. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![chestnutmare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@chestnutmare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chestnutmare)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/46 "2003-07-11T01:30:36Z")
Due West, SC Ninetysix, SC ---
**Author:** ![Katisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/47 "2003-07-11T02:05:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mayfield St. Cloud \* > \*\*On the subject of the OP, I believe there is also a town named Hell in Michigan, and it also freezes over annually. Also, while there is not a town named after it, there is a Podunk lake. Finally, I live now not far from a town named Mikado, which, when you stop and think about it, is a rather strange name for a little town in the middle of Michigan. \*\* It was, of course, named for the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, although naming towns after operettas is a rather strange practice no matter how much fun they are. 😉 Oddly enough, I have not been there, although I have been to Hell – yes, and back again, albeit not in a handbasket. In point of fact I went on a bus… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/48 "2003-07-11T02:12:00Z")
Dry Prong, Louisiana. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/49 "2003-07-11T02:21:30Z")
Last weekend I drove by Toad Suck Park, in Arkansas. Also, between Atlanta and Athens, Georgia, one passes Ho-Hum Hollow Road and Drowning Creek. ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/50 "2003-07-11T02:40:29Z")
My mother was born in Dry Knob, Missouri, and when I was a young lad we lived in Loco Hills, New Mexico. Later we moved to Texas on a farm a few miles from BugTussle, Texas. There are also a pair of cities in the Texas panhandle named Dumas and Dimmit, which I always pronounce ‘Dumb-ass’ and Dimwit. When traveling west, I always pass through Clyde’s Corners, New Mexico (nothing but a big truckstop/giftshop/restaurant) and Truth-or-Consequences, New Mexico (actually named after the game show!) I almost forgot, I drive through Venus, Texas several times a month. I have no idea what the residents call themselves, Jim Bob and Lurline, probably. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![peritrochoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@peritrochoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peritrochoid)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/51 "2003-07-11T02:43:39Z")
aww, man … **Mastema** beat me to Bucksnort, Tennessee. I had been told about it, but never believed anyone until I saw the sign with my own eyes. How about Turtletown or Only, TN. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/52 "2003-07-11T03:12:02Z")
Also in Georgia: Enigma and Talking Rock. There’s also a locality called “Mount Pleasant.” Now the thing about ‘Mount Pleasant’ is that it’s on the South Georgia coastal plain, which is as flat as a pool table. Which means that “Mount” must be a verb, and “Pleasant” is probably some companionable gal’s name. We also have a Murder Creek, a Foe Killer Creek and a Jolly Creek. The first two were definitely NOT named by developers (actually Foe Killer was named for an Indian warrior who lived along its banks). And there’s also a Knucklesville Road. Which implies that somewhere along there is or once was a locality known as “Knucklesville.” ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/53 "2003-07-11T03:39:10Z")
From Kentucky: Hazard Dwarf Happy ---
**Author:** ![Verick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ea666f/32.png) [@Verick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Verick)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/54 "2003-07-11T04:00:53Z")
What a delightful outpouring of city names. To help fan the fires I’ll add in a couple more from Arkansas. Yellville (I guess this name originates in the days before they had a phone system concerning how they would communicate), Possum Grape, (it’s in a wet county, I always go there to get my tequila), and Timbo (which is an odd name, because I know a person named Tim, often referred to as Tim-bo, yes, we’re hillbillies). ---
**Author:** ![Lateralus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@Lateralus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lateralus)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/55 "2003-07-11T05:19:44Z")
Squirrel Level, NC. Yeah, level as in reamed by a semi 😃 ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/56 "2003-07-11T06:24:18Z")
There’s **Cooter, Missouri** , which isn’t far from **Promised Land, Arkansas**. **Snatch Creek, Kentucky**. **Coocheyville, Virginia** is near **Crapo, Maryland**. The sister city is **Shite Creek, Idaho**. Isn’t there a town near Pittsburgh called **Dick, Pennsylvania**? I wonder of folks from there settled **Weiner, Arkansas**? Finally, there’s **Podunk, Connecticut**. ---
**Author:** ![Lukey\_s\_Boat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lukey\_s\_Boat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukey_s_Boat)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/57 "2003-07-11T07:18:23Z")
Somebody already mentioned Dildo, Newfoundland. But they missed the town of South Dildo! There are many lovely names in that province! To wit: Jerry’s Nose Come By Chance Joe Batt’s Arm Witless Bay Heart’s Content Heart’s Desire Little Heart’s Ease Tickle Cove St. Jones Within (and it’s twin, the abandoned village of St. Jones Without) Camp Boggy Goblin and many others! ---
**Author:** ![TwungTister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TwungTister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwungTister)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/58 "2003-07-11T18:32:06Z")
Street name: Cretin Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota. County name: Pee Pee County, somewhere in Minnesota. Body o water: Pee Pee Creek, same place - someone carved PP in the 1700’s. Cities/Towns: Climax, Kerkhoven, Sleepy Eye, Clontarf. The last one is Irish, I think, and I don’t know what it means. But just say it–doesn’t it sound big and ugly? KLAWN TARFF. Arf! ---
**Author:** ![Verick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ea666f/32.png) [@Verick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Verick)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/59 "2003-07-11T19:54:06Z")
Cant forget Whykickamoocow in New Zeland. ---
**Author:** ![Mellenkra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9a28c/32.png) [@Mellenkra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mellenkra)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427/60 "2003-07-11T20:20:48Z")
Hey I live about 10 minutes away from Clontarf 😛 It’s the english butchery of the irish “cluain tarbh” which means meadow of the bull. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-city-and-town-names/187427.md?page=4)