# Odd place names **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 16, 2003, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129 "2003-06-16T02:30:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Necromancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ac91a4/32.png) [@Necromancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necromancer)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/41 "2003-06-16T23:28:46Z")
There’s a town called [Fucking](http://www.fucking.at/fucking/eOrt.htm) in Austria. ---
**Author:** ![MaryEFoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MaryEFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaryEFoo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/42 "2003-06-16T23:29:15Z")
Putah Creek, California Puta in Spanish means whore. Some nicey-nice person added the H on the end and proclaimed it to be of Indian origen. Salsipuedes, California: means Get out if you can. Atascadero, California: means mud-hole; place in the road where you get stuck. Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, California: means skid road (the track you drag logs down with your ox-team in the old days). Palo Alto: means High stick. Just while we’re at it. ---
**Author:** ![Necromancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ac91a4/32.png) [@Necromancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necromancer)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/43 "2003-06-16T23:33:46Z")
We have a few odd place names here in Australia, such as Tittybong, Middle Intercourse Island, Chinaman’s Knob and Wooden Knob. There’s even a place that’s known as [Cock Rock](http://www.thinkhumor.com/images/funnypages/cock1.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/44 "2003-06-17T00:12:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cowgirl \* > \*\*Someone once told me a place name in Wales that is very, very long and filled with strange Welsh prononciations, so that when you say it it doesn’t sound long at all. Sadly, I can’t remember what it is - but this is the right place to ask ! \*\* Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. Note that it has four consecutive Ls in the middle. It’s frequently abbreviated to [Llanfair PG](http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch) and that link explains its origin and pronunciation, but [here’s](http://www.angleseyleisure.com/llanfair.htm) another with a wav link. ---
**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:** [June 17, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/45 "2003-06-17T01:15:36Z")
I’ve always been very fond of Fuquay-Varina, NC. Also Cullowhee, which, while not exactly _funny_, is very fun to say. ---
**Author:** ![RahRahMah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/54ee81/32.png) [@RahRahMah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RahRahMah)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/46 "2003-06-17T01:32:06Z")
How about Assrock, Alberta? That’s the #1 place on my list of places to visit. Or Salmon Arm, BC. Salmon don’t have Arms!! Moosejaw Saskatchewan. All of the millions of places named Eureka… Kissame, in Florida, I think… ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/47 "2003-06-17T01:33:28Z")
Not that it matters, but I think Kissimmee is pronounced “Kis-SIM-ee.” ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/48 "2003-06-17T01:44:53Z")
Don’t forget Felch, Michigan. Or neighboring Felch Mountain! [Felch](http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=16&n=5093849&e=436065&s=25) ---
**Author:** ![Orange\_Skinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/49 "2003-06-17T04:02:03Z")
I’m from North Eastern Ohio–we’ve got a Moorheadsville nearby. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/50 "2003-06-17T06:30:17Z")
In Michigan, it’s 34 miles from Paw Paw to Climax. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/51 "2003-06-17T06:31:40Z")
In some states, it’s even less… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/52 "2003-06-17T07:20:33Z")
More from Oklahoma (actually there is a Moore _in_ Oklahoma: In grade school we used to say a rhyme made up of town names which, when strung together, sounded kinda nasty. Sallisaw Henryetta Wagoner Catusa. There’s also Shidler. Often mispronounced. (It’s SHY-dler) California has some good ones, too. Like “Herlong.” Herlong what? As a child I found the name Cucamonga very funny. ---
**Author:** ![longjohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@longjohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/longjohn)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/53 "2003-06-17T11:31:35Z")
Any other brits ever drive down to Cornwall on the M5 then A30? You can tell you’re getting into serious cider country. Broadwoodwidger is just silly, Polyphant is clearly a pachyderm with an indeterminate number of limbs, and god knows who lives in Ventongimps. Dorking is quite funny too, I think. J. ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/54 "2003-06-17T18:16:29Z")
Should I be bothered by the fact that I’ve some connection to several places named? A grandfather is buried in Truth or Consequences NM, an aunt lived near Slapout OK, and I once attended a conference in French Lick IN. Anyway, here are a few Kansas place names. Speed – I’ve heard tell that the name used to be “Resume Speed,” but I think that was just a joke. Gas – Locals are enured to hearing travelers’ comments about passing Gas; inevitably, the town water tower is marked Gas Kan. Liberal – the name isn’t strange, just its location in such a hopelessly Republican state. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/55 "2003-06-17T18:43:37Z")
In the next county from me there are two villages called Ricklinghall Superior and Ricklinghall Inferior. I wonder if the residents of the latter feel that they are second class citizans?. I think the names actually stem from the fact that one village is located on slightly higher ground then the other. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/56 "2003-06-17T21:43:13Z")
You want a strange story of how a town got it’s name? I will be going to spend a weekend in La Verkin, Utah to participate in a nationwide ham radio contest. How La Verkin got it’s name is very interesting. It used to be a valley full of beavers, hence, the early settlers named it _Beaver Skin_. Next, as a transcribing error when the town was formed, it became _Leaverskin_. Which, when the town was incorporated as a city in 1903, became _La Verkin_. Still a strange name. ---
**Author:** ![flubber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b782af/32.png) [@flubber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flubber)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/57 "2003-06-17T21:59:08Z")
Well there are a bunch of places in newfoundland Canada Bay Despair – thats the pronunciation but the actual spelling is Baie D’espoir which translates loosely as Bay of Hope Dildo-- famed hometown of Playboy model Shannon Tweed ( she actually lived in a nearby town) Come-By-Chance Gayside Blackhead ( the pimple town?) Older towns now defunct if IIRC like Pushthrough Run-by-Guess ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/58 "2003-06-17T23:16:21Z")
My favorite local one is the Rio Culo Seco, or Dry-Ass River. It’s right next to the Rio Bailamonos, or Monkey-Dance River. We also have a neighborhood called Salsipuedes, or Get-Out-If-You-Can. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/59 "2003-06-17T23:43:24Z")
I don’t know if someone mentioned this already, but there’s a Dildo, Newfoundland. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129/60 "2003-06-18T02:44:05Z")
I don’t know about “odd”, but where I live in Texas, there are loads of _extremely unimaginative_ names for towns. I mean, how much brainpower did it take to come up with: [ul] [li]Brownfield[/li][li]Shallowwater[/li][li]Littlefield[/li][li]Levelland[/li][li]Grassland[/li][li]Southland[/li][li]Fieldton[/li][li]and the oh-so-descriptive **Plainview** [/li][/ul] Kinda says it all, don’t it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-place-names/182129.md?page=4)