# Tell me about your location - is it famous for anything? Does it hold any records? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 21, 2007, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934 "2007-09-21T00:53:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/1 "2007-09-21T00:53:03Z")
I was cheered to read this today in the Los Angeles Times: A study by the Texas Transportation Institute shows that Los Angeles and Orange counties (in California) are _the worst_ in the USA for traffic delays. Of course, local officials immediately disputed that. > [@](#): > > An official of the Southern California Assn. of Governments, the regional planning agency for six counties, sharply criticized the Texas findings. The study “does a great disservice to the state and the region,” said Hasan Ikhrata, the organization’s director of planning and policy. “I would not make policy decisions based on their data, period.” Mr. Ikhrata’s objections? The study mistakenly assumed an invalid average speed for rush hour traffic. In fact - traffic is _much slower_ than the Texas study shows, and the situation is _even worse_ than the report indicates! Now I feel better. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/2 "2007-09-21T01:26:34Z")
I’m pretty sure Houston has the largest numbers of both strip clubs and four-level freeway interchanges in the country. ---
**Author:** ![Soapbox\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Soapbox\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soapbox_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/3 "2007-09-21T01:43:04Z")
Coatesville Pennsylvania, location of the last public lynching in American history. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/4 "2007-09-21T01:45:14Z")
At the time of its construction, a bridge connecting the north-bound frontage road to the south-bound frontage road of I-55 in Jackson, Miss. at Briarwood Drive had the most horizontal curvature of any federally-funded bridge in the U.S. [Link.](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=briarwood+drive+and+I-55,+jackson,+ms&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=46.630055,85.078125&ie=UTF8&ll=32.38007,-90.147125&spn=0.003053,0.005193&t=k&z=17&om=1) That record may since have been broken, though. It was built in the late 60’s - early 70’s IIRC. Two interchanges south, you can see a nice [curvy](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=briarwood+drive+and+I-55,+jackson,+ms&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=46.630055,85.078125&ie=UTF8&ll=32.350591,-90.152746&spn=0.003054,0.005193&t=k&z=17&om=1) one. The MDOT at that time did not have a computer large enough to do the finite-element calculations for these, so the data was coded up and sent to CALTRANS for them to run on their machines out there. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/5 "2007-09-21T01:53:24Z")
Chicago: once had the busiest airport, the most gangsters, has the best pizza, Second City Improv, Sits on the Greatest Lake, most corrupt politicians…we’re chock full o’ stuff like that. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/6 "2007-09-21T02:09:29Z")
Topeka, Kansas is the place that Fred Phelps calls home. It was also involved in one of the most famous U.S. Supreme Court cases, _Brown vs. The Board of Education of Topeka._ ---
**Author:** ![MissGypsy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@MissGypsy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissGypsy)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/7 "2007-09-21T02:31:19Z")
George Washington’s first law office is right downtown, preserved as a museum. Patsy Cline grew up here, too, although I believe she was originally from Gore, WV. She lived here, was married here, and is buried here. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/8 "2007-09-21T02:42:29Z")
Bangkok: The naughty nightlife, which is actually much tamer than it used to be, unless you know where to go, which I do. (In fact, the guys are getting together tonight for a live-lesbian-show run.) ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/9 "2007-09-21T02:47:55Z")
I’m fairly certain at least one of those “Best places to live in the US” polls placed Burlington, VT at #1. I think it was an A&E special…let me see if I can dig it up. ---
**Author:** ![Dying\_Butterfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d2c977/32.png) [@Dying\_Butterfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dying_Butterfly)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/10 "2007-09-21T02:53:08Z")
Oak Ridge, Tennessee. We have the Manhattan project, a good lake for rowing, and two McDonald’s. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/11 "2007-09-21T02:55:41Z")
My town is the site where in 1964, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson of Bell Labs discovered the cosmic microwave background radiation. It was also apparently the birthplace of the Transistor. Both of these were courtesy of Bell Labs. Not too bad. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/12 "2007-09-21T02:58:12Z")
I live in Los Angeles, Sir, and Costa Mesa is no Los Angeles. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/13 "2007-09-21T03:11:18Z")
Lancaster, California: home of the Aerospace Walk of Fame AND the Flat Earth Society! The third highest murder rate in Los Angeles county, just behind downtown LA and Compton! Come for the low housing prices, stay for the meth labs and rape. OK, it’s not all bad: Frank Zappa went to high school here (a few grades ahead of my uncle). And R. Lee Ermey lives here (the part of his house containing _Full Metal Jacket_ memorabilia went up in smoke last month :(). ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/14 "2007-09-21T03:26:33Z")
[Turlock](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turlock) is the birthplace of the [pop-up turkey timer.](http://www.bookofjoe.com/2005/11/30_million_turk.html) ---
**Author:** ![DJ\_Motorbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DJ\_Motorbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DJ_Motorbike)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/15 "2007-09-21T03:27:09Z")
Hank Aaron hit his first professional home run out of Carson Park here in Eau Claire. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/16 "2007-09-21T03:30:21Z")
Bill & Ted once spent a lot of time in my town. And I’m reminded of it anytime I tell someone where I live for the first time. Oh, and there’s some sort of H20-based entertainment facility here. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/17 "2007-09-21T03:33:15Z")
A heavily wooded area of south central PA, the Pigeon Hills were once home to thousands of passenger pigeons, a species now sadly extinct. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/18 "2007-09-21T03:36:40Z")
Decatur has a big billboard as you come into town off I-72 on U.S. Business 51 that announces proudly, “Home of the Chicago Bears”. [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Bears) explains it all: > [@](#): > > The club was founded in Decatur, Illinois, in 1919 and moved to Chicago in 1921. We are also the Soybean Capital Of The World, and the home of Archer Daniels Midland. Yes, _that_ Archer Daniels Midland. Biggest swinging dick in town. Stinks up the whole place with the heady aroma of cooking grain. On Monday mornings it’s particularly bad–that’s when they’re most likely to scorch it. City motto, inaugurated after recovering, sort of, from the late 1990s crash: “We Like It Here.” Not a little defensive. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/19 "2007-09-21T03:39:46Z")
At over 35 million people, Metro Tokyo is almost twice as big as the next largest metropolitan area. [Cite.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Largest_Metropolitan_Area) My original hometown was the home of Nancy Kerrigan, and at one point was in the Guinness book for the greatest concentration of gas stations. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934/20 "2007-09-21T03:41:23Z")
Carlisle, Pennsylvania is known for car shows and the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, where Jim Thorpe played football. He’s got a cenotaph in the square, but he’s buried, appropriately enough, in Jim Thorpe, PA, formerly known as Mauch Chunk. We’ve also got Dickinson College, safety school for Ivy League wannabes worldwide (no joke; there are street signs in various foreign languages on the streets near campus) and the Army War College, home of such luminaries as Jay Garner and Tommy Franks. And George Washington slept and went to church here when he mustered the troops to quell the Whiskey Rebellion in western PA. This was the frontier, y’see. Robin [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-location-is-it-famous-for-anything-does-it-hold-any-records/419934.md?page=2)