# US cities - three words or more? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 9, 2022, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974 "2022-10-09T14:28:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2022, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/61 "2022-10-10T21:16:40Z")
> [@US cities - three words or more?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/8): > > In WI: Prairie du Chien, Prairie du Sac, Fond du Lac, Lac du Flambeau, Land O’ Lakes, St. Croix Falls, and North Fond du Lac (there may be more) Brian Also Black River Falls and Fontana-on-Geneva Lake ---
**Author:** ![whc.03grady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2022, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/62 "2022-10-10T21:41:37Z")
Owens Cross Roads AL ---
**Author:** ![whc.03grady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2022, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/63 "2022-10-10T21:45:46Z")
Mountain Lake Park MD Red River Hot Springs ID San Luis Obispo CA Big Stone Gap VA ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2022, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/64 "2022-10-10T21:46:07Z")
Three or more words in a town name is not unusual, as this thread demonstrates. I think it’d be more interesting to ask what town name has the most words. And not counting those no-longer-used names of Los Angeles and Santa Fe. Has to be a currently used name. Worldwide, the answer is probably **United Townships of Dysart, Dudley, Harcourt, Guilford, Harburn, Bruton, Havelock, Eyre and Clyde** (13 words) which is in Ontario. Unfortunately, that may fall into the not currently used exception, since it’s usually called Dysart et al. The Village of Indian Hills would probably also fall into that exception, since everyone there just calls it Indian Hills. Some time back, I found a long name of a southern town on a map. If memory serves (and I’m not 100% sure of that) it was “Industrial City of X, Y, and Z Counties”. I don’t remember the counties and for that matter, I’m not sure if it was in Alabama, Georgia or Mississippi. I later read that they’d changed the name to something shorter, so it would be eliminated on that grounds. There’s quite a few 4-word names in this thread. Are there any US names of at least 5 words that are currently in use? ---
**Author:** ![anny\_m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@anny\_m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anny_m)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2022, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/65 "2022-10-10T22:02:50Z")
Indian Head Park IL (a suburb of Chicago) ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2022, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/66 "2022-10-10T22:14:57Z")
Does New York City count? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2022, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/67 "2022-10-10T22:26:11Z")
Nope- the name of the city is just “New York”. Documents, letterhead, etc. often refer to “The City of New York” - but that’s not the name of the city any more than the state’s name is “New York State” or “The State of New York” although those phrases are also used. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2022, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/68 "2022-10-10T22:50:49Z")
It’s not a city (just a named place) and is in Canada, but I just gotta mention Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Alberta. It’s actually a world heritage site. ---
**Author:** ![DoubleG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DoubleG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoubleG)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/69 "2022-10-11T00:07:43Z")
Saint Clair Shores, MI Grosse Pointe Park, MI Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Grosse Pointe Woods, MI ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/70 "2022-10-11T00:16:18Z")
Point Reyes Station, CA, although I’m not sure if it counts as a city – Wikipedia calls it an “unincorporated town”, population 895. ETA: Poking around Google Maps, I discovered Boyes Hot Springs, CA, in Sonoma County, population 6215. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/71 "2022-10-11T01:44:02Z")
Lake Forest Park, WA ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/72 "2022-10-11T01:58:33Z")
There are 100+ townships in Maine with just the designation _TXX RXX WELS_ where the Xs are numbers. Also a bunch called TXX RXX BKP WKR or TX Indian Purchase Township. Also in Maine: Grand Lake Stream, Lake View Plantation, Pleasant Ridge Plantation, St John Plantation, Sandy River Plantation, The Forks Plantation, In NH there are Second College Grant, Atkinson and Gilmanton Academy Grant, Low and Burbank’s Grant, and Thompson and Meserve’s Purchase. Pretty much none of these places have any municipal governments. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/73 "2022-10-11T03:12:18Z")
Bird in Hand, PA ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/74 "2022-10-11T03:21:12Z")
Tyson’s Corner, VA was mentioned a couple times. Isn’t that one word short? Also, it’s entirely commercial; anyone claiming it as a residence has a post office in Vienna or McLean. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/75 "2022-10-11T03:25:27Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > Bird in Hand, PA Where is Two in Bush? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/76 "2022-10-11T03:28:41Z")
Bullitt > Where is Two in Bush? Well, there is a nearby town called Intercourse… ETA: I clearly misunderstood the tenor of your post. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/77 "2022-10-11T22:08:50Z")
Auburn Lake Trails, California San Ramon Village Camanche North Shore Forks of Butte (it’s now a ghost town) Contra Costa Centre Mercey Hot Springs Salton Sea Beach Pilot Knob Station Death Valley Junction Bear Valley Springs China Lake Acres Lake of the Woods Pine Mountain Club Squirrel Mountain Valley Hidden Valley Lake Desert View Highlands Seminole Hot Springs Point Reyes Station Oak Grove Estates New Pine Creek Del Rey Oaks Pacific Grove Estates Tassajara Hot Springs Lake of the Pines Rough and Ready Rancho Santa Margarita San Juan Capistrano Coto de Caza Rancho Mission Viejo Lake Almanor Country Club Lake Almanor Peninsula Little Grass Valley Desert Hot Springs Gilman Hot Springs Willow Springs Station San Juan Bautista Big Bear Lake Mountain View Acres San Antonio Heights Spring Valley Lake Green Valley Lake Mountain Home Village Casa de Oro Jacumba Hot Springs Lake San Marcos San Diego County Estates De Luz Heights Kentwood-In-The-Pines Emerald Lake Hills Los Trancos Woods Princeton-By-The-Sea Los Altos Hills La Selva Beach Rio del Mar Fall River Mills Forks of Salmon Fetters Hot Springs Sereno del Mar Mark West Springs Odd fellows Park Russian River Terrace Monterey Park Tract Rancho Tehama Reserve El Monte Mobile Village Pine Mountain Lake Channel Islands Beach Santa Rosa Valley Silver Strand Beach, Californika ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/78 "2022-10-12T02:27:56Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > Well, King of Prussia (mentioned in the OP) is also just a census designated place (it is legally part of Upper Merino Township), so CDPs would seem to be kosher. That part of PA is rife with CDPs in common usage (also recognized by the USPS), use of the incorporated township name is relatively uncommon. > [@WildaBeast](#): > > Point Reyes Station, CA, although I’m not sure if it counts as a city – Wikipedia calls it an “unincorporated town”, population 895. CDPs should absolutely count because the distinction is legal and arbitrary - one of the biggest is Paradise, Nevada. You know most of it as the Las Vegas Strip but it is legally not a part of the city of Las Vegas; they get tax benefits for not joining. Similarly, comparing city proper sizes is mostly pointless, metro area is a better metric. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/79 "2022-10-12T02:51:10Z")
What you are describing are unincorporated areas - areas with no local government below the county level. While named unincorporated areas may be CDPs, many CDPs are parts of incorporated areas. The aforementioned King of Prussia is in fact a part of Upper Merion Township. In that part of Pennsylvania that arrangement is quite common. Many of the CDPs in the area I grew up in are named after the local tavern or inn (as was King of Prussia). I am not aware of any unincorporated areas in Southeastern PA. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974/80 "2022-10-12T18:36:17Z")
Surprised no one has mentioned the nation’s capitol: District of Columbia [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cities-three-words-or-more/972974.md?page=5)