# Wagga Wagga! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 3, 2015, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082 "2015-03-03T08:42:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/41 "2015-03-05T05:26:49Z")
Why is there a Why, Arizona? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/42 "2015-03-05T05:33:18Z")
Speaking of Arizona, as we passed through the town of Hope, on the far side of town we came to a sign that actually said “Your Now Beyond Hope” (sic). ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/43 "2015-03-05T05:36:49Z")
All we have here in Oregon is Drain. And Boring. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/44 "2015-03-05T16:19:41Z")
All I know is if I’m ever in Indiana, I dare not visit French Lick, for fear of being disillusioned and disappointed. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/45 "2015-03-05T17:34:13Z")
Nice to see the first President further honored: [George, Washington - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George,_Washington) ---
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/46 "2015-03-05T17:45:12Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > All we have here in Oregon is Drain. And Boring. Don’t forget Wanker’s Corner (near Stafford). ---
**Author:** ![Hopeful\_Crow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/da6949/32.png) [@Hopeful\_Crow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hopeful_Crow)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/47 "2015-03-05T20:13:48Z")
There’s also the small town of Bella Bella, British Columbia, which I always liked because it’s down the road a bit from Bella Coola. ---
**Author:** ![Hopeful\_Crow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/da6949/32.png) [@Hopeful\_Crow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hopeful_Crow)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/48 "2015-03-05T20:42:56Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Nice to see the first President further honored: [George, Washington - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George,_Washington) Yup. I’ve been there. It’s a small farming town set in the middle of nowhere, which I like. Others maybe not so much.\* The main claim to fame in the last 20 years or so is its series of summer rock concerts set in a natural amphitheater overlooking the Columbia River that is generally known as the Gorge at George. The concerts bring in a rowdy crowd, much to many of the locals’ chagrin, but the they go on anyway. \*There’s a whole lot of dry sageland, broken up by some farms and the town, of course. Summer temps are often in the 90s and even 100s. As for myself, I can’t really imagine spending a long day packed in with a thousand or more folks in those temps, but obviously, a lot of people don’t mind. I much prefer camping about fifty miles away in the same terrain but with a few shade trees and Lake Roosevelt to cool off in. \*\*Left Hand of Dorkness, \*\* ignorance fought, eh? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/49 "2015-03-05T21:18:17Z")
> [@SeldomSeen](#): > > That wiki entry is a wealth of chuckle-inducing names; > > > [@](#): > > > > The town’s unusual name has brought it a certain amount of notoriety in the same vein as Fucking, Austria; Anus, France; Condom, France; Nob End, England; Effin, Ireland; _ **Twatt, Scotland** _; Intercourse, Pennsylvania; Bald Knob, West Virginia; Wankum, Germany; Moron, Mongolia; and Swastika, Ontario, also located within Canada.{emphasis added–mbh} > > To which I would add Hell, Norway and Dickshooter, Idaho. I have a new goal in life: To go to Twatt, Scotland. To find a worthy resident of the town. And to bribe the government to make him a Lord of Parliament. Fellow Dopers, help me raise funds for this great cause! ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/50 "2015-03-05T21:27:09Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > I have a new goal in life: To go to Twatt, Scotland. To find a worthy resident of the town. And to bribe the government to make him a Lord of Parliament. Fellow Dopers, help me raise funds for this great cause! Interestingly, Alba has _two_ Twatts. One is in the Orkneys, the other is in the Shetlands. So, if you put in the extra effort, you could get two Twatts into Lords, where they could flap at each other. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/51 "2015-03-05T21:44:50Z")
> [@](#): > > So, if you put in the extra effort, you could get two Twatts into Lords, where they could flap at each other. For much less effort and expense you could just take them to the cricket. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/52 "2015-03-05T23:47:34Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > Some of those date to WWI: particularly in SA, when they were renaming all the places that had evil German names, they used traditional, imperial, or aboriginal names. (Posted here from the banks of the Yarra Yarra, now known as the Yarra River) Yep, happened to [Holbrook](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holbrook,_New_South_Wales#History) (originally _Germanton_) in 1915 as well. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/53 "2015-03-05T23:52:19Z")
> [@Philliam](#): > > Don’t forget Wanker’s Corner (near Stafford). LOL, I wasn’t aware. You made my day! ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/54 "2015-03-06T01:54:15Z")
[Spike Milligan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_Milligan)’s mother lived in Woy Woy for a long time. He was told that the name meant “deep water” in the local aboriginal language; he said he could never work out which Woy meant Deep and which Woy meant Water. > [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Damn. I’m from Utah which has absolutely nothing funny. Oh, come on. At least Two towns named after dining utensils? A state that can’t spell desertproperly? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2015, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/55 "2015-03-09T23:55:49Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Good, but I give a slight edge to Walla Walla, Washington, for two reasons: > > 1. Alliteration. > 2. The word “Walla” in a local Native American language means “stinky,” and describes the river. > [@funky\_little\_lee](#): > > I always thought it would be fun to be from Walla Walla, Washington, and answer with a Daffy Duck voice when asked where I lived. Walla Walla, Wash., is also [made famous by Churchy LaFemme](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/458/what-are-the-lyrics-to-walt-kellys-classic-carol-deck-us-all-with-boston-charlie), who fondly sang of it: _Deck us all with Boston Charlie, Walla Walla, Wash., an’ Kalamazoo! Nora’s freezin’ on the trolley, Swaller dollar cauliflower alley-garoo!_ > [@Hopeful\_Crow](#): > > The way I heard it, “Walla” means “Water” in local tribal vernacular and “Walla Walla” means “Many Waters.” I see that Wikipedia has it as “Place of Many Waters.” Or it could just be a euphemistic translation? Compare with Atascadero, Ca.: The town officialdom proudly proclaims that the name means “Place of Much Water”. In fact, the name means “Place Where You Get Stuck” (from the Spanish root _atascar_, to get stuck). I think that must actually mean a swamp, bog, or mire. Or, more politely, “Place of Much Water”. :dubious: There is, however, [Atascadero State Hospital](http://www.dsh.ca.gov/atascadero/) there – a psychiatric prison hospital for the criminally insane. That is a place where one truly does get stuck. > [@eschereal](#): > > Speaking of Arizona, as we passed through the town of Hope, on the far side of town we came to a sign that actually said “Your Now Beyond Hope” (sic). And upon abandoning Hope, your [sic] ready to visit Hell, Michigan. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/56 "2015-03-10T00:01:05Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Damn. I’m from Utah which has absolutely nothing funny. Nothing? I find them Mormons to be hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Hopeful\_Crow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/da6949/32.png) [@Hopeful\_Crow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hopeful_Crow)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/57 "2015-03-10T03:01:19Z")
\*\*Senegoid, \*\* thanks for a blast from the Pogo past! 🙂 Regarding your above query as to whether Walla Walla, the Place of Many Waters, was a euphemism, I’m rather embarrassed to say I didn’t know, so I decided to delve into this and in doing so, fought some of my own ignorance. From [this Wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walla_Walla_people) on the Walla Walla tribe, I found this: > [@](#): > > The first encounter with Euro-Americans for the Walla Wallas was the Lewis and Clark Expedition. First meeting in 1805, the Americans promised to Walla Walla chief Yellepit they would visit with the people after seeing the Pacific Ocean. The party returned in April 1806 and stayed at Yellepit’s village, _located on the Columbia River near the mouth of the Walla Walla River._ The Italics are mine. It goes on to say that the Snake River enters the Columbia about 5 miles from this point. So, the Many Waters must be the Columbia (large river), Snake (good-sized) and the Walla Walla (smallest of the three)! The Columbia lies about 28 miles from center of the town of Walla Walla, which, water-wise never seemed too impressive to me. Knowing where Yellipit’s village was located puts it all into perspective. I’ve never been to the southeast corner of our state, where Walla Walla lies. It’s situated in [Palouse country](http://www.placestoseeinyourlifetime.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Palouse-Photo-by-Miles-Smith-740x416.jpg), which I’d dearly love to see one of these days. I’ve been to the west of there, where I love the huge rolling hills that stretch on forever, but their geology is volcanic where the Palouse hills are ancient sand dunes left over from the ice ages. And I’ve known people from Walla Walla and it sounds like a genuinely nice place to be. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/58 "2015-03-16T05:44:54Z")
So even being a native-born Aussie, I learned something new today. Goonoo Goonoo is pronounced GUNNAGANOO. And Mogill Mogill is pronounced Mogul-maGILL. There ya go! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/59 "2015-03-16T11:05:39Z")
Brazil has some beautifully funny-sounding names for towns. In northern Brazil, in the semi-desert region, is a little place called “Xique-Xique” (pronounced “SHEEK-ee SHEEK-ee.”) One of the areas outside São Paolo is called “Ubatuba.” I’ve always gotten a kick out of some of the Anglicized indigenous place names in the New York area: Hoboken. Ho-Ho-Kus. Matawan. Mahopac (pronounced like “mayo pack,” something you might order extras of when you’re at the drive-thru.) Cheektowaga. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082/60 "2015-03-16T12:23:30Z")
After I discovered that it wasn’t a computer or clerical error at work and there _really is_ an Australian town called 1770, I got interested in some of what this great country has to offer. A list: Humpty Doo, Innaloo, Nowhere Else, Mooball, Yorkey’s Knob, Cock Wash, Diapur (pronounced just as you’d expect), Rooty Hill, Sunshine, Surfer’s Paradise, Wychproof, Eggs and Bacon Bay, Yass, Nyah, Wagga Wagga, Wonglepong, Foul Bay, Banana (they don’t grow bananas there), Cockburn, Come By Chance, Dog Wash, Tumbi Umbi. Then there is, in my opinion, the holy trifecta: Humpybong, Tittibong, and Bong Bong. Then there’s the fact that a major early explorer and entrepreneur in Victoria was John Batman, so there are plenty of people who live or work on Batman Street or Batman Road, or who commute through Batman Station, or drive down Batman Highway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wagga-wagga/714082.md?page=4)