Comments on: Funny Place Names

By: Denise Brooks

Denise Brooks — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:09:56 +0000

In August when we were in South Carolina we went for a drive. As we were heading back to Simpsonville a storm was in front of us. We headed into it and on the outskirts of “Due West” a branch from a tree broke off and hit the bumper of our vehicle. Thank the Lord for His protection! Only the bumper and one of our tires were damaged. You don’t need to post this whole event, but just add Due West to your SC list. The name struck us funny since we live in Colorado.

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:57:30 +0000

Hi, I just thought I’d mention that there are hundreds of funny place names in Canada.

In Quebec there’s: Asbestos, Bic, Grand’Mere, New Richmond, Nouvelle

in Newfoundland and Labrador: Joe Batt’s Arm, Goose Bay, Garnish, Lawn, Lourdes

in Nova Scotia: Prospect, Three Mile Plains, Framboise Cove (rasberry bay)

in New Brunswick: Argyle, Canaan, Buctouche, Eel River, Five Fingers, Peel

in Ontario: Ajax, Angus, Caeserea, Guelphe, L’Orignal (Moose)

in Manitoba: Dominion City, Winkler

in Saskatchewan: Ebenezer, Plenty, Moose Jaw, Outlook, Pelican Narrows

in Alberta: Faust, Medicine Hat, Olds, Provost

in British Columbia: Chilliwack, Honeymoon Bay, Horsefly, Nanaimo, One Hundred Mile House, Squamish

Northwest Territorie: Whitehorse and many, many more all over the country.

thank you IVman!

By: Janel

Janel — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 14:16:35 +0000

I’ve always found the little town of Between, GA fairly humorous. We live in Snellville and just past us is Loganville then Between and Monroe all on the way to Athens. It’s especially funny when I am driving and I get a call on my cellphone and they ask where I am and I get to say I am in Between!

By: Michael Schmid

Michael Schmid — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 19:43:51 +0000

I live in Germany near to Darmstadt, which literally means “intestine town”. Closely related to that is the town of Essen, which means “food” or “to eat”.
A “Hamburger” is either a person from the city of Hamburg or, yes, a hamburger.
And a “Frankfurter” is either a person from Frankfurt or a sausage.
And a “Berliner” is either a person from Berlin or a jam donut.

You can tell what us Germans think about most of the day…

By: Tom Charles

Tom Charles — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:20:44 +0000

Fun list! But the sign only begins the list of “imported” Maine names. For instance, Carthage and Madrid aren’t far from Mexico, but Calais is way to the east, Mars Hill in the north. Lots of odd place names, too. My favorite is Pocomoonshine (lake and mountain downeast) but Meddybemps (lake near Poco) is close. Then if nearby Canadian places can be added, there’s a village in eastern Quebec named St. Louis du Ha! Ha!

By: Ann Larson

Ann Larson — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:57:45 +0000

When we go back home to Virginia, we go through Oilville, Goochland, Cuckoo, and Short Pump. My mailing address growing up was Bumpass, Virginia. When I went to college, I used “Richmond, Virginia” on my nametag instead!

By: Zina

Zina — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 09:40:07 +0000

Celebration, Fl was built by the Walt Disney Co. Many employees and executives live there. It is a neat place to visit.

By: Anita

Anita — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:19:47 +0000

I did recognize a few in those pictures…although that class was a mere six years ahead of me!!!! haha My 20th is next year! EEK! Doesn’t seem possible. I still feel like I’m 20 years old – not 20 years out of high school!

By: David McGuire

David McGuire — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:55:30 +0000

Just as Sharon Klenk said, you forgot Minnesota, so here are a few of the more interesting towns in our fair state:

Bowstring
Embarrass [one of the coldest spots in Minnesota]
Frost
Gully
Savage
Sleepy Eye [Little House on the Prairie location]
Twig

Then we have the problem of locations. The city of Blue Earth is in Faribault County, but the city of Faribault is in Rice County . . . a bit confusing, to be sure

But my favorite is Blooming Prairie [just down the road from Owatonna]. The athletic teams are called the “Awesome Blossoms.” And they are pretty good in some sports.

And let me say hello to Sahron Klenk. I remember her when she worked at the Campus Store during the 1970s [I know . . . that's a previous century!]. Whenever she flew home to Minnesota for vacation, she had quite the itinerary in order to arrive in northwest Minnesota.

Enjoyed your geographic free-for-all today.

By: Sharon Klenk

Sharon Klenk — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:12:02 +0000

Hi, Rob,
I was disappointed to see that Minnesota was missing from the list! Two favorites: Motley, MN (about an hour away from “home,” and we always seemed to feel motley from travelling), and Montevideo – pronounced with the “video” just like a video tape. (It is a sister city to Montevideo, Uruguay, however, though not pronounced the same.)

Keep up the good work!
Sharon

By: Charles

Charles — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:24:34 +0000

I live thirty minutes from Valentine TX. People send mail to Valentine before Valentine Day to have it post marked there. I enjoyed.

By: B.J.

B.J. — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:51:01 +0000

Hey! I lived much of my childhood in and around Elfers, Fl, where my grandparents still live! I never would have guessed it to make your list. Wacahoota is an Indian name. They have interesting names for sure! Near Elfers is the Pithlachascotee river. Say that three times fast. Or, just once! I work in Geauga county now. My great aunt lives in Saline, MI, which is pronounced “suh-LEEN” by the way. Flat TX has to be near where I lived in Texas, as we could see 35 miles to the city skyline! Kentucky just looks like they like to compete amongst themselves for weird names.

I would have to say, that “Big Ugly” comment above takes the cake!

By: Anita

Anita — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:51:00 +0000

Now, you can’t forget Big Ugly, West Virginia. Definitely needs to be added to your list. It’s always a favorite joke of my Uncle’s (who is a pastor) to ask in church if the “two Big Ugly ladies will please stand up!”

Rob adds:
Hi Anita! Did you recognize anyone in that picture?