From a town name that makes you want to dance to a place that probably always smells like
popcorn, here are some of the strangest city names in the world:
15.
Disco, TN
Who wouldn’t want to live in a town reminiscent of the 1970s party lifestyle?
Well, contrary to its name, Disco, Tennessee wasn’t actually inspired by the mirror-covered
balls and dance craze that comes to mind.
In fact, this town’s post office closed all the way back in 1903 before bell-bottoms
and platform shoes were in fashion.
An article was published about Disco, Tennessee in The Spartanburg Herald Journal in February
1989 that discussed the strange names of many cities.
They interviewed a historian named Inez Burns for the paper, who said, “It’s probably
a made-up name.
It’s sure not anything that is native to this section.
It may be one of those railroad stations.
They came up with some real weirdos.”
Nevertheless, Disco is a town name that’s sure to stir up some curiosity and conversation.
14.
Atlantis, FL
This city’s name is quite deceiving.
Opposed to what you might think after hearing it, this is not the lost civilization that
Plato wrote about in Critias and Timaeus or the one depicted in Disney’s Atlantis: The
Lost Empire.
No, this one is found in Palm Beach County, Florida.
It was named after the mysterious city, but they don’t have much in common.
Former Florida senator, Philip D. Lewis, had a ranch called Mulberry Farms, and they raised
cattle on the land.
In 1958, the area was purchased by real estate developers, who built a country club and gated
golf community where the ranch used to be.
It was eventually renamed Atlantis.
13.
Why, AZ
Every time someone that lives here gives their address, it sounds like they’re asking “Why
Arizona?”
That seems pretty frustrating… so the real question is, “Why would anyone want to live
here?”
Well, we’re not sure, but we’re going to stop with the “why” jokes and give
you a little history.
Although you might think that the name of this town has some significant meaning, you’d
be wrong.
Apparently, the people who founded this town had a sense of humor.
Two major highways used to intersect in a “Y” shape in this spot.
So, when it was time to name the town, they chose an obvious name.
However, the Arizona government requires them to be at least three letters long, thus “Why”
was born.
12.
Batman, Turkey
This place isn’t vengeance, and it isn’t the night; but, it is a city in Turkey.
Up until the 1950s, this city was a village called Iluh.
But, after oil fields were discovered in the area, a significant rise in development took
place.
It was renamed Batman because it lies around where the Batman and Tigris rivers meet.
The origin of the river’s name isn’t entirely known.
However, many believe that it might be a shortened version of the Bati Raman mountain, which
is within its vicinity.
So, sorry folks, Batman, Turkey has nothing to do with the superhero we all love.
But, the mayor of the town sued Christopher Nolan, the director of The Dark Knight, in
2008 for using the name in his film… the case wasn’t sent to court, however.
11.
Whynot, NC
We already talked about Why, so now, let’s talk about Whynot.
I mean, why not?
Get it?
Alright, enough of that; let’s move on to the history of this town.
This oddly-named city is in Randolph County, North Carolina.
It was originally settled in the eighteenth century by English and German people, and
Whynot was two separate words.
But, how did they come up with this name?
To be honest, you’ve probably already guessed at this point.
One of the town’s first residents allegedly said, “Why not name the town ‘Why Not’
and let’s go home?”
I guess he was just tired of discussing it.
10.
Double Trouble, NJ
The Double Trouble Historic Village is in New Jersey.
It used to be a cranberry farm, and the Double Trouble Company also sold millwork products
and timber.
In the village, there are various historic structures that have been restored and cranberry
bogs.
These date back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Some of the buildings include a schoolhouse, general store, and residential houses.
But, this doesn’t explain why the town is “Double Trouble.”
This place got its name when a local dam was breached by muskrats two times in a single
week.
The Double Trouble Historic District has also been a part of the National Register of Historic
Places since February 1978 because it was significant to industry and agriculture.
9.
Fearnot, PA
In 1892, a post office was established in this town, but it was eventually discontinued
in 1920.
However, that doesn’t tell you how Fearnot got its name.
Although you might think it means “don’t be afraid of living here” or something similar
to that, you’d be incorrect.
“Fearnot” is actually a statement regarding the town’s old residents, who were overtly
unafraid.
According to The Origins of Unusual Place Names by Armond Moyer, “...the settlers
here had a penchant for starting brawls with residents of neighboring communities, frequently
traveling there with the express purpose of starting fights.
They were not afraid of any gang from any other community; so, being fearless, the post
office was so named.”
8.
Burnt Corn, AL
This town is in Alabama near Monroe County.
There are a couple of theories to how Burnt Corn acquired its interesting name, and they
both include… you guess it… burnt corn.
One idea suggests that while some people were passing through the area, they noticed a pile
of scorched corn, thus naming it after the toasted crop.
However, the families that live there have a theory of their own that has been passed
down orally from generation to generation.
Apparently, the name simply arose after the fields of corn were burned due to the scorched
earth policies that coincided with the Creek War during the early 1800s.
7.
Brilliant, AL
It seems that Alabama is a state with a lot of peculiar town names.
This place is found in Marion County.
It was originally called the “Town of Brilliant” and was incorporated into Boston, Alabama
in 1927.
However, thirty years later, Brilliant took over, and the name “Boston” was lost.
The Town of Brilliant got its name in the late nineteenth century after the Aldridge
brothers began operating a coal mine in the area.
It was originally called Aldridge Mining Company, but they later renamed it Brilliant Coal Company.
But, why?
It was because the coal they mined looked glossy and shiny, aka brilliant.
6.
Beer, Devon, England
This town is really old and was even specified in the 1086 Domesday Book.
You’ve probably assumed that this place is named after the bubbly beverage; however,
you would be incorrect.
It actually comes from the word “bearu” in Old English, which means “grove,” because
it was initially surrounded by forest.
Its main sources of income back in the day were lace production and fishing, and there
is still fishing there today.
However, the town makes most of its money nowadays through tourism.
There is also a cave system there called the Beer Quarry Caves that Beer stone was harvested
from.
This stone has been highly coveted since Roman times and was used to build twenty-four cathedrals
throughout the United Kingdom.
5.
Cool, CA
This town is located in El Dorado County, California.
The Penobscot Public House was established here in 1850, and it was a stagecoach stop
and way station during the Gold Rush.
The Penobscot Ranch is still there and is a historic site that includes a house and
barn.
Although the reason for Cool’s name hasn’t been determined, there are some theories regarding
how it acquired the unique title.
Some of the residents think that a free-spirited man named Todd Hausman coined it in 1947 while
he was on a cross-country trip.
But, other people think that it was named during the Gold Rush after someone named Aaron
Cool.
However, there are no records about this so-called cool dude.
4.
Mörön, Mongolia
Yes, it seems like you’re calling this town stupid when you first read “Moron, Mongolia.”
However, despite its spelling, this town isn’t pronounced how it looks to us English-speakers.
It is pronounced “Mor-un” and is also spelled “M-U-R-U-N.”
The word in Mongolian means “river,” and it is located on the banks of a river.
This area has its roots in a monastery that was founded in 1809.
By the twentieth century, the monastery had grown to encompass about one thousand three
hundred people.
In 1937, it was destroyed, and a new monastery was constructed.
3.
Truth Or Consequences, NM
This town was originally called Hot Springs, and the first bath was built there in the
late 1800s at John Cross Ranch.
There was no major settlement there until 1912 when the Elephant Butte Dam and Reservoir
was constructed.
However, this place got its unique name in March 1950 after Ralph Edwards, the host of
Truth or Consequences, a radio quiz show, announced that the program’s tenth-anniversary
episode would air from the first town that was renamed after the show.
Hot Springs beat the competition and changed its name on the last day of March that year.
After they won, Edwards retained a tradition of visiting the town the first weekend of
May for fifty years.
They held a huge event called “Fiesta,” which included a parade, beauty contest, and
a show.
The movie Truth or Consequences, NM, starring and directed by Kiefer Sutherland, is also
set in this town.
2.
Great Snoring, North Norfolk, England
This village is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as well, in which it was called
“Snaringa,” its Saxon title, after a resident named Snear.
It wasn’t until 1611 that the manor was sold by its owner, Sir Ralph Shelton, to Lord
Chief Justice Richardson.
Apparently, the name came from Shelton declaring, “I can sleep without snoring.”
In 1836, a workhouse with four wings was constructed that could hold up to two hundred fifty people.
After it was closed, the structures were used for various purposes, including a smallpox
hospital.
1.
Accident, MD
There is no exact history of how this town acquired its name, but there is a theory.
If it’s correct, then the name suits this place perfectly.
Many people believe that around the time of the 1786 land survey, William Deakins Jr.
and Brooke Beall were conducting independent surveys when Deakins claimed Beall’s already-assessed
land “by accident.”
Deakins obtained the land via a patent that February.
It was one of the earliest settlements in western Maryland and is only about half of
a square mile.
As of 2010, there were about three hundred thirty people living in Accident.
What are some other strange city names that you’ve heard of?
Let us know in the comments below!