bizarre town names
The Admiral
Believe it or don't cha, but these are really-real towns...
Blow Me Down, Newfoundland, Canada
According to local legends, this towns name was given by Captain
Messervay. Messervey was an unusually small captain who only stood at
4'2' and upon his ships arrival into the Bay of Islands, which is
surrounded by huge mountains, he prayed that they wouldn't
"Blow-me-Down".
Crotch Lake, Ontario, Canada
Crotch Lake is located in the Canadian province of Ontario. The name
at first can lead to wild thoughts on the origin. However, if you see
the lake from a plane in the air, you will see a sharp curve in the
middle of the lake making it look like two legs.
Dildo, Newfoundland, Canada
This town's name definitely raises a few eyebrows when people first
hear it. No, it is not the Hollywood of the adult movie industry, nor
is it a town of perverts. Although residents of the town have tried to
have the name changed, it has been to no avail. The origin of the name
comes from two possible sources that I could find: 1. It is thought
the name came from a place in Portugal/Spain or, 2. It comes from the
shape of the headland that forms Dildo harbour.
What?
Fucking, Austria
Yes, a town name that is a swear word. The correct way to actually
pronounce the town name is "fooking," which was founded in the 6th
century after a man whose name was Focko. This town has a serious
sign-stealing problem, as you can imagine. I guess people just don't
believe it when you tell them, "I've been to Fucking, Austria!"
Hygiene, Colorado, USA
No, this is not a town where people shower and brush their teeth every
three hours.
The unusual name is due to the fact that the town used to have a
sanitarium for patients who had tuberculosis (TB). The sanitarium was
founded by Reverend Jacob S. Flory and his Church of Brethren. The
church was actually part of the sanitarium and is still standing in
the town.
Knockemstiff, Ohio, USA
There are a few stories on how this town, which by the way has no main
roads or stores, originated. One legend says that the town was named
for the fighting ability of its young men. Another legend says that
there was a huge brawl in the town saloon. I am sure these first two
legends are related in some manner. A final legend tells of an angry
wife who asked a preacher how she could get her cheating husband to
stay home.
The preacher replied…
… "Knockemstiff."
Mary's Igloo, Alaska, USA
This town was originally named "Kauwerak," but by the early 1900's the
entire village had been abandoned. It was during the gold boom that
non-Natives had renamed the village "Mary's Igloo," after an Eskimo
women named Mary. They named the village in her honor because she used
to welcome miners, trappers and other non-residents into her home for
some… hot coffee.
Toad Suck, Arkansas, USA
Folklore suggests that this town's name originated from the fact that
rivermen used to suck whiskey until they swelled up like toads.
Hence the classic town name of "Toad Suck."
Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico, USA
This town was formerly known as Hot Springs, but took the producers of
the "Truth or Consequences'' radio game show up on their request to
have a town name itself after the TV game show.
The town did not receive any monetary incentive, but it did benefit a
good amount of publicity. The TV game show, which was hosted by Ralph
Edwards, celebrates the annual Ralph Edwards Fiesta every May.