How Land Got Its Weirdest Names: The Stories Behind Strange Place Names
You’re cruising down the highway when suddenly a town sign makes you slam on the brakes. Did that really say what you think it did? America’s landscape is dotted with places bearing names that range from quirky to downright bizarre. These unusual monikers aren’t just random—they’re little capsules of history, humor, and sometimes, complete misunderstandings. Let’s explore some of the strangest place names across the country and the fascinating stories behind how these patches of land earned their peculiar titles.
By We've Got Land
When Mistakes Become Permanent
Many of our weirdest place names come from simple misunderstandings or translation errors that somehow stuck around for centuries. Take Peculiar, Missouri, for example. When residents applied for a post office in the 1860s, they were told to select a “peculiar” name not used elsewhere. They took the instructions literally, and the name has remained ever since. Or consider Wynot, Nebraska—named when early settlers responded to the suggested town name with “Why not?” The casual response became the official designation, proving that sometimes, indifference makes history.
The Power of Local Legends
Some of the most interesting place names stem from local stories that got passed down through generations:
• Truth or Consequences, New Mexico wasn’t always so dramatically named. The town changed its name in 1950 to win the honor of hosting a popular radio show of the same name—making it perhaps the only town in America named after a game show.
• Burnt Corn, Alabama supposedly got its unusual name after Creek Indians burned settlers’ corn during a battle in 1813. Not the most appetizing name for a town, but certainly memorable.
Humor in Geography
Sometimes, our ancestors simply had a sense of humor. Why else would we have:
• Boring, Oregon (which has a sister city relationship with Dull, Scotland and Bland, Australia—seriously)
• No Name, Colorado, which embraced its lack of designation after highway officials labeled a local exit as “No Name” when they couldn’t think of anything better
• Whynot, North Carolina, named when locals debating what to call their town grew tired and someone finally asked, “Why not name it ‘Why Not’ and be done with it?”
When Geography Speaks for Itself
Sometimes the land itself inspired these unusual names: In Pennsylvania, you’ll find Intercourse (named for the intersection of two major roads) and Bird-in-Hand (supposedly named after an inn sign depicting a bird in a hand). Meanwhile, Eek, Alaska got its name from the Yup’ik word “Ik,” meaning “two eyes,” describing two nearby lakes. Over time, English speakers heard and spelled it as the sound of surprise.
Even More Head Scratchers
The list of bizarrely named places across America seems endless. Each one comes with its own unique backstory:
• Accident, Maryland got its name when surveyors “accidentally” marked the same tract of land twice in the 1700s.
• Zzyzx, California was deliberately given the last word in the alphabet by a crafty businessman who wanted his health resort to be “the last word in health.”
• Pee Pee Township, Ohio was named after Pee Pee Creek, which itself was named after the initials “P.P.” that an early settler carved into a tree.
• Two Egg, Florida earned its unusual name during the Great Depression when residents would trade two eggs for goods at the local general store.
Next time you’re on a road trip and pass through a town with a name that makes you do a double-take, remember there’s likely a colorful story behind it—whether it’s a historical mishap, an inside joke, or simply a bit of American weirdness that stuck around longer than anyone expected.