Photos: Funniest town names

 
 
 

  • Tightwad, Missouri

    Chances are you don't know anyone who lives in Tightwad (population: 64), but you could probably name a few cheapskates who should. As the story goes, in the early 1900s the postmaster of this town south east of Kansas City was cheated in a watermelon deal at the local store. Out of spite, he took advantage of his postmaster privilege and renamed the town Tightwad. Photo: Warsaw Area Chamber of Commerce.

  • Chicken, Alaska

    So many ptarmigans populated the area in the late 1800s that this little community of miners wanted to name the town after the bird. The only problem was that nobody could agree on the correct spelling. To avoid embarrassment and ridicule, they decided on "Chicken." Photo: Arthur Chapman via Flickr

  • Crapstone, England

    The consensus in the small country village of Crapstone is that there's no vile history behind the name's origin. Crapstonites speculate it has something to do with rocks or the soil. Still, when ordering things by phone, these residents have to answer the inevitable address question: "Yes, that's right, c-r-a-p, as in crap. Photo: me'nthedogs via Flick

  • Elephant Butte, New Mexico

    One of the country's best forks in the road has to be in southwest New Mexico, where your choices are either Elephant Butte or Truth or Consequences. Actually, the name Elephant Butte refers to a volcanic cone island loosely resembling the animal's silhouette. Photo: Magic Robot via Flickr

  • Hell, Cayman Islands

    If you haven't already been to Hell and back, head for West Bay on Grand Cayman Island. You can take a picture with the devil-disguised owner of Hell's souvenir shop and send a wish-you-were-here postcard from Hell to family and friends Photo: SWIMPHOTO via Flickr

  • Middelfart, Denmark

    Yes, there's lots of cheese cutting in this Funen Island town where one of Denmark's largest dairies is based. But the name Middelfart (website in Danish only) actually means "central passage," referring to a ferry link that used to connect the island with the Jutland peninsula.

    Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Wales

    Pronouncing "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" is a cinch compared to this 58-letter Anglesey island village name. The name translates to "St. Mary's Church in the Hollow of the White Hazel Near to the Rapid Whirlpool of Llantysilio of the Red Cave Photo: Martin Alvaraez via Flickr

  • Nimrod, Oregon

    Historians figure the name of this town is a nod to the biblical character Nimrod, who was a mighty hunter. Forget trying to steal the popular icon, though. Apparently enough Nimrodians and visitors have succeeded that it is now bolted down. Photo: Bruce Fingerhood via Flickr

  • No Name, Colorado

    When you live in a desolate unincorporated community between No Name Canyon and No Name Creek, apparently you accept your destiny of sharing the same name—or lack thereof. A Department of Transportation official noticed that the area didn't have a name and wrote "No Name" for Exit 119, the ramp accessing the community. Photo: Vicky Nash

  • Rabbit Hash, Kentucky

    This Ohio River town's name is said to have originated when the flood of 1847 swept away most everything but the general store and the prolific rabbit population. Driven to higher ground, the cottontails ended up becoming a staple ingredient in hash. It must've been about as appetizing as it sounds: There aren't any restaurants in Rabbit Hash serving the dish. Photo: Wikipedia Commons