What's in a name? Well, a name can turn your American road trip into one of the weirdest experiences of your life. One minute, you'll be driving through Santa Claus, and the next minute, you'll be heading off to Climax town. Yes, although the U.S. is full of normal town names like Springfield, Washington, and Arlington, there's no denying the fact that it's also full of weird and wonderful small-town names that will make anyone chuckle. Don't believe us? Check these out.
Gas, Kansas
You probably don't need us to tell you how Gas in Kansas got its name, but we're going to tell you anyway! In 1898, a local farmer by the name of E.K Taylor discovered natural gas on his property - and the rest is history. Gas became known as the place where natural gas was first discovered, and the small town was named after this very impressive and world-changing discovery.
And while many people choose to add Gas to their road pass itinerary, most people can't pass by this small town without cracking the joke, "Did you just pass gas?"
Ding Dong, Texas
None of the towns on this list are huge. But Ding Dong takes the cake as the smallest we've ever encountered, as this small town is home to just 22 people! And with so few locals, they have the pleasure of being able to call their town whatever they want. In the end, they decided to honor the founding family of the town, who just so happened to be called the Bell Family.
As the town is already in Bell County, they didn't want to repeat the Bell name - so they decided to go for Ding Dong instead. But it's not the weirdest name we've seen so far.
Boring, Maryland
We're going to go ahead and assume that you wouldn't willingly plan a road trip to a small town in America called Boring. And that's something that the local council is struggling with. On the one hand, they love their name and the history that it portrays. On the other hand, it does sound pretty boring! This town wasn't named after its lack of excitement, though. It was actually named after the town's very first postmaster, David J. Boring.
It wasn't always called Boring, either. There was once a time when it was called Fairview, but the residents all voted for a new name that would make them stand out from the crowd. It's not the weirdest name we've seen, though.
Screamer, Alabama
If you haven't already, you should definitely add Alabama to your road trip itinerary. There are so many amazing tourist attractions to check out in this state and so many small towns that will put a smile on your face. But for your own sake you might want to give Screamer a miss. After all, some of the town names on this list are very niche and rogue - but this town was called Screamer for a reason.
Legend has it that Screamer was called Screamer because of the constant animal screams that residents hear. From wild cat screeches to the roars of bears, there's no peace and quiet here.
Hell, Michigan
Many people couldn't think of anything worse than going to Hell, but there are some people in Michigan who call this place their home. In fact, there are around 70 people who permanently live in the small town of Hell - and it seems as though they don't mind this unfortunate name. But where did it come from? According to local legend, this town was so-named after a man called George Reeves.
George lived in the town during the 1830s and reportedly spent his days trying to sell his homemade liquor. This didn't go down well with his wife, who would often say, "He's gone to hell again."
Nimrod, Minnesota
Will you be adding the town of Nimrod to your road trip itinerary? Although it's a tiny town with a population of just 69 people, it's still worth a visit - even if you just check out the sign. But while you may scoff at the name of this town in today's day and age, it's important to note that the meaning of nimrod was a little different when this town was founded.
In fact, the name Nimrod can be found in the Bible and refers to someone who is a mighty hunter. Most people don't associate that meaning with the town now, but the same can't be said for the next few towns.
Loveladies, New Jersey
New Jersey may be New York's lesser-known neighbor, but there's no doubt about the fact that many people still head out on a road trip to see the attractions that this state has to offer. And who wouldn't want to pose next to the sign of Loveladies town? But, sadly, this name wasn't thought up by a person who just really loved ladies. Instead, this town was named after a man who lived nearby.
Thomas Lovelady owned one of the surrounding islands when the town decided to name the former life-saving station after him, and we bet that was a great honor for him!
Climax, Georgia
With a name like Climax, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this small town in Georgia is one of the most exciting places in the whole of America. But, sadly, the reasoning behind this hilarious name isn't quite as fun or free-loving as we imagine. That's because this small town is located at the "climax" (e.g the highest point on the railroad) between the Chattahoochee River and Savannah, so it seemed like the most appropriate name.
Back in the 1800s, this name made total sense. But now that times have changed and people have dirtier minds, you probably don't need us to tell you that the town sign has become somewhat of a tourist attraction.
Why, Arizona
If you've ever been on a road trip to Arizona, you'll know that it's a great place to visit. There are countless tourist attractions, and its unusual landscape makes it a once-in-a-lifetime trip. But would you ever visit the small town of Why? Of course, you might ask yourself why this town is called Why - but it turns out that this town was so-named thanks to the Y-shaped intersection of the nearby highways.
Apparently, locals loved this intersection so much that they wanted to name their town after it. But as local law states that a town name needs at least three letters, they had to expand it slightly.
Intercourse, Pennsylvania
If you've ever been to Pennsylvania, you'll know that this state is pretty normal. There's nothing untoward happening in this state, and things are pretty PG. But when you get to the smaller towns, you might start to realize that things aren't as they seem. In fact, there are two towns called Intercourse and Blue Ball in Pennsylvania. Of course, the founders of these towns never intended for them to be X-rated.
Back in the 1700s, these names were perfectly acceptable and focused on emotional connection rather than physical connection. But there's no doubt about the fact the names are conversation starters - just like the town of Humptulips in Washington.
Hazardville, Connecticut
Although Hazardville may seem like a completely made-up town name, you might be interested to know that it's a real place - and you can add it to your road trip itinerary through Connecticut if you're looking to explore further. But why is Hazardville called Hazardville? Well, it was once extremely hazardous! In fact, it made a name for itself in the 19th century for making huge amounts of gunpowder.
In a bizarre twist of fate, the town was also named after Colonel Augustus George Hazard, who actually bought the town back in 1837. Both of these facts then put Hazardville quite literally on the map.
Rough and Ready, California
Are you ready to go to Rough and Ready? No, this isn't the sound of an exotic dance club or a sweaty gym; it is actually the name of a small town in California. And while you may be wondering why anyone would give it that name, we're here to tell you that the Rough and Ready name was actually the name of the mining company that once took over the tiny mining town.
In 1850, Rough and Ready even became the first town in U.S. history to become their own republic - but this didn't last long. Three months later, they rejoined the U.S. once again, but the name stayed.
Chugwater, Wyoming
When you look at the name of this town, you might immediately think of chugging a glass of water as quickly as you can. But it turns out that the name of Chugwater in Wyoming has a much deeper heritage than that. In fact, this town stands on former Mandan land, and this tribe would spend their days hunting buffalo. To do this, they would lead them towards the edge of a cliff and urge them to fall into the water below.
As a result, they decided to call the town "water at the place where the buffalo chug." After a while, it was then changed to "Chugwater Creek," then shortened once again to "Chugwater."
Knockemstiff, Ohio
With a name like Knockemstiff, you probably don't need us to tell you that this town is pretty famous. People from across America travel to Knockemstiff to pose next to this name and learn more about this small town - and we don't blame them. The legend surrounding this name is somewhat of an enigma, after all. But many of the working theories revolve around adulterers and locals who used to drink way too much moonshine.
Whatever the case, it's clear to see that the people of Knockemstiff have had a pretty colorful past. And with that in mind, we might have to consider moving there!
Unalaska, Alaska
So there's the state of Alaska, but then within that state, there's the small town of Unalaska? Huh? Although you might be forgiven for thinking that Unalaska is full of people who hate Alaska and want to avoid it at all costs, it seems as though the unfortunate name of this place was the rest of a poor translation. In fact, the 4,500 Unalaskan residents love the fact that they're part of the bigger Alaskan state.
When Russians made their way to the largest of the Aleutian Islands many years ago, they translated the real town name of Agunalaksh to Unalaska. And since then, it seems to have stuck.
Tightwad, Missouri
Many of the towns on this list were named after the people who founded it or the people who made a bit impact on the town - and the town of Tightwad in Missouri is no different. But this town wasn't founded by Mr. Tightwad. It was actually named after an unfortunate interaction between a postmaster and a local farmer, when the farmer promised the postmaster a melon but then sold it to another person before he could fulfill the deal.
The postmaster was reportedly so irritated by the interaction (and the tight nature of the farmer) that he decided to rename the town Tightwad. Amazingly, most people love the name.
Santa Claus, Indiana
When you think of Santa Claus, you probably think of the North Pole. But we guess the big man himself has got himself a holiday home, as there's also a Santa Claus in Indiana. What's so funny about this small town is that it's accidentally become one of the biggest tourist attractions in America - and that's all because the people of this small town forgot to do their research.
Originally, this town wanted to call itself Santa Fe. But when they realized that this name had already been taken, they decided to go for the closest alternative - and that just so happened to be Santa Claus!
Slickpoo, Idaho
No matter how old we get, anything with the word "poo" in it will always make us chuckle - and that's why we had to add the town of Slickpoo in Idaho to this list. Although we'd love to say that there was a fun and exciting backstory behind this name, the reality is that this town was just named after the man who gifted the land to the Catholic mission: Josiah Slickpoo.
The mission then decided to honor the man who had given them so much and named the small town after him. Of course, they had no idea how hilarious most people would find it. However, it's not the weirdest town name in Idaho.
Satan's Kingdom, Vermont
We bet the locals of this small town get pretty strange looks when they tell people they live in Satan's Kingdom. After all, it sounds like hell on earth! But it turns out that the town of Satan's Kingdom is full of lovely people who all understand that their town's name isn't as hellish as it seems. Despite this, this town was given its name because its founders weren't happy with it.
When the settlers landed on this New England soil, they assumed it would be as fertile as the surrounding areas. However, they soon realized that wasn't the case at all.
Hot Coffee, Mississippi
Fancy a cup of hot coffee? Well, you might want to head to the town of Hot Coffee in Mississippi. And while the coffee brewed here isn't any better than elsewhere in America, this town got its name because it was the perfect spot for travelers and workers to grab a hot coffee while they were traveling between major neighboring cities such as Natchez and Mobile. In fact, there was even a famous coffee stand here back in the day.
This stand became so iconic that the town itself decided to adopt the name and prove to the world that it was the top coffee attraction in America. So, will you be visiting? Or will the next strange town suit you better?
Mexican Hat, Utah
When you think of Utah, you might think of snow-capped mountains and icy roads. But a lot of Utah is actually covered in sparse desert and dry rock formations - and that's certainly the case in the town of Mexican Hat. This small town is tiny and is home to just 31 people, but you might be wondering why it's called Mexican Hat. Well, that's all down these very unique rock formations.
Sitting above the town is an odd rock formation that looks just like a Mexican hat, so locals decided to name their home after it! Many road trippers also travel far and wide to see it in the flesh.
No Name, Colorado
Although the long and hard-to-pronounce town names around America like to trip us up on our pronunciation and spelling, there's no doubt about the fact that we appreciate the creativity behind them. That's why we're a little underwhelmed to learn that there's a small town in Colorado quite literally called No Name. But when you realize that the 200 residents were forced to give their small town a name, it makes a bit more sense.
Yes, when a highway exit opened up near their town, they were forced by officials to give their no-named town a name incredibly quickly. They couldn't come up with a name in time, so they became No Name instead!
Ketchup Town, South Carolina
Upon hearing that there's a Ketchup Town in South Carolina, you might jump in your car with a hot dog in your hand and road trip all the way there. But unfortunately for you, this town isn't known for having an unlimited supply of free Ketchup. Instead, it's the result of a town name gone wrong, as Ketchup Town was actually supposed to be called Catch Up Town back in the day.
It was set to be called this as the town was once home to a small store that would also serve as a meeting place for residents to catch up on gossip. But somehow, somewhen, things didn't work out that way.
Two Egg, Florida
When you think of Florida, you probably think of Orlando, Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville. But we're here to tell you that Two Egg exists, and you can visit it yourself! And while you might assume that this town is so-named due to the egg-related attractions over there, we're sorry to say that there aren't any egg-related shenanigans going on. Instead, this town was named after children who had to trade two eggs for sugar during the Great Depression.
Before too long, word got around, and other residents struggling with money were able to head to the "Two Egg Store" and trade eggs for what they needed. Then, the name stuck - just like the next weird town name.
Whynot, North Carolina
If you're looking to visit North Carolina soon, you should probably add this to your bucket list. Why not visit Whynot, anyway? If you do visit, you might want to speak to the locals and find out why this small town was given such a name. After all, nobody really knows why - but legend suggests that the townsfolk just couldn't decide on a name, and entered into a heated debate.
As more suggestions poured in, the townsfolk said things like, "Why not....?" In the end, they reportedly decided to call their town Whynotn to honor their indecisiveness and their inability to come to a conclusion.
Sandwich, Illinois
Do you love sandwiches? If you do, you may already be familiar with the town of Sandwich in Illinois, as this place has become a huge tourist attraction over the years. In fact, it's known for its giant sandwich festival and its love affair with all things bread and fillings. And that's all to do with the fact that this town has links to John Montague, the Fourth Earl of Sandwich and the inventor of the sandwich.
Although this town was originally called Almon, it was renamed many years later by a train stop liaison who grew up in Sandwich, New Hampshire. Feeling homesick, he decided to bring a bit of home to his new home.
Candy Kitchen and Pie Town, New Mexico
If you're road-tripping near New Mexico and fancy something sweet, then you should definitely take a detour to Candy Kitchen and its neighbor Pie Town. As you can imagine, these towns have taken full advantage of their namesake and are full of candy stores and pie shops - but there's no point heading to these attractions if you don't know the history of this town. After all, how these towns got their name is pretty interesting.
During the prohibition, local moonshine makers wanted to put the cops off the scent of their business. So, they decided to hide under the cover of pie shops and candy stores. In the end, the towns adopted these names.
Uneedus and Weneedu, Louisiana
If you've ever been to Louisiana, you'll know that there's a lot to see and do in that state. From tourist attractions to famous restaurants and landmarks, it should definitely be added to your road trip list. But it seems as though some people also make the trip to this state to check out the two neighboring towns of Uneedus and Weneedu. Uneedus was founded by The Lake Superior Piling Company, who named the town after their slogan of "You Need Us."
While residents of Uneedus loved their new name, it seems as though their neighbors got a little jealous. So, they decided to rename their town to match their neighbors and become Weneedu.
Volcano, Hawaii
You probably don't need us to tell you that Hawaii is a hive of volcanic activity, but did you know that Hawaii is actually home to a small town called Volcano? Located near Hilo, this town is in prime position to spot volcanic activity, as it sits opposite countless volcanoes and volcanic landscapes. And while it's a very tiny town, this place is inundated with a huge number of visitors every single day.
From this town, you can go on volcanic hikes, check out the volcanic scenery, and have a cup of Joe at the famous Lava Rock Cafe. Just keep your eyes peeled for any smoke.
Bugtussle, Kentucky
No, the people of Bugtussle in Kentucky don't spend their days picking fights with the ants and cockroaches. But you might be happy to learn that this small town got its name due to the very large population of bugs that live there! Back in the day, farmers would spend hours trying to get the bugs off their land, and those experiences resulted in this very funny town name.
It seems as though the name has stuck, but thankfully, the local residents have managed to control the bugs in their town way more than their ancestors. So, that's a relief.
Magnet, Nebraska
Have you ever been drawn to a town in America for reasons you just can't really explain? It doesn't happen very often, but B.E. Smith wanted to create the same experience for those passing by his town in Northeast Nebraska back in 1893. He wanted to attract people to his town, and he decided to do that by changing its name to Magnet! And while we'd love to say it worked, it didn't.
Today, it's believed that there are only around 75 people still living in the small town of Magnet. But you can't knock a guy from trying something new, we guess.
Neversink, New York
With a name like Neversink, you'd like to assume that this small town in New York would never sink. But what's so ironic about this name is the fact that it's actually 175ft below the water level and was founded when the Neversink River flooded surrounding towns and forced people to flee their homes. Today, it's a small town full of locals who take advantage of the nearby reservoirs and lakes.
Of course, this town is officially named after the river that runs through it - but the fact that it's surrounded by stories of floods is definitely not lost on road trippers passing by.
Zigzag, Oregon
If you're looking to zigzag your way across America during your road trip, why not take a trip to Oregon to check out the small town of Zigzag? When you're done, you can then make your way to the Zigzag glacier, check out the Zigzag river, and climb the Zigzag mountain! And while this whole area may sound like something out of a children's storybook, we're here to tell you that these names are all legitimate.
Although it's not known exactly why this small town was called Zigzag, it's believed to have been coined by explorer Joel Palmer, who found the tricky mountain and ravine difficult to traverse.
Jiggs, Nevada
If you're familiar with your old-school comic books, you might be familiar with Bringing Up Father. This comic ran from 1918 until the early 2000s, and had a huge influence on popular culture. In fact, it was even turned into a popular TV sitcom! This allowed it to amass a huge number of fans over the years - including a Nevadan local and businessman by the name of Albert Hankins.
When Albert was given the chance to re-name the town that he was living in, he decided to take inspiration from the main character of this comic book. So, the town became Jiggs!
Difficult, Tennessee
The state of Tennessee is home to some very strange towns, including Difficult. Of course, this isn't the best advertisement for the town - but it's still become somewhat of an attraction. After all, it's not every day you come across a town called Difficult. Legend has it that this small town got its name when the postal service told locals that their original name was too difficult to write and mail things to.
It's believed the locals got confused and thought their town had to be called Difficult, and the name stuck! But we can't help but wonder if the neighboring town is called Easy?
Cannonball, North Dakota
North Dakota is full of natural wonders, and it's no wonder that so many people travel across America to see these attractions for themselves. But how about a visit to Cannonball? At first glance, you might assume that this town was so-named because it was home to the production of cannonballs, but that's not the case. Instead, it was called Cannonball due to the concretions that are dotted around the local area.
Yes, anyone who visits Cannonball will see these strange boulders scattered around the place - and they look exactly like cannonballs! These geological wonders definitely need to be seen in real life.
Gene Autry, Oklahoma
Compared to some of the other weird town names on this list, Gene Autry is pretty tame. But it wasn't always called this. Back in the day, this small town was called Berwyn - and it was a very sleepy place. In fact, when the people of Berwyn learned that actor and musician Gene Autry was going to buy a ranch in their hometown, they got a little too excited.
They got so excited, in fact, that they decided to name the whole town after him! Alongside this, they've even opened a museum and hold a film festival in his honor.
Humptulips, Washington
Many of the small towns on this list are named after surrounding natural wonders, and the small town of Humptulips in Washington is no different. In fact, anyone familiar with the area will know that this place is near the Humptulips River - so it was only a matter of time before a settlement was named after the nearby river. And in Native American, humptulips translates to "hard to pole."
And while the river was indeed hard to canoe down, it seems as though the town is now reaping the benefits of its strange name. Many people travel across America to see this place with their own eyes.