In the USA, All Roads Lead to...

Places we call home: Nice to Pitts

from the Wednesday, July 12, 1989 edition of the USA Today

     With 60,809 places to live _ from A Country Place, New Jersey (population 500), to Zylks, Louisiana (pop. 100) _ you have to wonder why any of USA's 246 million people would live in Hell.
     Though Hell, Michigan, might be more enticing than Pitts (Pennsylvania and Georgia) or Plain City (Ohio And Utah). And wouldn't it sound sweet to live in Nice, California?
     A computer analysis of USA city and town names reveals a rich tapestry. Many names are steeped in history, says Boston University history professor Joseph Boskin. In the East, most are tied to tradition and are English, Dutch or American Indian. In the West: Spanish or Mexican.
     The middle of the country is where the most whimsically, spontaneously and ironically named towns can be found. "Like Dirty Shame or something like that," says Boskin.
     The USA's 241 million residents lived in the eight cities with populations of 1 million or more. Seventeen percent lived in the 1,302 towns of 10,000 to 25,000.

It's Bush Country, by George! But Ike's left out in the cold

     President Bush, with five U.S. towns bearing his name, is already two steps ahead of Ronald Reagan, who like Nixon and Kennedy has just three.
     Those three have it over Truman. He's only got two.
     And, we might have liked Ike, but there's not a single town called Eisenhower, making him the only president with that dubious distinction.
     But the nation's recent leaders can't take credit for towns bearing their names the way their forefathers _ Jefferson, who tops the list with 28, and Washington and Lincoln with 27 each _ can.
     The residents of Bush, Kentucky, say their town was named for George Bush _ but not the one with Herbert and Walker as his middle names who calls Texas, Maine, Connecticut and now Washington D. C., home.
     The town's founder named the now 100-resident town on February 18, 1840, when he opened its first store in the post office. The town's original name: Bush's Store.
     President Bush Campaigned there in 1988 touting: "Bush Returns to Bush."
     The president, school principal Willard Bowling says, tried to "play up" the idea his Irish ancestors founded the town, but Bush residents didn't buy it.
     The closes President Bush ever got to Bush, Louisiana, was the Republican National Convention in New Orleans.
     The town might have given him the creeps _ a Barbara Bush is buried in the cemetery.
     But plenty of Bush backers have been to Bush (pop. 200). They made the 70-mile trip from the 1988 convention, including a ride across Lake Pontchartrain, to have their mail postmarked "Bush."
     The town, which had previously been called Leslie and Boguechito, would love a visit from the president, says school principal Bruce Davis.
     The other three Bushes: tiny Towns _ two in Illinois and one in Maryland.
     Joining Bush with five towns bearing their names are Ford, Hayes, Hoover, McKinley, Tyler, and Coolidge.

Top Presidential Cities

Jefferson 28
Lincoln 27
Washington 27
Monroe 25
Jackson 24
Madison 24
Cleveland 23
Wilson 19
Adams 16
Harrison 16

Putting a Name on the Weather

     The people of Rainsville, Alabama, are beginning to wonder if it's ever going to stop raining.
     "It started around June 1, and it's rained every day since," says City Clerk Sue Bowman of the town of 4,800. "We're tired of the rain. It's ruined our summer activities."
     Bowman shouldn't feel singled out. Even Sunshine, Louisiana, normally a sunny spot on the Mississippi River banks, has seen a lot of rain this summer.
     This 1,000-resident town was renamed a century ago by residents who hated its gloomy name of Forlorn Hope, says Postmaster Sally Harp.
     Among her busiest days, May 30, 1984, the day of a total solar eclipse. She was flooded with mail that people wanted postmarked "Sunshine."
     Hurricane, West Virginia's Town Hall Office Manager Karen, Lilly can't remember a hurricane in this town of 5,000. "We've had tornado sightings," but no hurricanes.
     But to George Washington's land surveyors, it looked like one had blown through when they discovered it in the late 1700s, so they named it Hurricane.
     Snowflake, Arizona, (pop. 3,656) named by Mr. Snow and MR. Flake, doesn't live up to its name wither. "We get some snow but now a whole lot," says Town Clerk Charleene Rogers.

Fairview: Not all 66 of them lay claim to Pleasant Vistas

     Sounds as if the unfortunate folks in Fairview, Oklahoma, have a vulgar vista.
     Bustling Highway 60 runs through the center of this 3,000-resident farm town. And for many residents, the road and its travelers are what they see when they part the drapes for a look out the window.
     But City Clerk Irene Howerton says city folklore tells of an early resident who hiked a large hill overlooking the road and the town's future site and said, "That's a fair view." Hence the name of the town.
     So it can't be too bad.
     But who knows if the folklore is true? Residents in many of the USA's Fairviews _ 66 in 31 states _ tell similar stories.
     Fairview (Oregon) Historical Society Vice President Dorothy Moore, 62, says that town was named by pioneers in the 1840's who created an outlook post against Indians.
     The picturesque view from the post, however, clearly didn't match the name of it's location _ on Stark Street _ and so the pioneers came up with Fairview.
     Lake Erie is the fair view from Fairview, Pennsylvania.
     Local historian Sabina Shields Freeman says two Revolutionary War soldiers came to town in 1796 and looked over the land they bought. Colonel Foster said to Captain Swan: "My, what a fair view."
     Some might credit the 9,000-resident town for producing a fair view on the silver screen: Shirley Temple Black's father hailed from Fairview.
     Fairview, Kentucky, also has a claim to fame as the birthplace of Jefferson Davis.
     That town's fair view: a 300-foot monument to him, complete with a gift shop, elevator and 22 surrounding acres of open grounds.

Midway: Not where you think it will be

     Midway, the second most common name for U.S. cities, may be the most misleading.
     Most of the USA's 52 Midways in 24 states aren't midway between anything.
     La Crosse County Wisconsin, clerk Sharon Mahlum says Midway, Wisconsin, has little to do with its spot on a map: "is nothing more than a terminology."
     Settler of Midway, Texas, named it after their hometown: Midway, Kentucky.
     A pony express rider named Midway, Indiana, because it was a convenient _ but not midpoint _ place on his Troy, Kentucky, to Evansville, Indiana, route.

Oak Grove: Names' roots don't always stick around

     Maybe some of USA's 44 Oak Groves should consider changing their names.
     After all, it's false advertising: Most of the clusters of giant old oaks are long gone.
     Oak Grove, Louisiana, for one, lost its grove, which boasted trees 4 feet in diameter, in a 1915 tornado _ just two years after the town was incorporated.
     Maybe its original name is more appropriate: Years ago, says Mayor James Dumas, the 2,214-resident town called Pinhook _ named for a little boy who was too poor to buy a proper fishing hook and used a crooked straight pin as his lure.
     It's not as scenic-sounding as Oak Grove, but maybe it should be called Tin Town since it's home to the USA's largest producer of prefabricated metal buildings.
     Oak Grove, Alabama, could be called Pineville since those abound but its leafy oaks are no more. Better yet, Cratertown: A meteorite fell there about 10 years ago.
     In Illinois, Wannadrink might be a better name than Oak Grove. The town was incorporated in the 1950's just so a restaurant, now called the Old Oaks, could get a liquor license in the then-dry town.
     Restaurant owner Joe Patrizzi got the charter to build the restaurant, got himself elected mayor and issued himself the license.
     And in Jackson County, Missouri, 108-year-old Oak Grove now boast more trucks than oak trees. Truckers voted its Union 76 truck stop, off Interstate 70, No. 1 in the USA.

Top 10 City Names


Fairview 66
Midway 52
Oak Grove 44
Franklin 40
Riverside 40
Centerville 39
Mount Pleasant 38
Georgetown 37
Salem 36
Greenwood 34

Other Names of Interest

Body Parts

Arm, Mississippi
Bald Head, Maine
Beard, North Carolina
Big Arm, Montana
Big Foot, Illinois
Blue Eye, Arkansas
Boneville, Georgia
Bow Legs, Oklahoma
Cataract, Wisconsin
Chest Springs, Pennsylvania
Colon, Michigan
Left Hand, West Virginia
Neck City, Missouri
Skull Valley, Arizona
Snapfinger, Georgia
The Arches, Minnesota
Tongue Point Village, Oregon

Animal Kingdoms

Antelope, S. Dakota
Badger, Iowa
Bald Eagle, Minnesota
Bantam, Connecticut
Bass, Arizona
Beagle, Kansas
Big Moose, New York
Big Otter, West Virginia
Birdsnest, Virginia
Bison, Kansas
Black Gnat, Kentucky
Black Hawk, Mississipi
Black Horse, Maryland
Black Snake, Kentcuky
Blackbird, Delaware
Crane, Texas
Crow, Texas
Cygnet, Ohio
Deers Head, Maryland
Duck, North Carolina
Fly, Ohio
Lamb, Kentucky
White Pigeon, Michigan
White Swan, Washington
Wild Cat, Kentucky
Wolf, Minnesota
Worms, Nebraska

A nice place to visit...

Acres of Diamond, Florida
Admire, Kansas
All Saints Village, Missouri
Benevolence, Georgia
Bridal Veil, Oregon
Bright, Indiana
Candor, New York
Carefree, Arizona
Charm, Ohio
Clever, Missouri
Climax, Michigan
Co Operative, Kentucky
Couch, Missouri
Cozy Lake, New Jersey
Dreamworld, Florida
Fairyland, Tennessee
Fancy Farm, Kentucky
Fearnot, Pennsylvania
Feather Falls, California
Friendly, Maryland
Friendship, South Carolina
Gift, Tennessee
Happy, Texas
Happyland, Connecticut
Heaven Heights, Massachusetts
Holiday, Florida
Ideal, Georgia
Joy, Illinois
Kissimmee, Florida
Leisure, Michigan
Lithium, Missouri
Live Easy, Pennsylvania
New Hope, Missouri
Nice, California
Okay, Oklahoma
Paradise, Arizona
Pastime Park, New York
Peace Valley, Missouri
Peaceful Acres, Florida
Pep, New Mexico
Pleasant City, Ohio
Pleasureville, Kentucky
Plush, Oregon
Pretty Lake, Indiana
Progress, Indiana
Promise City, Iowa
Quality, Kentucky
Queen City, Texas
Radiant Valley, Maryland
Recovery, Georgia
Rescue, California
Rich, Mississippi
Rising Sun, Delaware
Romance, Arkansas
Rose, Nebraska
Security, Colorado
Sublime, Texas
Subtle, Kentucky
Success, Arkansas
Thankful, North Carolina
Tranquility, New Jersey
Welcome, Minnesota
What Cheer, Iowa
Wisdom, Montana

...but would you want to live here?

Asphalt, Kentucky
Bad Axe, Michigan
Belcher, New York
Black Gnat, Kentucky
Boring, Maryland
Braggadocio, Missouri
Calamine, Wisconsin
Cheapside, Virginia
Crummies, Kentucky
Cuthand, Texas
Droop, West Virginia
Dry Tavern, Pennsylvania
Dryville, Pennsylvania
Eek, Alaska
Funk, Nebraska
Gore, Oklahoma
Grippe, West Virginia
Grizzly, Colorado
Gross, Kansas
Gun Barrel City, Texas
Hardscrabble, Vermont
Hazard, Kentucky
Hell, Michigan
Hemlock, Ohio
Horseheads, New York
Impact, Texas
Joker, West Virginia
Kidder, Missouri
Laboratory, Pennsylvania
Last Chance, Colorado
Lava, New York
Lawyersville, New York
Leary, Georgia
Little Hope, Tennessee
Looneyville, West Virginia
Muck City, Alabama
Muleshoe, Texas
Nags Head, North Carolina
Needles, California
Needmore, Alabama
Nimrod, Minnesota
Nitrate City, Alabama
Odd, West Virginia
Oil City, Louisiana
Omen, Texas
Paint Lick, Kentucky
Panic, Pennsylvania
Payment, Michigan
Peerless, Illinois
Pierce City, Missouri
Pirate Harbor, Florida
Pitts, Georgia
Plain City, Utah
Punch, Tennessee
Puzzletown, Pennsylvania
Radium, Minnesota
Rains, S. Carolina
Rainy Beach, Michigan
Rambo Riviera, Arkansas
Ransom, Illinois
Recluse, Wyoming
Remote, Oregon
Riddle, Idaho
Rife, Pennsylvania
Roach, Missouri
Roachtown, Illinois
Rockfall, Connecticut
Rush, Colorado
Savage, Minnesota
Terror Bay, Alaska
Tightwad, Missouri
Tombstone, Arizona
Vandetta, Kentucky
Viper, Kentucky
War, West Virginia

Places on a First-Name Basis

Alice, North Dakota
Amos, Kentucky
Amy, Arkansas
Andy, Arkansas
Annabella, Utah
Archibald, Louisiana
Arnold, Missouri
Arthur, Illinois
Bertha, Minnesota
Bessie, Oklahoma
Bill, Wyoming
Bruce, Florida
Bud, West Virginia
Buford, Georgia
Burt, Iowa
Calvin, North Dakota
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Caroline, Wisconsin
Celeste, Texas
Clara, Mississippi
Clem, Georgia
Clyde, Ohio
Dean, Pennsylvania
Dorothy, New Jersey
Edgar, Nebraska
Edith, Georgia
Elvira, Iowa
Emily, Minnesota
Ernest, Pennsylvania
Ethel, Mississippi
Festus, Missouri
Fred, Texas
Geraldine, Alabama
Gladys, Virginia
Gracie, New York
Homer, Ohio
Irene, South Dakota
Jane, Missouri
Laverne, Oklahoma
Martha, Oklahoma
Max, North Dakota
Nadine, New Mexico
Naomi, Georgia
Natalie, Pennsylvania
Ned, Kentucky
Noel, Missouri
Norma, North Dakota
Norman, Arkansas
Olive, Kentucky
Ollie, Alabama
Omar, New York
Opal, Wyoming
Oscar, Kentucky
Otto, Illinois
Pandora, Ohio
Patricia, Texas
Patrick, Kentucky
Patsey, Kentucky
Paulette, Mississippi
Paulina, Louisiana
Pearl, Illinois
Peggy, Texas
Perry, Arkansas
Philip, South Carolina
Ralph, Alabama
Randolph, Utah
Rebecca, Georgia
Regina, Kentucky
Rex, Georgia
Rhoda, Kentucky
Rich, Mississippi
Robert, Louisiana
Rodney, Iowa
Ronald, Washington
Ronda, North Carolina
Rose, Nebraska
Roseann, Pennsylvania
Ross, California
Roy, Louisiana
Ruby, Alaska
Rupert, Georgia
Russell, Arkansas
Ruth, Kentucky
Ryan, Iowa
Sarah, Mississippi
Shirley, Indiana
Susie, Kentucky
Thomas, Oklahoma
Tina, Missouri
Tom, Oklahoma

Just Plain Weird-Sounding Places

Bat Cave, North Carolina
Bee House, Texas
Bird City, Kansas
Bohemia, California
Bugtussle, Kentucky
Climax, Pennsylvania
Cut and Shoot, Texas
Due West, South Carolina
Eclectic, Alabama
Hi Hat, Kentucky
Hills and Dales, Kentucky
Hygiene, Colorado
Farr West, Utah
Ohoopee, Georgia
Paw Paw, Illinois
Pee Dee, North Carolina
Peewee, West Virginia
Porkey, Pennsylvania
Quiggleville, Pennsylvania
Toad Suck, Arkansas
Worstville, Ohio
Zap, North Dakota

Good Eating

Cabbage Hill, Pennsylvania
Calf Creek, Kentucky
Cherry, Minnesota
Chestnut, Illinois
Chili Bar, California
Clam, Virginia
Cocoa, Florida
Codfish Hill, Connecticut
Coffee City, Texas
Corn, Oklahoma
Cranberry, Pennsylvania
Lobsterville, Massachusetts
Lollipop, Texas
Nectar, Alabama
Noodle, Texas
Peanut, California
Picnic, Florida
Pie, West Virginia
Pie Town, New Mexico
Pumpkin Center, Alabama
Rabbit Hash, Kentucky
Raisin, California
Salmon, Idaho
Sandwich, Illinois
Spuds, Florida
Strawberry, Arizona
Tangerine, Florida
Tea, South Dakota
Tomato, Arkansas
Trout, West Virginia
Tuna, Pennsylvania
Turkey, Texas
Veal, Georgia

Places with a Past

Aladdin, Pennsylvania
Arabia, North Carolina
Atlantis, New Jersey
Babylon, New York
Ben Franklin, Texas
Ben Hur, Virginia
Bonaparte, Iowa
Bronte, Texas
Caesar, Mississippi
Camelot, Washington
Canterbury, Virginia
Cinderella, West Virginia
Damascus, Oregon
Eden, West Virginia
Egypt, Pennsylvania
Frankenstein, Missouri
Heidelberg, Pennsylvania
Hercules, California
Hiawatha, Iowa
Italy, Texas
King Arthur's Court, Michigan
Kit Carson, Colorado
Mars, Pennsylvania
Napoleon, Indiana
Nazareth, Kentucky
Neptune, Ohio
North Star, Delaware
Notre Dame, Indiana
Orient, Iowa
Orion, Alabama
Orwell, New York
Othello, Washington
Palestine, Alabama
Plato, Indiana
Poe, Indiana
Pope, Kentucky
Prince George, Virginia
Princess Anne, Maryland
Rembrandt, Iowa
Revere, Massachusetts
River Styx, Ohio
Rob Roy, Indiana
Romulus, New York
Russia, New York
Sam Rayburn, Texas
Uncle Sam, Louisiana
Voltaire, N. Dakota

About this Article

     These articles are based on a computer analysis by Larry Sanders of USA TODAY's Special Projects department and hailing from Dickinson, North Dakota. The list of incorporated cities as well as unincorporated places _ from the Rand McNally Commercial Atlas & Marketing Guide _ was converted from magnetic tape on a mainframe computer, then analyzed on a personal computer.
     Stories by Mimi Hall, Hebron, Connecticut; other contributing and their hometowns: Michelle Battle, Savannah, Georgia; Su-Lin Cheng, Los Angeles, California; Michele Coleman, Washington, D. C.; Adell Crowe, Bentwood, Tennessee; Lily Dow, Taipei, Taiwan; Ed Findlay, Alexandria, Virginia; Tammy Johnson, Arlington, Virginia; Jane McClaran, Anahola, Hawaii; Dash Parham, Hackensack, New Jersey; Peter Pavilonis, Chicago, Illinois; Patrick Richards, Tampa, Florida; John Walston, Pinetops, North Carolina; Sam Ward, Fort Myers, Florida; Marla Weinstein, Hollywood, Florida.