While road tripping across the United States, you’re more than likely to find bustling cities, tons of pristine nature, and an array of quaint little towns that’ll all have you remembering why it is you love America the Beautiful so much. If you’re lucky, you might also come across a number of hidden spots along the way that fail to register on your GPS—i.e. some way off-the-grid spots that you otherwise would not have known existed if it weren’t for your need to fill up on gas or to take a bathroom break.
There are some oddly-named in-the-middle-of-nowhere towns across these great states that are bizarre sounding, a goldmine for cheesy jokes, and actually quite instructive when it comes to learning about the particular region’s history. So start LOLing during your next American getaway at places you'd never imagine could exist. Honorable mentions fo to Booger Hole, West Virginia, and Ding Dong, Texas.
Here are 9 U.S. towns with funny names and where to find them
Photo: bikeacrossamerica.net
1. Surprise, Arizona
A city in south central Arizona, the Maricopa County town was founded in 1938 by Flora Mae Statler, who named it Surprise because she "would be surprised if the town ever amounted to much.”
What began as just a couple of houses and a gas station has seen tremendous growth throughout the years, especially as thousands of snowbirds started flocking to the city starting in the 1990s to live in Sun City Grand, an age-restricted resort-like community in the area. Right now, it’s the second fastest-expanding municipality in the greater Phoenix area and is the sixth fastest-expanding place among all cities and towns in Arizona.
2. CRANKY CORNER, LOUISIANA
Find this tiny town in the Parish Governing Authority District 2 of Tangipahoa Parish at an elevation of just about ninety feet. Nuff said.
Photo: TripAdvisor
3. Weed, California
Located in the northernmost part of the Golden State in Siskiyou County, the tiny town has a population of just about 3,000 and consists of several unincorporated communities that include Edgewood, Carrick, and Lake Shastina.
Just ten miles away, you can find Mount Shasta, a prominent northern California landmark and the second-tallest volcano in the Cascade Range. The city’s motto is "Weed likes to welcome you," and unsurprisingly, it’s often noted on lists of unusually named places.
Photo: adweek.com
4. Boring, Oregon
Apparently, it isn’t all that boring, according to residents, but it sure could use a way more enticing name. Located along Oregon Route 212, the Clackamas County community sits at the foothills of the Cascade mountain range and is approximately a dozen miles away from Portland.
It was named after a former Union soldier and farmer and actually inspired the named of an extinct Plio-Pleistocene volcanic field zone near the area called Boring Lava Field. In 2012, the town was paired as a sister city to the town of Dull, Scotland across the Pond because of their unusual names.
5. HANDSOME EDDY, NEW YORK
A hamlet in the southern part of the Empire State, this Sullivan County community is just over a couple hundred miles northeast of Washington, the country's capital city.
Photo: tsminteractive.com
6. Intercourse, Alabama
It may sound raunchy and somewhat terribly named, but this Sumter County community is actually a fun place to visit. Located at a crossroads somewhat near Climax, Alabama (yes, another weird one), Intercourse was actually named for the traffic intersection of the town’s crossroads-- so get your minds out of the gutter.
Photo: Flickriver
7. Whynot, Mississippi
Yet another unincorporated community located in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, the town sits about sixteen miles southeast of Meridian on Mississippi Highway 19. It’s part of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area and was actually first served by a post office called Whitesville.
Fun fact: David Ruffin, one of the lead singers of the Temptations, is a notable native.
8. DULL, OHIO
This romantic little town is anything but dull and can be found in Van Wert County just two and a half miles southwest of Ohio City. It was planned and laid out in 1879 by J. M. Dull, and was actually first deemed McKee—though the name later changed after a post office was established under the name Dull in 1880.
Photo: coloradoguy.com
9. Buttzville, New Jersey
Founded by Michael Robert Buttz in 1839, this Warren County spot lies along U.S. Route 46 at the north end of Route 31, a state highway in New Jersey, and like many on this fine list, has frequently been noted on multiple lists of interestingly named places.
This article was written by Pamela Chan.