Subject: Very Odd Place Names
Posted by: Cymruambyth
Date: Jul 27 08
How about sharing some of the strange place names in your country, state, province, whatever. In Alberta, there's a place called Jumping Pound, which is close to a high bluff over which native people would drive bison. The poor beasts would be killed by the fall and there'd be plenty of meat for the camp! In Newfoundland, there's a place called Joe Batt's Arm and another called Come By Chance. I don't know how they got their names. My favourite strange place name, though, is a place in Herefordshire called Wormlow-under-the-Tump, and, no, I don't know how it got its name, either. Have you any items to add?
Posted by: Cymruambyth
Date: Jul 27 08
How about sharing some of the strange place names in your country, state, province, whatever. In Alberta, there's a place called Jumping Pound, which is close to a high bluff over which native people would drive bison. The poor beasts would be killed by the fall and there'd be plenty of meat for the camp! In Newfoundland, there's a place called Joe Batt's Arm and another called Come By Chance. I don't know how they got their names. My favourite strange place name, though, is a place in Herefordshire called Wormlow-under-the-Tump, and, no, I don't know how it got its name, either. Have you any items to add?
147 replies. On page 6 of 8 pages. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
mountaingoat
|
I was brought up in Junee near Wagga Wagga, Australia. Towns used to combine for football. Every Sunday I used to marvel at things like Mangopla Cookadinea played Grong Grong Matong. Reply #101. Oct 10 11, 11:36 PM |
BOB501
|
Two Dot, Montana... not a large place. Reply #102. Oct 11 11, 12:17 AM |
Cymruambyth 
|
It was originally One Dot, until another girl named Dot moved there, right? Reply #103. Dec 01 11, 2:38 AM |
sportsherald
|
As an Albertan, I want to gently correct some of the earlier entries for place names around here: the Bow River was named for the wood used for making bows- it widens into Lac des Arcs outside of Banff, which is French for (archery) Bows Lake. In Calgary, it is joined by the Elbow River, just after the Bow turns from flowing eastward to southward (a spot the pioneers called the Elbow). The Belly River is a translation of its native name, possibly ispired by the shape of a particular bend in that river, but it is noteworthy that some local natives were also known as Gros Ventres (Big Bellies). Committee Punch Bowl(not Community Punch Bowl) is a beautiful mountain lake (just across the Alberta border, in British Columbia) where a party of explorers stopped to refresh themselves. Alberta has other quaint names for "buffalo jumps," besides Jumping Pound: Head Smashed In, Dog Pound, and Dry Island come to mind. Some new ones: Back when Alberta's official abbreviation was Alta., a hamlet was named after A. B. Donley, but today it is Abee AB (the new two-letter abbreviation). One has to be careful when referring to Fallis, Alberta, to say fall-us, not Phall... Chip Lake, Alberta was originally Buffalo Chip Lake, named for the "chips" left behind in and around the lake after wandering herds of buffalo (bison) had passed through. Alberta has a Punk Lake, as well, with a similarly reasonable explanation. Kicking Horse Pass and River in British Columbia, Canada, commemorate the time the explorer Dr. James Hector got kicked hard by a pack horse. Reply #104. Mar 03 12, 2:34 AM |
bananapeel39
|
What Cheer (pronounced 'WOT-cheer') is a city in Keokuk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 678 at the 2000 census. Sources differ as to why the name What Cheer was chosen. The phrase what cheer with you is an ancient English greeting dating back at least to the 15th century.[3] One theory of the name is that a Scottish miner exclaimed What cheer! on discovering a coal seam near town. Wikipedia Reply #105. Mar 06 12, 9:56 PM |
| sportsherald
|
Eyebrow, Saskatchewan, Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, Blue Eye, Arkansas, and another Blue Eye, Missouri, right next to it. ...and then there's Zap, North Dakota Reply #106. Mar 08 12, 9:19 AM |
Sprink1234
|
Climax, Apex and High Point, NC are all relatively close to each other. And there's a road in northwestern NC called Booger Swamp Rd. Reply #107. Mar 08 12, 1:59 PM |
SisterSeagull
|
There is a gorgeous hamlet in deepest Dorset that goes by the name of Sh*tterton... Unfortunately the roadsign keeps being stolen! Reply #108. Mar 08 12, 3:07 PM |
| Cymruambyth
|
sportsherald, I'll accept your gentle correction with regard to the origins of the name of the Bow and the Belly Rivers. I was given the explanation by a descendant of Colonel McLeod who lived in Calgary when I lived there from 1952-61. The Gros Ventres, however, may have wandered northwards but the majority of them live in Montana. The Piegan, traditional enemies of the Gros Ventres wouldn't stomach (pun intended) having them in the same neck of the woods for too long! I checked with an historian friend of mine and he says the Bow River is not named for wood used to make bows, but for reeds which grew along the river and on the shores of Bow Lake that were used by the First Nations of the day to make bows. Reply #109. Mar 08 12, 4:50 PM |
| sportsherald
|
I don't want to stray off the topic of odd place names, but I just can't see a usable bow being made from reeds! I'll cite my source, and leave it at that: http://www.placenamesofalberta.ca/300_names_definitions/bow_river.html The reference to reeds makes me think about the native source of the Athabasca River's name, which does refer to the reeds growing in its large delta: http://www.placenamesofalberta.ca/300_names_definitions/athabasca_river.html As for odd place names, I'm surprised the Manitobans involved here haven't mentioned Flin Flon, named after Josiah Flintabbety Flonatin, the hero of "the Sunless City," an early science fiction novel! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sunless_City St. Louis du Ha! Ha!, Quebec, is also good for a laugh. Reply #110. Mar 10 12, 1:23 AM |
| sportsherald
|
Oops- I see Flin Flon was already mentioned (but not explained) way back on Page 1. Sorry, Manitobans. Turning my gaze toward Ontario, Pickle Crow and Moose Factory are intriguing. Old Crow is a famous remote settlement in the Yukon Territory. Reply #111. Mar 10 12, 12:36 PM |
| coachpauly
|
I live in MaMeiHa which sounds a little like a kung fu expert breaking boards :) Reply #112. Mar 11 12, 10:21 PM |
| sportsherald
|
Here in Alberta, we have Ma-Me-O Beach- I don't think it was named for a kung fu expert failing at an attempt to break boards ;-) Reply #113. Mar 12 12, 5:46 PM |
| mikeeagle1
|
Toad Suck, Arkansas Hog Eye, Arkansas Reply #114. Mar 16 12, 9:58 AM |
| sportsherald
|
Talking Rock, Georgia (USA) Reply #115. Mar 18 12, 5:15 PM |
| REDVIKING57
|
There is a village in Upper Austria called F**king! Reply #116. Mar 18 12, 6:51 PM |
golfmom08
|
There is a town in central Florida called Howie-in-the-Hills. I have no idea why it is called that! Reply #117. Mar 18 12, 8:28 PM |
| sportsherald
|
Only about 30 miles separate Hell's Half Acre from Paradise Valley in Wyoming... Reply #118. Apr 07 12, 1:21 PM |
caparica
|
Middelfart, a town in Denmark Reply #119. Apr 20 12, 10:40 AM |
rustymutt
|
Stinking Creek, Tenn. Reply #120. Apr 24 12, 9:17 PM |
147 replies. On page 6 of 8 pages. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Legal / Conditions of Use
|
|
: