Southern Byways

What’s in a Name? A Look at Some Unusual and Funny Town Names Found Across the South

by Apryl on January 20th, 2008

A little ways up the road from where I live is Between, Georgia. When I first saw the sign, I was curious to know exactly what the town is "between." It’s named such because the town is located between Atlanta and Athens. Okay, fair enough. When it comes to different or unusual names, Georgia also happens to be home to Hopeulikit (outside of Statesboro in south Georgia), Experiment (south of the metro Atlanta area in Spalding County), and Enigma (near Tifton).

I know, I know - unusual names aren’t limited to the South. Every state in the nation has a town or two (or three) that makes you do a double-take when you read it on a sign or in the paper.

Here are a few in the South. Some have legitimate reasons behind their names and the others, well, let’s just say the town’s founders had a good sense of humor:

• In south Alabama, near Monroeville, you’ll find the town of Burnt Corn.

• Arkansas’ state site has a page dedicated to their interesting town names. The state is home to Weiner (southwest of Jonesboro), Success (northeast of Pocahontas), and Flippin (near the Ozark Mountains).

• The town of Two Egg, located near Marianna, is perhaps the best known unusual or different name in Florida. There is also Yeehaw Junction, which was named in Money Magazine’s article, "Best Places to Live 2007", and Lorida both located in the central part of the state.

• The book From Red Hot to Monkey’s Eyebrow by Robert M. Rennick details Kentucky’s unusual town names. The Bluegrass State is also home to such places as Possum Trot (between Paducah and Calvert City) and Hell for Certain, near Hyden.

• Tickfaw (close to Hammond) and Jigger (near Winnsboro) are just two town names you’ll come across in Louisiana.

• Maryland is home to Boring (that’s someone’s last name, not a reflect of the town) near Reisterstown and Accident, close to McHenry.

• Chunky, Mississippi (near Meridian) is actually derived from an Indian name. You will also find in the Magnolia State the towns of Hot Coffee (near Taylorsville) and Whynot (near Meridian).

• North Carolina has Meat Camp (near Boone), said to be named after Daniel Boone’s meat camp that was in the area, and Lizard Lick (east of Raleigh).

• Due West, South Carolina is located in Abbeville County. The town is home to the only Associate Reformed Presbyterian Seminary in the United States, Erskine College. At the college, you will find Bowie Arts Center, filled with permanent exhibits of antiques.

Near Spartanburg is the town of Cowpens. The name comes from the pastureland and cowpens in the area. Nearby is the site of where a battle in the Revolutionary War took place. Today it is known as Cowpens National Battlefield.

• What does the names Bucksnort and Sweet Lips have in common? They are towns found in Tennessee. Bucksnort is located between Nashville and Memphis; and Sweet Lips is near Jackson.

• Texas is home to towns such as Bootleg (close to Hereford), Ding Dong (near Killeen), and Uncertain (near the Texas-Louisiana border).

• Virginia has the town called Ordinary (near Yorktown) and West Virginia is home to Odd (close to Beckley).

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POSTED IN: Cities of the South, Small Towns to Visit, Things to See in Alabama, Things to See in Arkansas, Things to See in Florida, Things to See in Georgia, Things to See in Kentucky, Things to See in Louisiana, Things to See in Maryland, Things to See in Mississippi, Things to See in North Carolina, Things to See in South Carolina, Things to See in Tennessee, Things to See in Texas, Things to See in Virginia, Things to See in West Virginia