By Jenn Shockley|Updated on August 02, 2023(Originally published July 19, 2020)
×
Jenn Shockley
Author
I am somewhat a cliche'. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky.
I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side.
Every state has its share of strangely named towns, and Kentucky is no different. We have some uniquely named places scattered from border to border. The Appalachians are home to some of the strangest titles, but the rest of the Bluegrass has quite a few as well. Can you think of any weird Kentucky town names? Here are 19 images of funny Kentucky town names, plus a few extra oddly named communities thrown in:
1. Booger Branch is home to some amazing forestry and rolling hills of green. We also have towns named Strunk, Slippa, Paw Paw, Whoopie Hill… and Ruin.
If you think this town name is gross, well, it's snot. Booger is actually a word that came into existence in the late nineteenth century. Believe it or not, Booger is also a surname, and the family has its own coat of arms.
2. Rabbit Hash is a small country town where the General Store still gathers a crowd. It is rumored the name came from a dish that saved the citizens from starvation during a flood.
This area is actually quite lovely and Marrowbone is the kind of community where everyone knows everyone else. After all, you can't help but know your neighbors when there are only 217 of them in total!
4. Big Beaver Lick was a fur trading post from 1780 to 1820. It was initially known as “Beaverlick”, all one word, but is located along Big Bone Creek. Thus, residents changed the name to Big Beaver Lick and separated it into 3 words.
The residents are pretty quiet about how the name came about. Some say it’s the ample supply of Black Bass.
6. How did Monkey’s Eyebrow get its name? Legend has it that if you stand on the hill, looking down on the town, it looks just like a monkey’s eyebrow. The lore is very non-specific on the type of monkey. There were initially two parts to the town referred to as, “Old Monkey,” and “New Monkey.”
Truth be told, the origin of this community name is disputed. Nonetheless, one thing remains true: it's a funny word to say. Bonus points if you can say it five times fast!
Advertisement
8. Possum Trot is a quiet, very rural community located in Marshall County. The residents here have a special kind of serenity not tainted by the factories and pollution of the big cities. The only thing I could find on how Possum Trot got its name … was how they voted down changing it.
Otherwise known as Cut Shin, this area's nomenclature is as mysterious as many other Kentucky settlements. With a name like cut shin, it's only natural that tales of ax accidents and incidents with rocks and roots would arise. Perhaps in the area's early days, something in the local landscape caused many early visitors to walk away with a few extra scars on their shins.
10. Thousandsticks is a quiet community in Leslie County that does a lot of activities via the Thousandsticks Methodist Church.
Other number-oriented town names include Number One, Three Springs, Seventy Six, and Million.
11. Black Gnat borders Green County and is lush rolling hills of green. This area is a beautiful county community with plenty of farms. No record of why the town was named, but could be due to the gnats that tend to frequent farming communities.
12. A lick is a salt block given to animals and a word added to a lot of Kentucky towns. We have Mud Lick, Deer Lick, Paint Lick, Sulpher Lick, Bee Lick, Wolf Lick, and a few others.
Lick, like Booger, has an etymological history as a surname. However, this word can also be used to describe a creek, which is the more likely source of most of the names listed above.
13. Dwarf is near Perry County and was named after a man named Jeremiah Combs and his “notably short stature”.
14. Viper, in the Appalachians, is home to the historic trail known as War Trace, which was used by the Cherokee and other Native Americans during travels.
The renowned folk singer and dulcimer player Jeanie Richie was also born in Viper. There are also towns named Turkey, Parrot, Spider, Beaver, Terrapin, Raccoon, and… Princess.
15. Pig is a small town in south Edmondson County. The town folk couldn’t decide on a name. The tale goes a resident saw what he thought to be a pig in the road, and they decided to call the town Pig. The people in Pig are pretty private, as photos were elusive. Thus I used a photo honoring how the town was named.
Hippo stood for hypochondriac, and Bee was reported to be a most annoying one. Nonetheless, this figure has become an important part of local history.
19. California Kentucky in Campbell County was so named because part of it lies near a river that runs through California. We also have Paris and London Kentucky.
Though there are only 20 images, over 40 weird town names in Kentucky are listed in the text above. It would have been easy to keep going. Kentucky people have bestowed some very “colorful” titles to their communities over the years. Chatting with local Elders can provide a wealth of information. Some are quite open about the town name origins. If you live in or know of a unique name I missed, please feel free to mention it in the comments. The Bluegrass State is a virtual treasure trove of oddly named places.
If you’re looking to stay in any of these quirkily named towns, check out Vrbo for the perfect spot to lay your head!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
More to Explore
Strange Town Names In Kentucky
Nikki Rhoades|August 02, 2020
What are the most charming small towns in Kentucky?
Many of the oddly named destinations listed above are, in actuality, charming small towns. You'll have to visit these unique places yourself to find out, but there are a few small towns in Kentucky that we can't help but recommend.
Midway is like a real-life train town.
Owensboro is a haven for lovers of barbecue.
What is the smallest town in Kentucky?
According to Kentucky demographics, the smallest community in the state is South Park View. This community has only seven residents!
What is the largest city in Kentucky?
Louisville is the largest city in Kentucky, boasting over 620,000 residents.
