Posted in Pennsylvania
Attractions
March 20, 2021
by Christi
Here Are 25 Bizarrely Named Pennsylvania Towns That Will Leave You Scratching Your Head
These days, we just have to take our amusement anywhere we can find it, including in the bizarre and sometimes inexplicable history of our surroundings. Here are 25 of our very favorite weird town names in Pennsylvania. Some of them come with explanations, while others are mysteriously devoid of an understood origin. We hope you find them as amusing as we do.
1. Apollo
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This town was originally named Warren.
2. Armagh
Bless you! Armagh is the oldest town in Indiana County.
3. Athens
In 2011, Tropical Storm Lee left much of Athens underwater, resulting in millions of dollars worth of damage. It did not fare as well over time as its Greek counterpart.
4. Big Beaver
As you might guess, Big Beaver is located in Beaver County. We can’t help but wonder just how big the beaver who inspired this name was.
5. Big Run
Big Run is named after a waterway. Why, though?
6. Blue Ball
Possibly the most legendarily silly-named town in Pennsylvania, Blue Ball takes its name from a local hotel, not from whatever you were thinking.
7. California
California, Pennsylvania, unfortunately, does not have the surfers and beaches of the more well-known California state. Our sincerest condolences.
8. Confluence
Confluence is a bizarre, yet weirdly beautiful name for a town.
9. Daisytown
The population of Daisytown is only 326!
10. Dallas
This town is named after Alexander Dallas, the 6th Secretary of the Treasury. It has nothing to do with Texas.
11. Driftwood
When it was founded, Driftwood was the center of the lumber industry in Pennsylvania. Now, it’s just a funny name.
12. Economy
A Harmonist society founded Economy, Pennsylvania, and named it to represent their principles of living.
13. Ernest
Ernest is located in Indiana County. We wonder if the people who named this town had that Ernest in mind. Probably not, but it’s an amusing thought.
14. Friendsville
Friendsville was named after the community of Quakers who originally lived there. Imagine having a falling-out with your friends here. It’s the name would be taunting you.
15. Houston
First Dallas, now Houston. Apparently Pennsylvania secretly wishes it were Texas. Is there a Pennsylvania, Texas? Asking for a friend.
16. Intercourse
Intercourse has such a strange and suggestive name that it’s become a popular tourist destination simply for that reason. Meanwhile, our inner fourth-graders can’t stop giggling about it.
17. Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore was not named to confuse you, although it may seem that way. Rather, some of its original inhabitants were from New Jersey.
18. Mars
The history of how Mars received its name is unknown. They probably – probably – weren’t Martians, though.
19. Moosic
Even though this may sound like a funny variation on the word “music,” the name actually is the Lenape word for “elk place.” See, that’s a thing you know now.
20. North East
Maybe Kanye’s baby, North West, should make a visit to North East.
21. Paint
Paint, Pennsylvania, is located near Johnstown.
22. Pringle
We wonder if the people of Pringle love Pringles. We also wonder how sick they are of that question. Probably a lot.
23. Red Lion
Red Lion is named after a local tavern. Imagine being such a legendary bar that the entire town is named after you.
24. Scalp Level
This is probably the weirdest and creepiest town name on this list. It is located within a stone’s throw of Paint.
25. Throop
Now this one is just fun to say.
How many of these weird town names in Pennsylvania have you ever visited? Which one is your favorite? Tell us in the comments!
Craving a little more Pennsylvania weirdness?
Check this article out – you might have broken one of those weird laws and never known it!
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Weird Town Names in Pennsylvania
March 25, 2021
Tori Jane
What are some funny town names in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a bunch of ridiculous-sounding and downright amusingly-named towns. Ever heard of Bird-In-Hand? Now you have. What about Noodle Doosie? Yeah, that’s real. That’s a town. Then there’s Jugtown, and we’re not really sure we’re even curious about the backstory on that one (but we’ll take one on Noodle Doosie, though). Every state generally has its share of strangely-named places, but it seems like Pennsylvania might have the market cornered on that one.
Where are some little-known Pennsylvania towns?
There are some towns in the state of Pennsylvania that are so small that nobody seems to have ever heard of them. Parker, Pennsylvania, is so tiny that it’s only otherwise known as the “smallest city in the USA”. Baileyville has a population of under 300, and it’s not exactly something you’d plan to visit if you didn’t know it existed. That’s part of what’s beautiful about these small towns; they’re not crowded, they’re not busy, and everyone knows your name. Another favorite small town is Marklesburg, Pennsylvania, with a population of a little over 200. Check out this list of some of our very favorite picks for great Pennsylvania small towns.
What are some interesting facts about Pennsylvania?
There are lots of intriguing things about our beautiful state if you know where to look! Did you know that in the early 1900s, the first-ever baseball stadium was erected in Pittsburgh? Philadelphia was the proud home of the first computer back in the 1940s. Betsey Ross, the creator of the American flag, made the very first one – you guessed it, in Pennsylvania, also in Philadelphia. Kennett Square is the mushroom capital of the world. We could go on.
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