Posted in Pennsylvania
May 15, 2015
Here Are 25 Bizarrely Named Pennsylvania Towns That Will Leave You Scratching Your Head
These days, we take our amusement anywhere we can find it, including in the bizarre and sometimes inexplicable history of our surroundings. Here are 25 of the weirdest town names in the state of Pennsylvania. Some of them come with explanations, while others are mysteriously devoid of an understood origin.
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.
4. Big Beaver
As you might guess, Big Beaver is located in Beaver County.
5. Big Run
Big Run is named after a waterway.
6. Blue Ball
Possibly the most well known silly-named town in PA, Blue Ball takes its name from a local hotel.
7. California
California, PA unfortunately does not have the surfers and beaches of the more well-known California.
8. Confluence
Confluence is a bizarre, yet bizarrely 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.
11. Driftwood
When it was founded, Driftwood was the center of the lumber industry in Pennsylvania.
12. Economy
A Harmonist society founded Economy and named it to represent their principles of living.
13. Ernest
Ernest is located in Indiana County.
14. Friendsville
Friendsville was named after the community of Quakers who originally lived there.
15. Houston
First Dallas, now Houston. Apparently Pennsylvania secretly wishes it were Texas.
16. Intercourse
Intercourse has such a strange and suggestive name that it’s become a popular tourist destination.
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.
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.”
20. North East
Maybe Kanye’s baby, North West, should make a visit to North East.
21. Paint
Paint, PA is located near Johnstown.
22. Pringle
I wonder if the people of Pringle love Pringles. I also wonder how sick they are of that question.
23. Red Lion
Red Lion is named after a local tavern.
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.
What do you think is the most strangely named town that you’ve visited in Pennsylvania?
