Posted in Virginia
September 15, 2015
Here Are 18 Crazy Street Names In Virginia That Will Leave You Baffled
Awhile back, we did a story on funny town names in Virginia. You might remember gems like Frogtown, Fries, and Chilhowie. And, of course, what would a state full of funny sounding towns be without a bunch of crazy sounding street names to go with it? Here are just a few of the more bizarre streets you’ll find driving around this beautiful state of ours.
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At least you know where all the sketchy people live in Damascus.
There may be no parking on the street, but at least you know where to put your mule.
It's "murder" spelled backwards. Just saying. Although "Red rum" is best known as the catchphrase of the creepy kid in Stephen King's "The Shining," and it DOES actually spell 'Murder' backwards, this street in Ashburn was named after Red Rum, a famous racehorse who won the Grand National three times in 1973, 1974 and 1977. Good to know.
This is where I want to live.
I would live in a tent on the sidewalk just to say that my address was the Pink Floyd Corner. Well done, Richmond.
I've searched around to find the origins of this…ummm…"uniquely" named road and found nothing. I'm going to go out on a limb and say it has something to do with a salt lick, deer and other woodland creatures. I don't want to speculate much beyond that.
It's hard not to love the name of this road at the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons.
If you were looking for a place to park your backside, well…this isn't it. According to PilotOnline, "Butt" was actually a very common English surname back in the day. When Robert Butt settled near the Elizabeth River in the mid-1600s, many roads and townships were named after prominent families. As the Butt Family was a primary landholder in the area, "Butts Station" started popping up. And as they say, the rest is history.
Seems as good a name as any. In fact, the entire community surrounding it was known as Frying Pan until 1892, when it became Floris. This road in Herndon has a couple theories behind the name, according to the Washington City Paper. Theory 1: a group of settlers made camp and left a frying pan behind. Or Theory 2: the name comes from a local pool of water with a run leading into it, making the shape of a frying pan. But since the name has been used since since 1728 - in deeds granted by Lord Fairfax himself - I'm guessing it won't be changing any time soon.
It may not be elegant, but it certainly gives some good mental images.
The large sign off of I-81 announcing the presence of "Butt Hollow Road" has mysteriously vanished according to reports I've read. I'm guessing it was done as a safety precaution to keep giggling drivers from running off the road.
Yep, we've all taken a right on this road at one point or another.
This oddly named road is a main thoroughfare for many in Fairfax County. And it might make you wonder just who was signing off on the "official road names" list, but it actually originated from the salt licks that Powhatan Indians put along a nearby run to attract deer for hunting.
When you run out of good names, stick with descriptions.State Route 43 between Buchanan and Bedford County may not be big, but it's beautiful. As a designated scenic byway, it is, in fact, a narrowish passage through the mountains.
Now, stop. It's not what you think. According to an article in the Virginian Pilot in 2007, the street got its name, not from a brothel, but from a 1600s or 1700s tavern - which would have been pleasurable to men at the time because their wives were not allowed inside. Of course, there are those who might wish the same rules applied today.
This name pops up frequently in Richmond area locations: Powhite Parkway, Powhite Park, Powhite Creek and so on. And the debate rages on – is it pronounced “Pow-Hite” or “Po-White”? The “official” version is “Pow-Hite”, the same way you would pronounce nearby “Powhatan.” But more often than not you hear “Po-White” from the locals. Whatever ever you do, don’t say it incorrectly in front of the wrong people unless you want a verbal smack down. So which is the acceptable pronuciation? Try it both ways. You’ll know when you’ve gotten it wrong.
Sure, it's not actually a street name. And sure, Virginians know it means the Edgar Allen Poe House, but to someone less in tune with our literary history…it's kinda funny. Especially if the po' people just got off the Powhite Parkway on their way in to Richmond.
Now I know there are more out there! Please take a minute to share some of the more bizarre sounding road names near you. Comment in the section below with roads that have made you do a double take!
