Pick up a map of these grand United States and plunk your finger down most anywhere. You’re sure to stumble upon a town with a very odd name. Like Hooker, Alabama. Or Climax, Georgia. Or Assawoman, Maryland. But which one has the most unfortunate name? That would be Toad Suck, Arkansas, according to genealogy site Findmypast.com, which polled English-speaking residents of the U.S., England, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to determine the top 10 American cities with the worst names. The top 10 U.S. cities with the most unfortunate names:
- Toad Suck, Arkansas
- Climax, Georgia
- Boring, Oregon
- Hooker, Oklahoma
- Assawoman, Maryland
- Belchertown, Massachusetts
- Roachtown, Illinois
- Loveladies, New Jersey
- Squabbletown, California
- 10.Monkey’s Eyebrow, Kentucky
“Some people are disconcerted to learn that their forebears came from somewhere called Toad Suck, Roachtown or Monkey’s Eyebrow,” said Josh Taylor, genealogist and spokesperson for Findmypast.com. So how did Toad Suck get it’s unfortunate name? It was named for the heavy drinkers that worked the docks along the Arkansas River. According to legend (and Wikipedia), “They suck on the bottle ’til they swell up like toads.” And the name “Toad Suck” was born.
How other towns that didn’t make this latest list got their unfortunate names:
Gas, Kansas
People in tiny Gas, Kansas warn others not to blink or they’ll pass Gas.
Scratch Ankle, Alabama
Church people passing by in their carriages noted that scratching mosquito bites seemed to be the primary pastime of the townspeople as they sat on their porches in the summer.
Intercourse, Alabama
Named for the crossroads where the general store sits. True story: A sign was posted outside the town’s meeting hall promoting the local ladies’ sewing instruction group. It read, “Intercourse Lessons Wednesday Night.” After several car crashes at that intersection, the good ladies were asked to remove the sign.
Suck-Egg Hollow, Tennessee
When a local farmer realized some critter was eating his hens’ eggs, he shot every animal that came close to the henhouse. Then he figured out it was black snakes sucking down the eggs. Because of this story the town got its name of Suck-Egg Hollow.
Peculiar, Missouri
Way back when, the townspeople submitted various names to the mail district for their town. Three times the name they selected was not approved because it was already being used by another town. Finally, officials sent town officials a message urging them to choose a name that was “peculiar, meaning unique.”
Dynamite, Washington
Named for the old stone storage shed once used by Chinese laborers who handled explosives.
Hell, Michigan
Named when an important person spurned the place, and as he was storming out of town was heard to say, “You can call this place Hell for all I care.” And so they did.
Sweetlips, Tennessee
So named for the Civil War soldiers who stopped for a drink at the stream.
Stinking Point, Virginia
So named when the bodies of Civil War soldiers washed up on shore.
Imagine living in one of these towns and having to explain where the origin of the name comes from. LOL!
