Canadian's are familar with the cities of Moosejaw, Saskatchewan and Medicine Hat, Alberta but there are lost of other strange names for places, towns and cities. Care to add ones you know? Maybe you know the origin of the name? I'll start it off with couple. First - Come By Chance, Newfoundland. First recorded reference to the name was in a military dispatch in 1706 calling it "Comby Chance". Second - Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Alberta. Yep..the natives in the area used to run buffalo of the cliff as a method of hunting. Surely Canada isn't the only country with strange names. What other places come to mind?
Holy crap! There really is an Intercourse, Pennsylvania! Intercourse was founded in 1754. The community was originally named Cross Keys, after a local tavern. Intercourse became the name in 1814. The village website gives several theories for the origins of the name. "Another theory concerns two famous roads that crossed here. The Old King's highway from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh (now the Old Philadelphia Pike) ran east and west through the center of the town. The road from Wilmington to Erie intersected in the middle. The joining of these two roads is claimed by some to be the basis for the town 'Cross Keys' or eventually 'Intercourse'.[1] A final idea comes from the use of language during the early days of the Village. The word 'intercourse' was commonly used to describe the 'fellowship' and 'social interaction and support' shared in the community of faith, which was much a part of a rural village like this one."[1]
Here is a few from good ole Georgia Butts, GA Climax, GA Cumming, GA Egypt, GA Gay, GA Hopeulikit, GA Jot 'em Down Store, GA Santa Claus, GA Talking Rock, GA
Pennsylvania is also the home to Climax, PA. One of my favorites is Truth or Consequences, NM. It was named after a TV show as I recall. There is also Two Dot, MT to add to the list.
Al, I have been to Hanging Dog before. Here is a few more from Georgia Hemp, GA. Licklog, GA. Lickskillet, GA. Shoulderbone, GA. Skullhead, GA.
Who would have thought there were so many strangely named places. Ontario has a town named Gravenhurst. Get it? Grave and hearse... Also Kilbride
