Dedication

There are many people I need to give credit for the contents of this book.  Through years of travel and many conversations with people across the United States, I want to thank:

United States Chambers of Commerce, National Historical Societies, State Historical Societies, State Historical Markers, Library of Congress, New York Public Library, County and local museums

And

The great citizens of these great hometowns, the many friends and acquaintances who contributed to this hobby of mine, and to the many people at restaurants, cafes, police and fire stations, convenient stores, hotels, motels, tourist stops and anywhere else along the way!

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Acknowledgements

All artwork by Brother Warren

Edited by Dolores Cook and Jennifer

Photos Courtesy Library of Congress Public Domain

New York Public Library

All other photographs are by the author

Inspiration by Jennifer

Contents

Principles of Naming States, Cities and Towns

Names of States, Cities & Towns

Principles of Naming States, Cities and Towns

Due to my research and travel throughout the United States, I discovered 12 primary principles our ancestors used to name their new found communities.  Throughout this book you will find one or a combination of these principles used to decide the final name of the town.  The following principles are what I believe will help you come to the same conclusion.

(1) Heritage

City, town, and state names come from a number of sources.  The origins of these names have evolved like the United States.  When the first settlers and explorers came from Europe to America, they often used names from their homelands to identify their new American homes and discoveries.  Along the eastern seaboard, you will find many towns named after communities in England and France.  These American citizens often added new to their settlement.  New Salem and New Amsterdam are great examples.  As the westward movement progressed across the United States, this tradition emerged.  You will often see Raleigh, Richmond, or Salem used throughout the naming in the West.  Homesick settlers wanted to remember their birthplaces back east.

(2) Heroes

Other community names originated from famous heroes and places which were known around the world.  Some of these names include kings, queens, or other royalty.  Cities like Baltimore, New York, and Charleston emerged honoring these well-known people.  Later, as the United States declared their sovereignty and became involved in battles and wars, American heroes replaced these European idols.  Towns began honoring their own homegrown heroes like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson.  As the migration continued west, frontiersmen claimed the glory and citizens named their new towns after these famous American heroes.  Carson City, Cody, and Dodge City all were common naming conventions to honor their own homegrown heroes.

(3) New Found Freedoms

During the early history of the United States, some towns were named after new found freedoms.  Words like Liberty or Columbia began a new trend.  Communities like Independence, Missouri or Americus, Georgia were acknowledged.

(4) Classics

Later in the 19th century, many towns began naming their communities after the classics in literature.  Greek and Roman heroes or cities were used.  New settlements were named Neptune City, New Jersey or even Hercules, California.  Famous literary writers were also honored and towns were named after these authors or their novel.

(5) Native American Indians

Native Indians were a major source of names.  Many of the new pioneers found romanticism in the native tongue.  Often they could use a single Native American Indian word like chattanooga to describe their new town which was located by the rock rising to a point.  Even though our treatment of the American Indian was often cruel and brutal, every state has a community named with Native American heritage.  Over half of our states are named using the influence of the Native American Indian.

(6) Translations of European Language

The early French, Spanish and British explorers were also a major influence.  These foreigners used their own native language to christen their community.  For example, you will find Creve Coeur (Broken Heart), Missouri or maybe El Paso (The Pass), Texas chosen as the name for a new town.  As you look at a map of the United States, it is easy to point out the regions where the Spanish, French or English started establishments.

(7) Government

In the 1800’s, the United States Post Office was given the sole authority to regulate the naming of a new community.  The local postmaster of the community was often the one who determined the name of their new community.  Usually, what the local postmaster suggested as the name was approved by the U.S. Post Office and the town was formerly named.  However, there were challenges presented to these local officials.  Sometimes, the name had already been chosen.  The U.S. Post Office rarely approved the same name of a community within a state.  This became a challenge to the local postmaster who was often responsible for choosing a name for the new community.  One postmaster became so disgusted with the rejection of duplicate names he took the government official’s suggestion and named the new community Peculiar.

(8) Railroads

And then, the railroads emerged.  These companies accumulated so much wealth and power they often decided the fate of a community.  If the track didn’t go through your town, your future was in jeopardy.  Chances were your new town would not survive if the track was not laid nearby.  Railroads often decided what communities would exist and often took the liberty of naming the new town.  As the migration west continued, many towns and communities were named in honor of a railroad official.  El Paso, Kansas became Derby.  This tradition continued all the way to Barstow, California.

(9) Religion and Spiritual

We must remember religion played a very important role to our ancestors.  Since many of the immigrants first came from Europe, Christianity had a great effect on the naming of our communities.  Often, our ancestors used saints or religious names from The Bible to find a new name for their town.  You can find more than a thousand communities in the United States honoring Saints and religious figures.

(10) Emotional

Still, many other creative ways were found by our ancestors to describe their new homes.  Emotional feelings or significant events were often used to name their new hometowns.  You can always find Success in New Hampshire, Luck in Wisconsin, and Surprise in Arizona.

(11) Events and Environment

At times, our ancestors used significant events which had occurred to name their new community.  Battle Creek, Princeton, or Mount Healthy emerged as unique creations.  Often, a description of the surroundings would suggest the right name.  Towns like Saddle Rock, Salt Lake City, or Between were used to identify their surroundings.

(12) Mistakes

However, as the English language became the primary language spoken in the United States, often this created mistakes.  Suddenly, Narbonne, Indiana became Gnaw Bone and Sumac Couvert, Arkansas became known as Smackover.  You see, our early English speaking ancestors often did not know how to spell or translate a word.  They often spelled phonetically what they thought they had heard.  Other mistakes occurred in community names when the U.S. Post Office was deemed the final arbitrator.  With this authority, came mistakes, misinterpretations and misspellings.  Harmony became Hominy and Glad became Plad.  Some names originated from coincidence, errors or by sheer accident.  Evidence of this mishap can be found in Maryland, Maine, and all the way to California.

Conclusion

When reading about the communities and the states in this book, you will determine most are named by one or more of the above naming principles.  Often, you find Native American Indian terms are translated into some form of the English language.  Or maybe, you discover a particular environmental structure near the community which was merged with a local hero’s name.  Then sometimes, you will find a name as a result of a mistake by a government official, a translation, or a misunderstanding.  If your community is not included in the following pages don’t be disappointed.  Hopefully, you will find many clues within to solve the mystery behind the name of your hometown.

Our ancestors found many creative and imaginative ways to name the communities where we live today.  All of our communities in the United States are special and dear to our hearts.  Whatever hometown is dear to your heart, we must always remember this fact.  In America, we live in the greatest hometowns in the world!

Names of States, Cities and Towns

Alabama

The name comes from a southern tribe of Indians.  It was spelled various ways by the Spanish, French and British settlers to the area.  Translated, the name alba means a thick or mass of vegetation and amo translates to clear, to collect or gather up.

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Alabaster, AL - The town was named after the limestone which was first mined in this area.  The community was established in 1953.

Arab, AL - This name has nothing to do with the Middle East.  The first postmaster of the town decided to name the town after his son, Arad Thompson.  The post office officials mistakenly registered the town as Arab.  The citizens never corrected the mishap.

Birmingham, AL - The town got its name from the English manufacturing city, Birmingham, England.  Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama.

Brilliant, AL - I’m sure there are a lot of smart people living here.  However, this community was named after the Brilliant Coal Company.

Burnt Corn, AL - In 1813, an early settler Jim Cornells,  returned home and found the Creek Indians had kidnapped his wife and burned down his home.  Cornell and volunteers later ambushed these Indians.  This started the Indian War of 1813 and the area became known as Burnt Corn.

Eight Mile, AL - This town’s name originated from its location.  The town is located eight miles from Mobile, Alabama.

Huntsville, AL - The city was named after John Hunt, the first settler of the land.  However, Hunt did not properly register his claim and lost his land.  The area was then purchased by Leroy Pope who named the town Twickenham.  This name was chosen to honor a town in England.  The War of 1812 caused the town’s name to become Huntsville.  The citizens wanted nothing to do with England!

Mobile, AL - The origin of this name comes from an Indian tribe.  The Spanish called this area Mauvila.  Through the years, the name evolved into Mobile.  What an evolution!

Montgomery, AL

The Battle of Quebec

This city was established in 1819 from two rival communities.  In 1816, General John Scott and his followers established a community called Alabama Town.  Andrew Dexter soon established nearby New Philadelphia.  Both communities decided to put their differences aside and merge into one community called Montgomery.  The name was chosen to honor Revolutionary War hero, General Richard Montgomery.  General Montgomery was a major contributor to the Continental Army when fighting the British in Canada.  General Montgomery captured Montreal in 1775.  He then advanced his troops to Quebec and attacked.  Unfortunately, the General was killed in this battle.

Muscle Shoals, AL - The name has nothing to do with being physically fit.  The community is located on the Tennessee River.  During early times, the rapid waters in the river were often referred to as mussel shoals.  The origin of the city’s name is a variation of this term.

Opp, AL - Oops!  The town was named in honor of lawyer Henry Opp.

Sylacauga, AL - Fernando Desoto explored this area in 1540.  The name comes from a Muskogean Indian term meaning buzzard roost.  The town of Sylacauga received national attention in 1954 when a meteorite hit the community.  The meteor crashed through the roof of Ms. Hodge’s house.  The meteor hit the floor and bounced up and struck Ms. Hodges who was lying on the couch.  She survived the event but I don’t know about the house!

Talladega, AL - This settlement started at the foothills near the Appalachian Mountains.  The origin of the name comes from a Creek Indian word meaning town on the border.

Tuscaloosa, AL

Chief Tuscaloosa

Hernando Desoto first explored this area.  He battled a fierce group of Indians led by Chief Black Warrior.  When the town was incorporated in 1819, the settlers named their town in honor of this fierce chief.  The name Tuscaloosa is a Choctaw term.  The words tushka means warrior and lusa means black.  In 1831, the town became home to the University of Alabama.

Alaska

The name is an Indian Aleut word which means great land.  In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia for 7.2 million dollars.  At the time, most Americans thought it was a waste of money.  In 1959, Alaska became the 49th state in the Union.  The region is rich in resources and considered the Last Frontier.

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Anchorage, AK - In 1915, the citizens held a vote in naming the town.  The popular choice was Alaska City.  John Franklin Alexander Strong, the territorial governor at the time, did not like their choice.  He convinced the citizens to change the name to Anchorage.  Governor Strong felt the name Anchorage better described the city because of the many boats that were anchored at the mouth of this port.  Anchorage is also known as the City of Lights and Flowers.  Every summer the community displays flower baskets and over 400 flower beds are planted throughout the city.

Adak, AK - In the 19th century, this town became a popular Russian fur trading post.  The community is located on the end of the Aleutian Islands.  The town’s name comes from the Aleutian word adak meaning father.  After WWII, the town started to really grow due to the United States establishing a naval base in this region.  However, in the 1990’s the United States decided to close its operations here.  Currently, the community is experiencing a decline in population and communication is a challenge.  The nearest radio station is more than 200 miles away.  Communication to the outside world can only be accomplished by satellite or short wave radio.

Chicken, AK

Ptarmigans

In the late 1800’s, the early settlers main food source was the ptarmigan living in this area.  The ptarmigan is similar to a chicken and was one of the only food sources in the area.  In 1902, the local settlers incorporated their new town.  They named it Ptarmigan in honor of this bird which was a delight to eat.  However, controversy grew around the spelling and the pronunciation of the name.  To avoid confusion to visitors, the citizens changed the name to Chicken.  I am not kidding!  Chicken, AK claims to be the second town to incorporate in the history of Alaska.

College, AK - This town was home to the Alaska Agricultural College.  Education was sparse in this part of the United States so the townspeople decided to name the town College in honor of the nearby college.  The Alaska Agricultural College is now known as the University of Alaska.  The community is now part of the town of Fairbanks.

Cordova, AK - Copper was discovered in Cordova during the 1900’s.  It was one of the largest deposits found in North America. When Michael James Henry purchased half of the land in this area, he brought along his Copper River and Northwestern Railway.  In 1906, Henry changed the name of the town known as Eyak to Cordova.  He chose this name because of nearby Cordova Bay.  Earlier, Spanish explorer, Salvadore Fildago, had named this body of water after the town in Spain.

Fairbanks, AK - In 1901, Captain E. T. Barnette was looking for an area to set up a trading post.  His ship ran aground shortly before he