Here are 10 Kentucky town names that are so unusual or quirky, they might make your GPS have an existential crisis:
- Knob Lick – This town’s name sounds risqué, but actually refers to a “knob” (a hill) and a “lick” (a small stream). It’s known for its amusing name despite being a tiny place with few houses and a gas statio.
- Monkey’s Eyebrow – A far-western Kentucky community with a name that has multiple origin theories, including the shape of the town on a map resembling a monkey’s head or an insult at a supply store. It’s a favorite for its sheer oddity.
- Rabbit Hash – Known for its general store and canine mayors, Rabbit Hash got its name from a flood in 1847 when rabbits became a food staple in a stew called “hash”.
- Bugtussle – Named after doodlebugs that would tussle in haylofts where wheat threshers stayed. It’s also famous from The Beverly Hillbillies TV show as a fictional town name, but Bugtussle is real in Kentucky.
- Possum Trot – A real town in Marshall County, Kentucky, with a name that locals have kept despite attempts to change it. It’s quirky and memorable.
- Booger – While it sounds gross, Booger is a legitimate town name that may have originated from a dish that saved residents during a flood. It’s also a surname with a coat of arms.
- Big Bone – A name that makes you wonder, Big Bone is an actual Kentucky town with a name that stands out for its peculiarity.
- Cutshin – Also known as Cut Shin, the name’s origin is mysterious but likely related to local landscape hazards causing injuries to early visitors.
- 88 – A numeric town name in Barren County, rumored to have been named because a founder had 88 cents in his pocket or a postmaster’s handwriting made the number easy to read.
- Future City – A town in Ballard County named by a developer who put up a sign saying “Future City” but never built anything there.
These names reflect Kentucky’s rich history and colorful local culture, often tied to natural features, historical events, or local lore that sound amusing or puzzling to outsiders. They certainly add character to the state’s map and can make navigation an entertaining experience.
Sources:
- https://wkdq.com/20-kentucky-town-names-that-make-you-say-what/
- https://103gbfrocks.com/kentucky-town-dubbed-one-of-the-worlds-most-awkwardly-named-cities/
- https://wbkr.com/weird-ky-town-name-origins/
- https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/state-pride/kentucky/19-kentucky-towns-with-incredibly-strange-names
- https://myoldkentuckyroadtrip.com/2012/02/16/oddly-named-kentucky-towns/
- https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/stories-behind-five-weirdest-kentucky-090223947.html
