Texas is renowned for its quirky and unusual town names, which often leave visitors and locals alike scratching their heads. Here are 11 Texas town names that might make your GPS have an existential crisis:
- Bigfoot
- Location: Frio County
- Origin: Named after Texas Ranger A. A. “Bigfoot” Wallace, not the mythical creature.
- Bug Tussle
- Location: Fannin County
- Origin: Got its name from a swarm of bugs that crashed an ice cream social in the 1890s.
- Dime Box
- Location: Lee County
- Origin: Originally named Brown’s Mill, it was renamed due to postal confusion. The name “Dime Box” comes from a wooden box used for mail and small orders.
- Ding Dong
- Location: Bell County
- Origin: Named after a country store opened by Zulis and Bert Bell in the 1930s.
- Cut and Shoot
- Location: Montgomery County
- Origin: The name is believed to have originated from a dispute over a church location that almost led to violence.
- Jot ‘Em Down
- Location: Delta County
- Origin: Named after a fictional store in the radio show “Lum and Abner”.
- Tarzan
- Location: Eastland County
- Origin: Named by settler Tant Lindsey, who submitted it as one of several potential names to the U.S. Postal Service.
- Zipperlandville
- Location: Gillespie County
- Origin: Settled by immigrants from various cultures, though its name might suggest a whimsical origin.
- Notrees
- Location: Ector County
- Origin: Named for its lack of trees in the area.
- Weeping Mary
- Location: Cherokee County
- Origin: Named after a local legend involving a woman who wept over her husband’s death.
- Falfurrias
- Location: Brooks County
- Origin: Named after a large ranch owned by Edward Cunningham Lasater, one of the town’s founders.
These town names reflect the diverse history and culture of Texas, often with stories that are as fascinating as they are unexpected.
SOURCES
- https://secretdallas.com/quirky-texas-town-names/
- https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/08/09/from-bug-tussle-to-tarzan-here-are-40-of-the-oddest-texas-town-names-and-the-stories-behind-them/
- https://mix941kmxj.com/weird-texas-town-names/
- https://www.expressnews.com/lifestyle/article/oddest-texas-town-names-16813120.php
