I woulda thought this would be upper Midwest, maybe Wisconsin!
Presumably related to the Gold Rush, as this is Gold Country. I kinda like the nearby places “Red Dog” and “Brady Ranch” too.
You Bet CA (Nevada County)
Author: timshome
Frankenstein MO (Osage County)
What have we created here??!!
A man named Franken donated land for a town on a hill, so Frankenstein (“the stone of Mr. Franken”) seemed reasonable.
Gross, Idaho (Gem County)
I suppose that sloppy folks live here (or else population 144?)
Gross, Gem County Idaho. Assume from a settler’s name. Or a remark from a Valley Girl.
Well That Johnny Dug, Maricopa County AZ
Good Old Johnny!
Well That Johnny Dug, Maricopa County AZ, on Barry Goldwater Air Force Range
According to “the Desert Mountaineer” it is in honor of Johnny Childs, an early settler in the area.
/https://www.desertmountaineer.com/2022/04/29/six-soft-sauceda-summits/
Stoner Recreation Center, LA
“Man, I love LA – A rec Center just for us stoners…
Located on Stoner Ave., probably the source of the name. Interestingly, there is a skateboard park as part of it.
Bias, WV
Bias, Mingo County West Virginia
Everyone here seems to be against me.
Named after the surname of an early settler (think basketball player Len Bias)
Appendicitis Hill, Butte County, Idaho
Sounds like no fun for anyone involved!
Appendicitis Hill, Butte County, Idaho
Refers to an actual case of appendicitis suffered by a surveyor there.
https://www.idahoaclimbingguide.com/bookupdates/appendicitis-hill/
Sex Peak, Sanders County Montana
Sex Peak – and you can rent the fire tower on top from the Forest Service! Evocative, to say the least.
According to the Forest Service site, “The peak was named by I.V. Anderson, an early forester, and Harry Baker, supervisor of what was then Cabinet National Forest. It is rumored that they named the peak after their topic of conversation at the time.”
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/kootenai/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=49901&actid=101
Scrabble, Rappahannock County, Virginia
No proper nouns or slang allowed here, but if you need a fresh start, it’s a good place to trade in all your tiles.
As for the name, if I had to guess, I’d say it was from the living there being hardscrabble in the old days. The town was mainly African-American in the past and had a Rosenwald School that now houses a senior center and museum. These schools were built by a foundation dedicated to improving the education for African-American communities, mainly in the south. Scrabble School was opened in 1921 and used until the school system was integrated in 1968. See https://scrabbleschool.org/ for more information.
Touristville, Wayne County Kentucky
Touristville, Wayne County, Kentucky
No locals, just tourists?
At the intersection leading to a lake resort and state park, so possibly so-named to encourage development?
Dummy Point, Sutton County, Texas
Dummy Point, Sutton County, Texas
Must be some slow learners in the area…
Near important early army facility (Fort Terrett) so might have been used for target practice with a dummy to shoot at?
Hell and Purgatory Airport, Onslow County, NC
Its a bit hot and smoky around here, what’s up with that?
Hell and Purgatory Airport, Onslow County, NC
Low-lying, swampy country – someone probably felt the name was appropriate for local wetlands. after which they named the airport.
Gnaw Bone, Washington County, IN
Gnaw Bone, Washington County, IN
Maybe a lotta dogs here.
Several stories, the most believable being that it was originally a french settlement name after Narbonne, France.
Stony Lonesome, Bartholomew County IN
Stony Lonesome, Bartholomew County IN
Just a few miles from Gnaw Bone, IL.
Said to have been pretty much as advertised at settlement time.
Dunghill Church, Garrett County MD
Dunghill Church, Garrett County MD
Not far from Accident, MD which may explain the dung hill…
A topographic feature called “The Dunghill” is nearby, NE corner of the map – it may be shaped like a pile of manure? In any case, why on earth would you name a church after it?