Thursday, August 30, 2012

Things I Find Fascinating: Stupendously Strange And Silly-Sounding South Carolina Place Names

Much like I've done before for Pennsylvania and Florida, I've compiled a list of oddly named towns, cities, and place names from South Carolina. I have no idea where or why they came up with the names for these places that they did, but they're funny, weird, and altogether interesting. Enjoy!


1)  GIVE ME YOUR DIGITS!  There seem to be quite a few numerically-named places in South Carolina. Maybe there was a logical reason behind each name, or maybe the towns' founders just wanted to prove they could count. Who knows? 1...2...3...let's go!

Four Hole Swamp
Five Forks
Six Mile
Seven Oaks
Sixty Six
and
Ninety Six


2)  COLOR ME IMPRESSED:  Most states have a preponderance of towns and cities with colors in the names, and South Carolina is no exception. Case in point, the following place names:

Green Sea
Greenville
Greenwood
Grays
Red Bank
Orangeburg
Whitesville
and of course...
Blacksville



3)  WHY IS MY STOMACH GROWLING?  It's also not uncommon to hear of a town named after food, especially a fruit. But some of these are ridiculous...

Cherryvale
Plum Branch
Cheddar
Pumpkintown
and the ever-popular
Ketchuptown



4)  OUT OF THIS WORLD:  Some South Carolina towns and cities may remind you of things you learned in science class years ago. Like these, for instance...

Galaxy
Mars Bluff
Starr
Lone Star
Sunset
and
Moonville



5)  WHICH WAY WAS I HEADED?  If you're not sure where you are, several places in South Carolina will be happy to remind you at least where you're headed. Like these oddly named towns...

East & Southern
North
North Area
West Metro
and
Due West



6)  THAT SOUNDS STRANGELY FAMILIAR...  When you're traveling through South Carolina, you might pass through a town or city that sounds like somewhere you've been before, or at least read about it in books or seen on television. Like these, for example...

Hollywood Hills
Broadway Lake
Norway
Denmark
Switzerland
Florence
Waterloo
Parris Island
and
Paris Mountain



7)  RAMPANT ANIMALIA:  It's also not uncommon for various animals to appear in the names of towns and cities. And South Carolina has plenty of those, too...

Cowpens
Spiderweb
Turkey Hill
Tigerville
Dovesville
Buffalo
Swansea
Goose Creek
Bull Island
Cat Island
and
Goat Island


8)  NATIVE AMERICAN NAMES:  No disrespect intended whatsoever, but some of the strangest-sounding towns, cities, and other places derive from Native American words and phrases. Call me weird – and I am – but I just happen to love 'em! Here's a few good South Carolina examples...

Ashepoo
Socastee
Callawassie Island
Awendaw
Lake Jocassee
Yemassee
Pocotaligo
Taxahaw
Chechessee River
Coosawhatchie
Wattacoo Creek
Salkehatchie
and last but not least...
Wassamassaw Swamp


9)  JUST PLAIN WEIRD!  Following with tradition from previous posts of this nature, here's a bevy of South Carolina place names that defy explanation, and can't easily be grouped elsewhere. Why? Because they're just plain weird! And yes, there will be appropriately snarky (and perhaps groan-worthy) comments for each. Here we go...

Effingham  (home of euphemistic pork haters)

Drunken Jack Island  (where Drunken Jack goes on vacation)

Townville  (where thinking creatively is strictly prohibited)

Fingerville  (I don't think I want to know...)

Fair Play  (sounds like a lovely place to live, actually)

Lucknow  (what we all could use a little more of)

Round O  (renamed a few years ago, when 
they realized that Square O was illogical)

Thicketty  (because it is)

Jalapa  (junkyard capital of the world)

Wisacky  (how Drunken Jack pronounces "whiskey")

Daufuskie Island  (named after a 
very unfortunately named person)

Secession Lake  (yeah, about that...they never 
got around to renaming it after the War)

Mixville  (home to many bakers, paint dealers, and deejays)

Goodale State Park  (where Drunken Jack
goes to purchase his favorite beverages)

Lugoff  (spontaneously named during a tire change)

Dentsville  (the "wannabe" junkyard capital of the world)

Boggy Head Bay  (named by Drunken 
Jack in a moment of almost-clarity)

Little Kilsock Bay  (what did the sock ever do to you, Shorty?)

Arkwright  ("Noah" would've been a lot shorter, ya know)

Prosperity  (what we could all use a little more of)

Welcome  (where you always are)

Southern Shops  (something for everyone,
except if you're a Yankee)

Powdersville  (talcum capital of the world)

Startex  (just down the road from Stopex)

Coward  (a popular retirement spot for military deserters)

Sans Souci  (it means "worry-free"; apparently 
"Hakuna Matata" was already trademarked by Disney)

Irmo  (how Drunken Jack says "Elmo")

and finally...

West Ashley Inside Mark Clark
(I can't even begin to guess how this place was named!)

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