- So are you from Buttzville or Pee Pee Township?
There are many places in America that everyone around the world knows because of their historical, cultural, or natural significance. We’re talking about places like Gettysburg, Washington, or the Grand Canyon.
Then there are places that aren’t that famous — but they should be, if only for the virtue of their names. You see, those names can be…
Well, they’re a bit seedy.
Here are 12 places from across America with rather lewd names, along with the stories behind them.
1. Ballplay, Alabama
Do you like playing with balls, either yours or someone else’s? That’s what Ballplay, Alabama, got its name from, although the balls weren’t some dude’s pendulous parts.
Instead, the roughly 1,500-resident town is named after ancient sports matches. Ballplay was founded in the early 19th century near a spot where Native Americans would reportedly gather to play stickball to resolve intertribal conflicts without resorting to warfare.
2. Blue Ball, Pennsylvania
You might think giggling at Blue Ball’s name is a recent phenomenon, but it’s really a long-running tradition. People were laughing at the place already in 1916.
The name stems from the Blue Ball Hotel that was founded here more than 200 years ago before any actual town existed. Eventually, a small village grew around the hotel and its name transferred to the newly established town.
3. Buttzville, New Jersey
The name of Buttzville, New Jersey, commemorates the proud legacy of its founder, Michael Robert Buttz. Because he is what you think when you hear the name, right?
He really should’ve gone with Mikestown or something. But at least his decision to honor his family name put this hamlet with 200 residents on the map.
4. Climax, Georgia
This town isn’t named after that kind of climax. Instead, its name stems from the fact that the highest point of the railroad between Savannah and the Chattahoochee River is near the place.
So, the town is near the climax of the railroad. It’s funny how language changes.
5. Colon, Nebraska
Colon, Nebraska, didn’t get its name by accident. It was purposefully named Colon in 1886 by its first postmaster, who hailed from Colon, Michigan.
And why is that place called Colon? Well, that we couldn’t find out.
Maybe it’s a reference to the place being in the ass end of nowhere. Fun fact, Colon is seven miles away from Saunders County seat, which is called Wahoo.
6. Hooker, Oklahoma
There’s a local saying in Hooker, Oklahoma: “It’s a location, not a vocation.” The town is named after cattle rancher John “Hooker” Threlkeld, who was a famed cowboy in the area.
He got his nickname from being unmatched at roping cows with a lasso. Look, it was a different time.
7. Intercourse, Pennsylvania
Intercourse is a respectable town in Pennsylvania’s Amish country. So how come it has a name like that?
No one’s quite sure, but one theory says “intercourse” once meant “fellowship” or “camaraderie.” Weirdly enough, the place was called Cross Keys until 1814 when its name was changed to Intercourse.
If only they’d known at the time.
8. Pee Pee Township, Ohio
We admit — we’re children, but we just can’t stop giggling at this name. Pee Pee Township is named after Pee Pee Creek, which flows through Pike County, Ohio.
The creek, in turn, got its name from an early settler who carved his initial, P.P., on a tree that used to grow on the stream. Whether he went pee pee in the creek has been lost to history.
9. Rough and Ready, California
They’re rough. They’re ready. They’re named after U.S. General and America’s 12th President Zachary Taylor.
Taylor, known as a fearless and hardworking military man, received the nickname Ol’ Rough-and-Ready for his tough attitude. This town got its name from the Rough & Ready mining company that was named in honor of President/General Taylor.
10. Spread Eagle, Wisconsin
We know what you’re thinking. But Spread Eagle got its name from a geographical feature.
The town is located by a series of lakes. If you look at the area from the air, the lakes kinda-sorta look like an eagle spreading its wings.
You know, instead of something else being spread.
11. Sugartit, Kentucky
Sugartit was once known as Pleasant Ridge, which later became Gunpowder. Those were much better names, but after the tiny hamlet became more or less integrated into Florence, Kentucky, the name Sugartit remained.
According to stories, the name comes from local men going into town in winter to have a few shots of whiskey to warm themselves up. If they ended up missing dinner, their wives would note that they’d been out sucking a “sugar tit” — which is what they called pacifiers at the time.
12. Tightsqueeze, Virginia
There’s actually quite an interesting story behind Tightsqueeze’s name. In 1870, shopkeeper W. H. Colbert built his general store right by the road, so that women would be able to step right in out of their carriages without dirtying themselves on the muddy road.
Some time later, a blacksmith built his shop opposite Colbert’s store, also right by the road. The two buildings were so close to each other that wagons had to slow down to be able to squeeze by.
The place’s name was at one point in time officially changed to Fairview. Locals protested so much, however, that authorities reverted their decision, keeping the Tightsqueeze name to this day.