Kentucky is home to a treasure trove of town names that are quirky, confusing, and downright hilarious. Here are ten of the most head-scratching Kentucky town names that might leave your GPS (and you) questioning reality:
- Rabbit Hash Famous for its general store and canine mayors, Rabbit Hash got its name during an 1847 flood when locals survived on rabbit stew, or “hash”.
- Sugartit This small community in Boone County is often cited for its eyebrow-raising name, which is as sweet as it is strange.
- Big Beaver Lick Originally known as Beaverlick, this town’s name refers to the natural salt and mineral deposits (“licks”) that animals sought out. The “Big” was later added for even more intrigue.
- Bachelor’s Rest Established as a gathering place for bachelors to socialize, this town in Pendleton County is as lonely as its name suggests.
- Knob Lick Frequently featured on lists of the world’s most awkward place names, “knob” refers to a hill and “lick” to a mineral spring, but that doesn’t stop the jokes.
- Monkey’s Eyebrow Theories for this western Kentucky town’s name include the shape of the area on a map and a 19th-century insult. Either way, it’s unforgettable.
- Bugtussle Named because wheat thrashers stayed so long in the area that the bugs supposedly got big enough to “tussle” in the hay.
- Bee Lick Another “lick” town, Bee Lick conjures up images of honeybees and mineral springs, but mostly just confusion.
- Quicksand This town name sounds like a warning, not a destination. It’s sure to make any GPS second-guess its route.
- Pewee Valley Named for the Eastern Wood-Pewee bird, this town’s name raises eyebrows and questions about its “valley” status, since it sits on a ridge.
These names reflect Kentucky’s colorful history and penchant for the peculiar, ensuring that a road trip through the Bluegrass State is never boring.
Sources:
- https://wkdq.com/20-kentucky-town-names-that-make-you-say-what/
- https://hometownvintageapparel.com/blogs/travel/the-10-weirdest-town-names-in-kentucky
- https://103gbfrocks.com/kentucky-town-dubbed-one-of-the-worlds-most-awkwardly-named-cities/
- https://newstalk1280.com/20-strange-kentucky-town-names/
- https://wbkr.com/weird-ky-town-name-origins/
- https://www.worldatlas.com/cities/8-bizarrely-named-towns-in-kentucky.html