The Name Game

Place names - funny things really. Most of the names given to places are to do with some geological feature or something to do with the history of the town. You can often trace the history of a place through its place name.

Growing up in Cornwall I am well aware of funny place names as we have our fair share. Cheesewring, Brown Willy, Looe, Cockermouth, Foxhole and Mousehole all spring to mind, but out here some of the names are beyond funny but get into the realm of completely unbelievable. For example why would you name a part of your town Manlove? Yet just 10 minutes away from where I live this is a stop on the light rail system. Or how about Intercourse? Yes there is an Intercourse in Pennsylvania. There's a Mount Gay in West Virginia, a Moreheadsville in Pennsylvania, and my personal favourite Blue Ball in Pennsylvania (for god's sake move to Intercourse).

How and why? who cares. Is this funny? yes. Is it big? No. Is it clever? No. Is it hard to explain to your 4 year old daughter why you are laughing at a sign bearing the legend Shafter?yes.