While the United Kingdom may be tops when it comes to dirty, cheeky and wrong-sounding spots, believe it or not, proud, patriotic America leads the way in depressing, uninspiring town names.
So brace yourself, and get ready to be uninspired. Here are the 10 least-inspiring place names in the world:
Why, Arizona:
What’s the point of even talking about Why, Arizona? Like most of the towns on this list, this small, unincorporated rural community has an interesting story behind its name. Situated at the original spot where state routes 85 and 86 met at a Y-intersection, founders of the village named it Why, as Arizona law required all settlements to have at least 3 letters in their name. If you find yourself in this little community near the Mexican boarder in Pima County, Arizona, check out the dramatic, arid scenery in Organ Pipe National Monument – a UNESCO biosphere region.
Hell, Michigan:
If you are driving around Livingston County in Michigan and someone tells you to go to Hell, don’t be offended. They are probably just directing you to this kitschy little town that certainly cashes in on its bizarre name. While the origins of the community’s name are debated, Hell boasts a “fully non-accredited” fictional college, mainly for the purpose of printing t-shirts and merchandise. One could spend an eternity listing the devilish puns and hellish events that abound in Hell.
Boring, Oregon:
According to locals in this unincorporated community outside of Portland, Boring is “the most exciting place to live.” Residents of the community certainly possess a good sense of humour about their unusually-named. Named after W.H Boring, an early resident in the area, the community primarily revolves around the timber industry. If you ever find yourself in Boring, amuse yourself with a hike around the Boring Lava Field – an extinct Plio-Pleistocene era volcanic zone.
Failsworth, Manchester, UK
What’s the point in even trying when you live in Failsworth? What motivates future generations of young scholars attending Failsworth Secondary School when the cards appear to be stacked against them? Much to the contrary, this town located in Oldham, in the Greater Manchester area has actually produced many notable residents including professional athletes, politicians and even a supermodel. Like many towns in the north-west of England, Failsworth saw rapid expansion as a centre of textile production during the Industrial Revolution, and today retains much of the Victorian-era architecture of that period.
No Name, Colorado
The founders of No Name, Colorado couldn’t have had high hopes for their town, or they probably would have thought a little harder about its name. The story behind the naming of No Name claims that in an effort to improve signage on Interstate 70, the Colorado Department of Transportation placed an exit sign in front of a small, previously unnamed hamlet. A plucky resident scribbled No Name on the sign, and the name managed to endure, despite the efforts of local government to choose a less generic name.
Embarrass, Minnesota
It’s hard to tell you about Embarrass Township, Minnesota without turning red.
The strange name of this hamlet in St. Louis County is actually derived from the French verb “embarrass” which means “to hinder with obstacles or difficulties.” Early French fur traders in the area had a tough time navigating the landscape in their canoes and named a local river accordingly. The river soon gave its name to this township in north-eastern Minnesota, and the rest is history.
Pity Me, Co. Durham, UK
Don’t feel bad for the resident’s of Pity Me, County Durham. They certainly don’t. The town sits just outside of the beautiful city of Durham, famous for its castle, university, and Norman cathedral – better know as Hogwarts to you Harry Potter fans. Theories behind the origins of the town’s unusual name abound. These range from a Norman-French translation for small lake -“petit mer’ to being named after Pithead Mere, an expanse of boggy wasteland used for dumping mining byproducts.
Disappointment, Kentucky:
“Welcome to Disappointment” reads the much photographed sign. I can’t imagine that too many visitors continue to explore the area after such a stern warning. Although it’s not a town per se, the area is nestled in the forested hills of the southern part of Kentucky. Disappointment is pretty common in Knox County, the intersection between Disappointment road and Disappointment hollow must be one of saddest crossroads in the entire world.
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