Mar 02 2009
Five more funny and unfortunately named Google Map locations
Following the runaway success of a previous post on some unusually named places, Retro Yakking today delves into the weird world of, er, the world, once more.
Google Maps has been fired up once again in readiness for this edition, which includes locations from the UK, often cited as the silly names capital of the world, and some culinary-themed places in the United States of America.
More unfortunate place names
1. Ugley, Essex, UK. Situated in the picturesque town of Bishop’s Stortford, Ugley is a small hamlet with a population of around 430. Home to numerous Victorian buildings and the world-famous Ugley Women’s Institute.
2. Bonkle, North Lanarkshire, UK. This small village in Scotland is perhaps best known for its historical church ruins dating back to 1737. And, of course, its mildly amusing name.
3. Lost, Aberdeenshire, UK. A tiny Hamlet with a population of less than two dozen that’s named after the hit US television show. Not really, though a mini furore was created in 2004 when the local council announced plans to change its name to Lost Farm.
Outraged residents, as well as backers from around the world, rallied to keep the traditional name forcing the council to come to their senses. The village signpost, which reads simply “Lost” was stolen five times between 1999 and 2004.
4. Pancake, West Virginia, USA. A small settlement in the North East of the United States, Pancake is located on Pancake Road, named for the Pancake family.
5. Cheeseville, California, USA. Home to the Cheeseville California Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppies, breeding show dogs since 1979. You’d think it’d be the cheese capital of the world with a name like that, and it is indeed named after J.D. Shelly’s Cheese Factory, founded nearby in 1889.
Have a safe journey home
Thus concludes this mini-tour of come of the world’s most unusually named places. As you may have noticed, the selections so far have been relatively clean considering the plethora of just plain rude place names out there, ready to be explored. Join us again next time on the Retro Yakking tour bus for a selection of decidedly risque Google Map locations…
http://www.thesharkguys.com/2008/07/30/20-worst-city-names-in-north-america-you-cant-beat-a-dead-horse-alaska-2/
Here’s a similar list I came across…20 Worst City Names in North America
How about looking up Boring, Oregon? You can also still find Idiotville on some online maps. It’s about 20 miles southwest of here. Are you sure that Lost, Aberdeen isn’t named after Kurt Cobain. “We are stupid and contagious. Here we are now. Curt Cobain us.”
Some of my favorite place names are in the American south, like Toad Suck, Peavine Holler, Spivey’s Corner.
I used to commute past this place: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizard_Lick,_North_Carolina. There was a diner nearby that served up some great biscuits and gravy with mystery meat.
kneeCappa has left me another message to call Gilson 438-0222. Gotta run.
It’s cool you picked Pancake WV to do,my favorite funny WV town is Big Ugly a small unincorporated town not that far from me that gets it’s name from Big Ugly creek. Theres also a Little Ugly Creek,don’t know why the town wasn’t named for it.
Don’t forget about Big Bone Lick, Kentucky. They also have a Big Bone Lick National Park. I haven’t been there myself, but my friends say it sucks.
What a surprise, I just ’stumbled’ across your site by accident.