Odd Town Names
Most states have town names that seem very odd, especially to outsiders. After moving to Arkansas, it was with great delight that I discovered a book by Ernie Deane, Arkansas Place Names. If you can find that book, you will find a wealth of information about the town names of Arkansas.
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| Scan of old photo post card Sign at Fifty-Six, Arkansas near Blanchard Springs |
- Ernie Deane’s out-of-print book Arkansas Place Names, 1986, is the source for much of the place names material.
- Mr. Deane was a long time contributor to the Arkansas Gazette newspaper, including “The Arkansas Traveler” column.
- He began collecting the origins of the names of Arkansas towns in the 1950’s, publishing many articles on the subject in the Arkansas Gazette before publishing Arkansas Place Names in 1986.
- Mr. Deane was a native of Arkansas, a member of the University of Arkansas journalism faculty and former chairman of the Arkansas History Commission.
The origins of many of these towns’ names are apocryphal; learned by asking local residents how the name of their town was chosen. Many came from the name of the local post office. Some are mundane and some down right funny.
Delight (Pike County) Hometown of country singer Glen Campbell, Delight was given its name by W.H. Kirkham, owner of the land where the town was laid out. He said that the surroundings were so delightful that the town itself should be named Delight.
Ink (Polk County) One of the most interesting origins, the name was decided when residents took their instructions literally. After receiving approval for a post office, the local schoolteacher was asked to gather suggestions for names. Worried that answers written in pencil would not remain legible, she requested that suggestions be written in ink in the notes sent out to parents. Enough parents took her suggestion literally that Ink was the number one response and was adopted as the name of the post office.
Fifty-Six (Stone County) Visitors to Blanchard Springs Caverns may recognize the name of this small community. When the name was chosen, the community was in the fifty-sixth school district.
Push Mountain (Baxter County) The road over Push Mountain (Arkansas 341) is popular with motorcycle riders and sports car enthusiasts. According to locals the mountain got its name because, in order to get goods to the top of the mountain by horse and wagon, one would have to “push” them up the mountain.
Devil’s Den State Park (Washington County) A project of the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) in the 1930’s, the name for the park apparently originated with early white settlers. Many reported hearing the “roar of the devil” coming from two caves found in the area.
Toad Suck (Faulkner and Perry Counties) The name that probably raises the most eyebrows both due to its name and origins, Toad Suck derived its name from the ferry crossing on the Arkansas River. It is generally recognized that the name came from the locals and ferry riders who gathered on the bank of the river and sucked down their alcohol until they “swelled up like toads.” The area sponsors a “Toad Suck Daze” the first weekend of May every year to raise money for education. Visit http://toadsuck.org for more information.
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| Toad Suck Ferry |
Terre Noir Creek (Clark County) Before English-speaking settlers moved west, much of the territory west of the Mississippi River was first explored by the French. Many places in Arkansas still retain their original French names. Terre Noir, meaning “black earth” is one such original name.
Bug Scuffle Church (Washington County) A truly odd name, the origin of this community name can make one smile. Gentlemen of the town who had accompanied their wives to church decided to remain outside, finding the preacher somewhat boring. While standing around “shooting the breeze,” they observed two beetles engaging in a tussle over a ball of manure and betting commenced on the outcome. By popular usage, the name Bug Scuffle Church was given to the place.
Calamine (Sharp County) If you have ever had poison ivy, you have probably used calamine lotion. The name of this town originated during the period when zinc and hemimorphite (aka calamine), a pink powder-like material made up of both zinc and a small amount of ferric oxide was discovered in the area.
Pickles Gap (Faulkner County) The most popular version of how Pickle Gap, also Pickles Gap, got its name is attributed to an accident in which a barrel of pickles rolled off the back of a wagon and broke open on the site.
