What's in a name? For these 7 Missouri towns, inclusion on 'bizarre' list

What's in a name? If you live in or around certain Missouri communities, perhaps a laugh, an eye roll or a long story.
On a recent refresh of its state-by-state features, World Atlas tallied up "7 Bizarrely Named Towns" in the Show Me State, the "quirky communities (that) also prove that Missouri's first settlers may have had a slightly mischievous sense of humor."
For the residents of these towns, and/or long-term Missourians, the article might elicit little surprise. But it's worth digging into these names a little further along with World Atlas.
County: Camden
Population: Around 120
What's behind the name: The moniker "supposedly derives from the excitement felt by its discoverers after looking so hard for the waters' source," World Atlas notes.
County: Pemiscot
Population: Around 350
What's behind the name: The "subject of much local debate," the name is sometimes assigned to a local turtle. But "the more likely explanation is that it's a misspelling of the family name" Coutre that belonged to a group of French Canadian settlers, the article explains.
World Atlas continues: "Whatever the case, the name itself certainly draws attention for a slang term that we won't get into here (you can always look it up!), with day trippers visiting to grab a selfie standing next to the town sign."
County: Polk
Population: Around 900
What's behind the name: The community was "named in honor of an early settler named James Human in the mid-19th century," World Atlas tells readers.
County: Johnson
Population: Around 2,800
What's behind a name: "Knob Noster owes its title to two local topographical features," World Atlas explains: "prominent 'knobs' (or hills) in the otherwise flat surroundings" and the "Noster" part of the name is translated from the Latin for "our," meaning "our hills."
More: 2 mid-Missouri communities make list of Missouri's 'friendliest little towns'
County: Texas
Population: Around 2,900
What's behind the name: "Despite what you might be thinking, Licking owes its unusual name to a natural salt lick in the area where wildlife once gathered," World Atlas notes.
County: Cass
Population: About 4,600
What's behind the name: According to World Atlas, in the late 1860s, a list of potential town names was rejected, one-by-one, for their use elsewhere; "in exasperation, the local postmaster reportedly said he didn't care what they called it, so long as it was something 'peculiar.' "
County: Henry
Population: Around 80
What's behind the name: The postmaster strikes again: "Legend has it that it a local postmaster, frustrated after being charged an extra 50 cents for a watermelon, called the shopkeeper a 'tightwad,' " the article notes.
Read more on these town names at https://www.worldatlas.com/cities/7-bizarrely-named-towns-in-missouri.html.
Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com. He's on Twitter/X @aarikdanielsen.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: World Atlas chooses 7 most 'bizarrely named' Missouri towns

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

8 hours ago

• Yahoo

Tourist myth busted as search for $100m Powerball winner continues

A common myth about playing lotteries in Australia has been busted as the hunt for the mystery $100m Powerball winner continues. The jackpot was won back on June 12, with the huge prize still unclaimed. In the days following, a theory emerged that a tourist may have scored the windfall, but because the ticket was unregistered, officials have no way of contacting the lucky winner. What is known, is that it was purchased at Bondi Junction Newsagency & Internet Café on Oxford Street. While it's largely believed punters have to be an Australian resident to cash in their winnings, lottery officials revealed to Yahoo News on Monday that isn't necessarily the case. The Lott's Anna Hobdell said anyone visiting Australia is welcome to try their luck. "Anyone in Australia can purchase a ticket if they reside in Australia or are visiting," she said, but clarified that The Lott website isn't accessible outside of the country for ticket purchases. 💰Will the $100m Powerball be redrawn if it's not claimed? ✈️ How $100 million Powerball winner can best spend their jackpot 💵 Shock thing 87 per cent of lottery winners don't do Sydney is the most popular city in Australia for tourists, and Bondi is one of the top hotspots that draws the attention of visitors. Annually, almost three million people visit the popular beachside suburb, with approximately 1.8 million of those from overseas. If a backpacker or a tourist did purchase the lucky $100m Powerball ticket, they can still rightfully claim the money, though they may have to abide by their own country's rules around tax. "Whoever has that winning ticket can certainly still claim, it's just they might be subject to tax based on where they live," Anna said. "So, in Australia, lottery prizes are completely tax-free, but if they were, for instance, a tourist and they do return home, they might be subject to tax rules based on where they live." In short, players must be in Australia to buy a ticket, but don't have to be in the country to win it. The search for the winner ongoing, with the next steps involving looking into the Bondi Junction newsagency's CCTV footage to help identify the person. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.

Elle

2 days ago

• Elle

Taylor Swift Wears Sky-Blue Bodysuit and Ballerina Skirt With Travis Kelce on NYC Date

THE RUNDOWN On Friday, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were seen in New York City after several months of rare appearances. The couple was filmed leaving a restaurant in footage shared by a fan account on X, formerly Twitter. In the video, an employee held the door open, shaking Kelce's hand as he passed by, then nodding goodbye to the Eras Tour star as she followed her boyfriend out. As they approached a car, Kelce took Swift's hand and escorted her ahead of him into the vehicle. For the hot summer night out, Swift wore a pale blue bodysuit with a short pleated skirt. She accessorized with a white handbag and white pointed-toe shoes and left her hair down in flowing waves. Kelce was wearing white shorts and a white shirt with sneakers. Swift and Kelce have been seen frequently in Florida the last few months, and attended the Stanley Cup Finals in Sunrise, Florida, on June 12. They also popped up in Tennessee on June 6, attending a backyard wedding together, and before that at Harry's West Palm Beach in Florida. Kelce reportedly rented a luxury house nearby to spend some time with Swift and his family. The couple has been recovering from a very busy winter. Swift's Eras Tour ended in December 2024. Kelce's team, the Kansas City Chiefs, played in the Super Bowl in February, he will soon return to NFL training camp ahead of the next season. On June 4, a source explained why they have been so low-key, telling Us Weekly, 'They are making fewer public appearances together because [their relationship] brings too much unwanted attention, but there isn't trouble in paradise.' A second source shared, 'Florida has been the perfect escape for them. Taylor has been coming and going to Florida and is still spending a lot of her time in NYC.'

Axios

3 days ago

• Axios

Downtown San Antonio date night idea

If you're craving a no-fuss, elevated night out, head to Hotel Havana for a seamless dinner-and-drinks experience. State of play: The boutique hotel houses Ocho, a pan-Latin restaurant helmed by chef Jesse Kuykendall, and the sultry Havana Bar in the basement. The vibe: Ocho feels like dining in a dreamy glass greenhouse overlooking the River Walk with chandeliers, tufted couches — and yes, air conditioning. A few steps away, Havana Bar sets the mood with dim lighting and cozy corners for cocktails and conversation. What to try: At Ocho, start with the ceviche del día ($18) for a burst of brightness. For a main entree, try the Calle Ocho ($42). It's a standout dish — a juicy ribeye with spicy chimichurri, sweet tomato confit, crispy manchego yuca and a cool cilantro crema. Bonus: The rotating zodiac-themed cocktail list is a fun surprise.