Here are 11 Maryland town names that are so quirky and unusual they might just make your GPS have an existential crisis:
1. Accident
Legend says the town got its name from a surveying accident where two groups unknowingly surveyed the same land. The residents call themselves “Accidentals”.
2. Funkstown
Originally named Jerusalem, Funkstown was renamed after Henry Funk. It’s rich in Civil War history but the name sounds like it belongs to a music festival.
3. Boring
Named after postmaster David Boring, this wasn’t meant to be dull. It used to be called Fairview until the railroad requested a unique name to avoid confusion.
4. Savage
Named after a merchant, not the slang term, Savage is home to the historic Savage Mill filled with shops and galleries.
5. Crapo
Derived from the French word “crapaud” meaning toad, Crapo is located near the scenic Honga River and is popular for crabbing.
6. Detour
Named after its indirect railroad route, Detour lives up to its name by being the opposite of straightforward.
7. Girdletree
Named after a tree marked by surveyors, this town’s name sounds like a fantasy location.
8. Ladiesburg
Named for one man and seven women who originally lived there, the name is a reminder of unique local history.
9. Pigtown
A Baltimore neighborhood named from its historical role in pig processing, now famously the birthplace of Babe Ruth.
10. Secretary
A small town named for Lord Baltimore’s secretary, its name sounds more like a job than a place.
11. California
Not the state, but a census-designated place in Maryland named after a family from California who settled there.
These names represent Maryland’s quirky history and unique local stories, adding lots of character to the state’s geography.
Sources
(https://marylandroadtrips.com/marylands-most-unusual-town-names/)
(https://preservationmaryland.org/maryland-towns-with-unusual-names-accident/)
(https://mocoshow.com/2024/09/12/ten-of-the-most-unusual-town-names-in-maryland/)
(https://preservationmaryland.org/maryland-towns-with-unusual-names-boring/)
(https://www.routeoneapparel.com/blogs/news/the-best-town-names-in-maryland)
