thependulumswings

Today we continue our trip across the United States to uncover five more towns with funky names.  Sometimes the “how” of how they got these names is crazier than the name themselves.

Let’s start with a name of a fellow who has earned a day or two off.  Our trip crosses the US.  His went around the globe in 24 hours just 48 hours ago.  And while he would like to pack lightly, he cannot.

Santa Claus, Indiana

Originally called Santa Fe, the town’s name changed in 1856 when town officials learned that there was already a Santa Fe, Indiana. However, the town has certainly made the most of the second-choice name.  It’s Santa Claus, IN, and it fully embraces its “Christmas-y” moniker. Touted as a place “where it’s Christmas all year round,” Santa Claus features attractions like Holiday World, Lake Rudolph Campground, and Frosty’s Fun Center.  Now do you believe in Santa Claus?

ZZYZX, California

No, we didn’t fall asleep with our fingers accidentally pushing down on the keyboard.  We promise.

Curtis Springer was a radio evangelist who tried to convince people he was a doctor by selling fake medicines on his radio show. He set up health spas around the country but never paid taxes on them. He established the Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa in 1944 at the spot, which was federal land, after filing mining claims for 12,000 acres surrounding the springs. He used the springs to bottle his water and provide drinks for travelers through the hot desert. He named the area Zzyzx  so it would be “the last word in health.” Eventually, the Feds caught up with his financial schemes and threw Springer in jail—for 49 days.

Burnt Store, Florida

According to local legend, the town gets its name from a trading house on the Peace River that was burned down in 1849. At that time, manager George Payne had recently held meetings with Seminole Indians, and he died in a Seminole attack shortly before the store burned. Though this account is questioned by several historians as a hurricane is thought to have demolished the first store while another account states that the trading post was abandoned long prior to its demise.  Regardless, Burnt Store remains today while its origin was somehow lost long ago.

Kickapoo, Kansas

Alliteration is always appreciated.  Yet, this town name has a pretty simple origin.  It’s the name of a Native American and Indigenous Mexican tribe still living in the area. A large,150,000 acre Indian reservation sits within the city limits. According to legend, the name means “wanderer.”  That sounds better than the alternative to us.

Hippo, Kentucky

No, there are no actual hippopotamuses living in or around Hippo, Kentucky. The name of this town comes from one of its twentieth-century residents, Bee Madison “Hippo” Craft. His nickname has nothing to do with hippopotamuses either.  The townspeople called him “hippo” as a rather insensitive shortening of the word they used to describe him.  That word was “hypochondriac.”  We’re sure that in today’s politically correct world there would be some opposition to how this name originated.  Hopefully his statue (if there is one) is safe.

Santa Claus covers a lot of ground in a short period of time.  Our guess is that he stopped, be it ever so briefly, in Zzyzx, Burnt Store, Kickapoo, and Hippo just like he did in New York, Los Angeles ,Chicago,Houston, and so on.