11 Arizona towns with questionable names

Dirty, simple, and strange are the only ways to describe these 11 Arizona town names that will have you blushing—or scratching your head. 

Whether a result of the high heat or the blunt nature of Wild West language, these Arizona town names are just weird. Some are blush-worthy due to their “R-rated” nature, and others are just as dry as the desert. How many of these quirky places have you been to?

Take the ultimate Arizona road trip this year! (Mobilus In Mobili, CC BY-SA 2.0)

Wash your mouth out with soap! You may want to refrain from telling the kids these Arizona town names:

Beaver Valley 

Connected to both Lake Montezuma and Verde River of Gila County, it should come as no surprise that Beaver Valley once had a multitude of beavers! Word got out pretty quickly, and it wasn’t long before fur trappers flocked to this now census-designated area. Therefore, Beaver Valley is named after the industrious animals known for damming, a far cry from what the men of mining towns knew beavers to be. 

Dateland 

“Hey baby, want a date?” You might think people in this town are getting fresh when really they are just offering some of nature’s candy. Dateland, located along Highway 8 between Yuma and Casa Grande, is home to Medjool date trees. A staple in Middle Eastern and low-sugar cooking, dates are a delicious treat … especially in this day and age of swiping right. 

Have a date in Dateland, Ariz. (TLPOSCHARSKY/CC BY 2.0)

Three Way

All provocative-minded people understand why this name made the list. However, the unincorporated, census-designated place known as Three Way in Greenlee County refers to three highways. It sits at the intersections of state routes 191, 75, and 78–the ménage à trois here is between the roads.

Show Low

Locals know this town’s story, but many dirty minds may make something out of it. The history behind the name is pretty fun and quirky. Two settlers gambled the acreage that is now Show Low on a game of cards. After what is commemorated as a marathon, one of the settlers said, “If you can show low, you win.” The two of clubs—the lowest card of the deck—flipped over for the win. The triumphant gambler said, “Show Low it is.” On the main drag you will see the club “Deuce of Clubs” that keeps this fun story of chance alive. 

Winkelman

Although it is easy to make a joke about this name being German, it does, in fact, hail from a German word that loosely translates to “owner of the cornershop.” This mining town is named after Peter Winkelman, a big-time rancher who settled the area around the turn of the century. With a prominent rest stop along the highway, many travelers stop in Winkelman to take a winkle or a tinkle. 

Love

Ain’t Love grand? East of Wickenburg, Love was originally named Lockhart. After a tragic accident in 1977 where a train jumped the tracks and a car transporting butane exploded, the name was changed. The name Love not only has a positive spin, but it honors Ernest Love, a former railway engineer who perished during WWI. 

Huh? These towns are named in a way that may leave you dumbfounded and scratching your head:

Goodyear

Isn’t that a tire company? You may be shocked to find that this town is, in fact, associated with the tire brand! By the start of WWI, the city of Chandler was primarily growing long-staple cotton, which also happened to be a staple in rubber tires and fabric used on airplanes. Goodyear decided to lease 8,000 acres from Dr. AJ Chandler and soon established the town of Goodyear. The rest is history.

Fun fact: Aerospace is still one of the primary industries of Arizona. 

Goodyear is the perfect example of an American town. (Till Niermann/CC BY 3.0)

Oracle

Wanna know the future? Go see the oracle. Between the opal, tourmaline, and agate found at Oracle, you may just be able to build your own crystal ball! The town of Oracle is actually named after the first large mine in the area, which was named Oracle after the ship that the lead miner sailed in on. It seems that the miner had a string of strong intuitions. 

Nothing

Located between Wickenburg and Kingman is Nothing. Seriously, the once-inhabited-by-four town of Nothing sits along US Route 93 as a ghost town. In its heyday, it had a mini-mart and gas station, which now serve as abandoned novelty stops for photos and jokes. The current population is exactly as you would suspect: nothing. 

Top of the World

Stunning views mixed with an intimate community of just over 100 inhabitants describes the allure of Top of the World. Nestled along US 60 between the small towns of Superior and Miami, Top of the World is marked by a billboard, a small housing community, and an old railcar. They also sell beef jerky on the roadside for weary travelers. If curiosity piques, the billboard promotes a detour of the road expansion currently taking place Tuesday through Thursday each week. 

Surprise 

Incorporated in 1960, Surprise was named Surprise because the original owner was surprised that her land, which was originally only one square mile of farmland, could amount to anything. Surprise is located about 45 minutes from Sky Harbor and downtown Phoenix and is currently home to over 100,000 residents! It is also home to the southwest’s largest tennis and racquet complex. That’s more than anything … it’s something!

Ready for a road trip? 

Interested in taking the ultimate road trip to the peculiar towns of Arizona? Some other towns, villages, and hamlets were explored in a recent teeny tiny towns listicle, many of which are not on this list but are equally intriguing. Combine these two lists—and even consider adding some Arizona towns that pique your interest—for the ultimate obscure Arizona road trip. You’ll be surprised by what you’ll find nestled within the Grand Canyon State.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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