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American Place Names dictionary offers quirky origin tales
George R. Stewart’s 550 page Oxford Press volume maps two dozen peculiar spots from Culdesac Idaho to Yum Yum Tennessee. It notes names born of humor irony and local lore with examples like Goon Dip Mountain Alaska and X Ray Texas while explaining American naming customs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
McCandlish Phillips
New York Times Service
New York
Culdesac
Idaho
R.L
X-Ray
Texas
George R. Stewart
AB Mountain
Ababahusset
Zyrba
Okla
Mule
Mule Lake
Mule Creek
Mad Mule Gulch
Dead Mule Springs
Muleshoe Mountain
Wash
Stewart
Berkeley
University of California
Oxford University Press