7 Bizarrely Named Towns In The Prairies
Prairies cover a large area of the US, primarily Midwestern states that have an abundance of land geographically described as prairies. By definition, less than 10% of a prairie has trees. Most of the land is covered with grasses of different types and heights, but also specific plants that are drought—and fire-tolerant. The plants have deep roots that trap moisture, protecting them from drought. When fire destroys the plant above ground, its ashes replenish nutrients, making for naturally rich agricultural land.
Pioneers who moved westward established settlements that assumed a name based on the name of the person settling the area, or geographical features like rocks or streams, or how the settlement was used. As more people settled there, it became an actual town needing a post office, and residents would be asked for the town's official name. Often, this put people on the spot, and they scrambled for a name that, later on, they would want to change. This is why so many towns changed names, sometimes more than once. The following cities have odd, humorous, or just curious names, often with surprising reasons behind them.
Nauvoo, IL
Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of Mormonism (aka Latter Day Saints or LDS), headed west from New York in search of a place where a group of Mormons could settle without complaints from outsiders. Non-Mormons did not object to the sect's religion per se, but did not like their practice of polygamy (men having multiple wives), and their desire to govern themselves. After being pushed out of New York and Ohio, they settled in Commerce, Illinois. Smith changed the name to Nauvoo, which means "beautiful place" in Hebrew. Nauvoo served as Mormon headquarters from 1839 to 1844, when an angry mob killed Smith while he was jailed in Carthage, IL.
The Mormons moved on, but remnants of their history are evident in the town, as well as that of other groups who called the town home, such as the Icarians, who established a commune based on a utopian society, and Germans who preserved many of the Mormon and Icarian buildings. Visit the Weld House Museum for a fascinating look at the complete history of Nauvoo. Each room focuses on a different period, from Native Americans to Mormons to Icarians. Nauvoo State Park has hiking trails, picnic areas, camping facilities, and 13-acre Lake Horton for fishing and small boats. Sledding and cross-country skiing are permitted in the park in winter if there is enough snow. The on-site museum is a restored Mormon house with a press room and wine cellar in its basement. If you enjoy wineries, Baxter's Vineyards in town is the oldest winery in the state (est. 1857), featuring a tasting room and self-guided winery tour.
Broken Bow, NE
In 1879, homesteader Wilson Hewiitt got the town's name approved by the government on his 4th try, after his first three attempts were deemed too similar to other existing post offices. He remembered finding a broken bow in an old Indian campground, and that became his inspiration for another potential name. As more homesteaders moved to the treeless plains, they built their houses and other buildings from sod cut into strips. This became known as the Sod House Frontier. Even town buildings, like churches, schools, and businesses, were made from sod.
The Custer County Museum has many resources to trace homestead and timber records, surname histories, school information, and much more for genealogy research and town history. The Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway affords views of the farmlands and dunes. Start at the Barn visitors center for information on walking trails, observation decks, the pond, windmill, and more, along with maps and directions. Displays include artwork and photos by artists with ties to the area. The landscaping includes many flowers, shrubs, and prairie grasses with identification tags. Broken Bow has several parks with picnic facilities and playgrounds. Tomahawk Park also has lighted ball fields, tennis courts, and RV camping open year-round.
Liberal, KS
While the word "liberal" today has a strong connotation to politics, that was not the case in the late 1800s when Liberal, Kansas, was beginning to be developed. Water was scarce, since having water back then meant digging a well. The first homesteader to the area, Seymour S. Rogers, dug a well to access water for his land. Then he offered a drink of water to all thirsty travelers, whether they were potential neighbors or just passing through. You might say he was liberal with his water. As the legend goes, when he offered a drink of water to people, they would often thank him with, "That's mighty liberal of you." Even today, one definition of "liberal" in Merriam-Webster Dictionary is "generous." So, thanks to S. S. Rogers' generosity, the town became known as Liberal. Today, the city is proud of its name because it says being friendly and kind is a way of life for them.
One of this town's big attractions is Kansas, after all! -- is Dorothy's House and the Land of Oz. Along with a replica of Dorothy's house as it looked in the movie, the guided tour delves deeper into what life would have been like for Dorothy and her family on an early 1900s farm, as well as the cultural influences of the movie. You need not be a war veteran or pilot to appreciate the collection of over 100 airplanes at the Mid-America Air Museum, including vintage military models from World War I to more recent wars. The collection also includes commercial planes made for different uses, from transporting passengers to crop dusting, and homemade/experimental aircraft. More than an art gallery, the Baker Arts Center offers a lively mix of classes and workshops for adults and children, like Watercolor Wednesdays and Ceramics at the Wheel. The gallery showcases different artists monthly and holds receptions for nationally acclaimed artists. If you visit during the summer, Adventure Bay Water Park has a family pool with basketball goals, a kids' pool with slides and tipping buckets, a lap pool, a lily pad rope course, and even a pirate ship with spray and play features.
De Pere, WI
If you're familiar with French, you probably recognize that "De Pere" means "of the father." That still doesn't explain why this Wisconsin town was named "of the father," however. It turns out that "De Pere" is shortened from "Rapides des Pere," which means "Rapids of the Fathers." The fathers refer to the missionaries who established St. Francis Xavier Mission in 1671, led by Claude-Jean Alloures. The rapids were well known to fur traders, missionaries, and explorers as the best way to access the Mississippi River. The mission is gone now, and so are the falls. When a dam was built on the Fox River in 1905 to create a large reservoir to generate power and aid ships in navigating the waters, the falls at De Pere became submerged.
The De Pere River Walk is a pivotal spot in downtown De Pere. Walking along the Fox River, you can enjoy casual and fine dining, pubs, shops, entertainment, and a comedy club. Along the Riverwalk, the Wildlife Viewing Pier gets you up close to various birds and fish, while the Walleye Fishing Pier is a great spot to fish for walleye, including ice fishing in winter. Voyager Park, located on the Fox River, has an outdoor pavilion and picnic area, a large playground, a walking trail that circles the park, and fishing. Park your vehicle at Voyager Park and access the Fox River Recreational Trail, a 25-mile path for walking, running, bicycling, and rollerblading. Dogs can accompany you on a short leash (no more than 5 feet). On the DePere part of the trail, you'll be treated to scenic views of the river, Riverwalk, Voyager Park, DePere's locks and dam, and more. To learn more about De Pere, visit White Pillars Museum. Built in 1836, it is the oldest building in town and has served as headquarters for the hydraulic company, a barber shop, jewelry store, newspaper office, private school, and a home for numerous residents. DePere is a close suburb of Green Bay, so it is easy to head to the big city for even more fun.
Wolf Point, MT
You might think this town's name comes from it being a scenic spot to view wildlife like wolves. However, the most popular explanation for the name is a more grisly. Wolf trappers ("wolfers") found wolves plentiful in this part of Montana. Thus, their skins were a big part of the fur trade. This account comes from William Bent, a Kit Carson nephew and a Pony Express rider. One winter when he was hunting wolves, the wolfers killed so many wolves that their bodies froze before they could be skinned. So the wolfers stacked up the frozen carcasses until they could be skinned and their furs shipped via the Missouri River. That's how it became known as Wolf Point.
Wolf Point is part of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, home to the Sioux and Assiniboine nations. Traditional annual events include the Wild Horse Stampede, Montana's oldest professional rodeo, held the second weekend in July, and the state's oldest Traditional Pow-wow, held the first weekend in August. The Wolf Point Museum showcases artifacts from homesteaders in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Native American art, artifacts, and culture, and works of art by local artists.
Thermopolis, WY
The men who gathered to name their Wyoming town thought they should capitalize on the abundant hot springs nearby. When one of them suggested Thermopolis, however, the others were astonished. Kind of a strange name, they murmured. Then, when Dr. Julius A. Schuelke, who spoke at least six languages and was considered quite intelligent, explained the term's meaning, the others became intrigued. In Greek, "therm" means hot and "polis" means city, Schuelke explained. With that knowledge, the men nodded and decided that Thermopolis was the perfect name, even though it certainly stood out among the more mundanely named towns around it, like Andersonville, the city across the Bighorn River that was a rival.
The springs are the world's largest mineral hot springs and are now located in Hot Springs National Park. Over 1.8 million gallons of water flow over the park terraces daily, at a constant water temperature of 128 degrees. That's too hot for the human body, but swimming or bathing is prohibited anyway except at the free bathhouse, where the water is cooled to 104 degrees for therapeutic bathing and is open year-round. The Swinging Bridge is a great place to view the mineral water flowing over the terraces, which are colorfully stained due to the minerals in the water. The park also has over 6 miles of hiking trails, bicycling trails, and fishing from several docks. No camping facilities are provided; the park is for day use only. For indoor and outdoor swimming, check out Hellie's Tepee Pools. The outdoor pool is open during the summer months. Its indoor pool is open all year, and has a waterslide, hot tubs, dry sauna, and steamroom. The Bighorn River is a prime spot for trout fishing, solo or on a guided trip. Explore the long-ago past at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, which offers engaging, hands-on experiences and displays one of the largest collections in the world, all from local digs.
Mars, IA
If you think the naming of this Iowa town had something to do with the planets or the French due to the "le" article, that's a nice try, but you are way off base. The town began around 1850 and was locally known as St. Paul Junction. In 1869, railroad builder John I. Blair alighted from the train with various officials and a group of ladies: Elizabeth Parson, Mary Weare, Rebecca Smith, Anna Blair, Lucy Underhill, and Sarah Reynolds. The ladies were asked to suggest a new name for the town. They got creative, put together the first letters of their first names, and rearranged them into the easy-to-pronounce, pleasant-sounding name of "Le Mars." This was likely one of the few times women were asked their opinion, for most research into town name origins describes "a group of men" or "a group of officials," and town officials back in those days were rarely or never women.
Due to the Blue Bunny Ice Cream factory in Le Mars producing the most ice cream in one place (as of 1994), the town proudly calls itself The Ice Cream Capital of the World. Over 50 mouth-watering statues of ice cream cones and dishes are scattered throughout the town, each 6 feet tall, designed and decorated by local artists. The Wells Visitor Center and Ice Cream Parlor has maps for self-guided tours. While you are downtown, visit Alley Art & Historic Murals, 10 alleys filled with murals by 115 Midwest artists. Be sure to stop by the Tonsfeldt Round Barn, located in the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. It was built circa 1918 by H.P. Tonsfeldt to house his prize show cattle. At 61 ft. wide and 68 ft. tall with a 13 ft. central silo, it makes an impressive spot for activities during the County Fair in July and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
As you can see, these eclectic Prairie towns, which each began rather dramatically with their naming, went on to grow and develop into intriguing places to visit. Some, like Thermopolis, made the most of an unusual geographic feature to achieve worldwide acclaim. Others, like De Pere, were named after people who settled and developed the town for a unique purpose. Then there are those towns whose names defy reason and come about in shocking ways, like a group of ladies named Le Mars. Regardless of the origins of their names, these towns offer different reasons to visit today and will surprise you with their welcoming town spirit.
