Okay, fellow Pennsylvanians! Time for a little fun! We can all probably name – off the top of our heads – at least a dozen Pennsylvania towns with silly, unique, or downright weird names. Of course, we go to our own Jersey Shore, right here in PA. Bird-in-Hand boasts some quaint restaurants and shops. And one would be remiss not to mention the towns of Paint, Climax, and Frogtown. Here are just 10 Pennsylvania towns with unique names that are certainly worth a visit.
- Wilmerding
Flickr/hhm8 A tiny town about a half an hour from Pittsburgh, Wilmerding is well known for once housing the Westinghouse Air Brake Company. The quaint town gained its moniker quite simply. Wilmerding was the middle name of a well-known landowner’s wife: Joanne Wilmerding Negley.
- Nanty Glo
Flickr/Jon Dawson Nanty Glo – or Nant-Y-Glo in Welsh – means the “Valley of the Coal.” The small town, a part of the Johnstown area, is known for its rich coal mining history.
- Pringle
Pringle, PA Pringle probably has a much different meaning to people today (think: potato chips) than it did long ago. The charming borough of Pringle pays homage not to the potato chip, but to Thomas Pringle. Pringle, the Scotsman, was well known as a poet, a writer, and an abolitionist. Experience the cozy feel of small-town PA when you visit Pringle, with a population of just over 1,100.
- Mars
Flickr/Jon Dawson Yep, you’ll find a spaceship right smack dab in the middle of the town of Mars. And the townspeople call themselves Martians. How Mars got its name is debatable. Some say that the town simply shortened its original name “Marshall” to “Mars.” Others say the man named Marshall, who founded the town, loved the planet Mars. Thus, the town name was born.
- Venus
Facebook/Smith’s Country Store Pennsylvania certainly has its fair share of otherworldly towns. Mars. Moon. And, of course, Venus. Only 76 miles from Mars, PA, Venus has just under 1,200 residents. If you start in Mars, you can visit Mars, Venus, and Moon all in one day, and it will only take 2.5 hours of driving.
- Pillow
Wikipedia/Shuvaev With only 300 residents, the tiny town of Pillow promises peace and relaxation. Pillow got its name from General Gideon Pillow. The town was founded in 1818. Townspeople and visitors will gather in this historic town in September 2018 to celebrate Pillow’s 200th birthday.
- Shoemakersville
Wikipedia/Jack You might assume that Shoemakersville got its name because the town housed shoemakers. Well, it did. Two, in particular. Charles and Henry Shoemaker. The tiny town in Berks County is home to less than 1,500 residents.
- Hop Bottom
Wikipedia/Doug Kerr The tiny town of Hop Bottom claims just over 300 residents. Tucked in Susquehanna County, Hop Bottom earned its name from the meadows of hops used for brewing, found in the town and, in particular, at the bottom of the creek.
- Panic
Flickr/Steve Kennedy The photo above illustrates just how unique PA’s town’s names are: Panic, Desire, Paradise, and Dubois just scratch the surface. Panic sits in Jefferson County. Some surmise the town got its name from the financial panic of 1837.
- Normalville
Flickr/Jim Orsini More than 2,500 Pennsylvanians call Normalville, in Fayette County, home. The small town, just seven miles from Connellsville, was founded in 1853.
C’mon and add to the list of Pennsylvania towns with the silliest names. Dozens more – from Intercourse to Bird-in-Hand – could make the list, right? Which others would you add? Share in the comments! Then click here to read about some of the silliest street names in the state.
Flickr/hhm8
A tiny town about a half an hour from Pittsburgh, Wilmerding is well known for once housing the Westinghouse Air Brake Company. The quaint town gained its moniker quite simply. Wilmerding was the middle name of a well-known landowner’s wife: Joanne Wilmerding Negley.
Flickr/Jon Dawson
Nanty Glo – or Nant-Y-Glo in Welsh – means the “Valley of the Coal.” The small town, a part of the Johnstown area, is known for its rich coal mining history.
Pringle, PA
Pringle probably has a much different meaning to people today (think: potato chips) than it did long ago. The charming borough of Pringle pays homage not to the potato chip, but to Thomas Pringle. Pringle, the Scotsman, was well known as a poet, a writer, and an abolitionist. Experience the cozy feel of small-town PA when you visit Pringle, with a population of just over 1,100.
Yep, you’ll find a spaceship right smack dab in the middle of the town of Mars. And the townspeople call themselves Martians. How Mars got its name is debatable. Some say that the town simply shortened its original name “Marshall” to “Mars.” Others say the man named Marshall, who founded the town, loved the planet Mars. Thus, the town name was born.
Facebook/Smith’s Country Store
Pennsylvania certainly has its fair share of otherworldly towns. Mars. Moon. And, of course, Venus. Only 76 miles from Mars, PA, Venus has just under 1,200 residents. If you start in Mars, you can visit Mars, Venus, and Moon all in one day, and it will only take 2.5 hours of driving.
Wikipedia/Shuvaev
With only 300 residents, the tiny town of Pillow promises peace and relaxation. Pillow got its name from General Gideon Pillow. The town was founded in 1818. Townspeople and visitors will gather in this historic town in September 2018 to celebrate Pillow’s 200th birthday.
Wikipedia/Jack
You might assume that Shoemakersville got its name because the town housed shoemakers. Well, it did. Two, in particular. Charles and Henry Shoemaker. The tiny town in Berks County is home to less than 1,500 residents.
Wikipedia/Doug Kerr
The tiny town of Hop Bottom claims just over 300 residents. Tucked in Susquehanna County, Hop Bottom earned its name from the meadows of hops used for brewing, found in the town and, in particular, at the bottom of the creek.
Flickr/Steve Kennedy
The photo above illustrates just how unique PA’s town’s names are: Panic, Desire, Paradise, and Dubois just scratch the surface. Panic sits in Jefferson County. Some surmise the town got its name from the financial panic of 1837.
Flickr/Jim Orsini
More than 2,500 Pennsylvanians call Normalville, in Fayette County, home. The small town, just seven miles from Connellsville, was founded in 1853.
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