We all know the saying "Keep Austin weird", but is our city name that strange compared to other towns in Texas?
Apparently not according to a new list by Estately Blog. Texas has over 40 town names that make "Austin" look cookie-cutter and almost dull. However, for this list, we'll only include the top 13 most outrageous names in the Lone Star State.
Knickerbocker: No, we're not talking about your grandfather's trousers. This town located 18 miles west of San Angelo was named after the narrator of Washington Irving's History of New York, Diedrick Knickerbocker
Ding Dong: The witch is probably dead in this town located ironically in Bell County. It was named in honor of Zulius Bell and his nephew Bert Bell who owned and ran a country store near the Lampass River.
Nada: Nope, this town is not based on the Spanish word. In fact, this town with an approximate population of 165 people, is actually an Americanized version of the Czech word "Nadja" meaning hope.
Gun Barrel City: Texas and guns can kind of go hand and hand, so this name shouldn't come as much of a surprise. The town located 55 miles southeast of Dallas, was named with its motto "We Shoot Straight with You" in mind.
Noodle: No, the name of this town in Southwest Jones County has nothing to with pasta. According to the Texas Historical Association, its name derives from Noodle Creek which was a dry creek bed in the 1800s.
Oatmeal: This hearty town also has nothing to do with the delicious breakfast food. Historians believe the name concept came from either a man named Mr. Othneil, who owned the first grist mill in the area, or the name Habermill, a German dialect word for oats.
Raisin: Of course if there's a town named oatmeal, there would also be a town called Raisin in Texas. The town located eight miles southwest of Victoria, was named in honor of a local rancher who was good at growing grapes.
Scissors: If you head to this town about 500 miles Southeast of Alamo, don't get snipped. It was developed in the early 1960s, but it's not known if its name is derived from the cutting tool.
Tarzan: Okay, this town name was actually named after the ape-like man known for swinging on tree vines. When the town was established in the 1920s, Tarzan was a hot comic strip and workers in the postal service signed off on the town name.
Uncertain: Is this really the name of the town located on the shores of Caddo Lake in Harris County? Yes, we're sure! Apparently, the concept originated because it was difficult for steamboat captains to secure their boats there. Also, residents in the early 1900s were uncertain about their citizenship because the boundary between the U.S. and the Republic of Texas hadn't been established yet.
Who'd Thought It: Who would have thought someone would actually name their town this? It's unknown why the settlers named their town this unusual name. It's also considered a ghost town with no known inhabitants since the late 1980s.
Latex: This town was not named after the rubber product. Honestly, it's a combination of its location which is right along the Texas-Louisiana border in Northeastern Harrison County.
Smiley: If you thought of an emoji when you read this name, you're not alone. But Sadly, this town, located 21 miles south of Gonzales, was named before modern technology. Its origin stems from a local sheepherder and trader named John Smiley who lived in the town in the 1870s.
Craving some more weird town names? You can check out the full list of Texas names and other states here.
