While we Virginians are serious about our state pride, there’s nothing wrong with adding a little humor into the mix every now and then. Whether it’s one of our quirky die-hard habits or perhaps our mannerisms, laughing at ourselves is a frequent part of everyday life here in the Old Dominion. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of towns with downright silly names. Yet don’t let that stop you from visiting. Take a look:
- Fries
Eli Christman/flickr No…this town is not named after the beloved french fry. Rather, it’s pronounced “freeze” and is a gorgeous Appalachian Trail town situated in Grayson County along the New River. You’ll fall in love with the peaceful way of life and natural beauty of this small town.
- Bumpass
J. Albert Bowden II/flickr This town got its unusual name from the Bumpass Family, who were prominent citizens of Louisa County in the 19th century. The name derives from the French phrase “bon pass,” which translates into good step. We have to admit that sounds a bit more classy than the current title.
- Assawoman
Shawn Honnick/flickr
Geoff LMV/flickr Located along the Eastern Shore is a teeny tiny town whose name will certainly make you look twice. Assawoman was orginally spelled “Assawaman,” until 1966 when it was changed. We can only guess as to why. Nevertheless, you can tell that this corner of the state is truly beautiful as shown in the photograph above.
- Overall
Doug Kerr/flickr The town of Overall can be found in Warrenton County and is, like many small communities in Virginia, named for a prominent family who lived there in the 19th century.
- Dinwiddie
Taber Andrew Bain/flickr
bonaircat/flickr Dinwiddie may sound like more of a cartoon character than a town, but this area just south of Richmond has plenty in the way of historic houses and beautiful landscapes.
- Jamaica
Google Maps Who knew there was a little slice of paradise hiding right here in Virginia? The unincorporated community of Jamaica may not have any resemblance to its tropical counterpart, but it is situated near the Virginia Motor Speedway.
- Farmville
Town of Farmville While the towns name suggests a simple way of life, the town of Farmville in central Virginia has plenty to offer. Anyone who remembers the popular Facebook game FarmVille might find the name of this town particularly entertaining. Situated nearby is the impressive High Bridge Trail State Park.
- Dumfries
Potomac Local Similar to the town of Fries, this uniquely-named spot is pronounced “Dumfries” and can be found in Prince William County.
- Short Pump
AboutMyTrip dotCom/flickr While Short Pump may not have the most poetic name, this area just outside of Richmond has expanded over the past ten years to include an impressive outdoor mall with the same name, apartment complexes, and just about any major retail store you could think of.
Which peculiarly-named towns would you add to the list? We’d love to hear from you!
Eli Christman/flickr
No…this town is not named after the beloved french fry. Rather, it’s pronounced “freeze” and is a gorgeous Appalachian Trail town situated in Grayson County along the New River. You’ll fall in love with the peaceful way of life and natural beauty of this small town.
J. Albert Bowden II/flickr
This town got its unusual name from the Bumpass Family, who were prominent citizens of Louisa County in the 19th century. The name derives from the French phrase “bon pass,” which translates into good step. We have to admit that sounds a bit more classy than the current title.
Shawn Honnick/flickr
Geoff LMV/flickr
Located along the Eastern Shore is a teeny tiny town whose name will certainly make you look twice. Assawoman was orginally spelled “Assawaman,” until 1966 when it was changed. We can only guess as to why. Nevertheless, you can tell that this corner of the state is truly beautiful as shown in the photograph above.
Doug Kerr/flickr
The town of Overall can be found in Warrenton County and is, like many small communities in Virginia, named for a prominent family who lived there in the 19th century.
Taber Andrew Bain/flickr
bonaircat/flickr
Dinwiddie may sound like more of a cartoon character than a town, but this area just south of Richmond has plenty in the way of historic houses and beautiful landscapes.
Google Maps
Who knew there was a little slice of paradise hiding right here in Virginia? The unincorporated community of Jamaica may not have any resemblance to its tropical counterpart, but it is situated near the Virginia Motor Speedway.
Town of Farmville
While the towns name suggests a simple way of life, the town of Farmville in central Virginia has plenty to offer. Anyone who remembers the popular Facebook game FarmVille might find the name of this town particularly entertaining. Situated nearby is the impressive High Bridge Trail State Park.
Potomac Local
Similar to the town of Fries, this uniquely-named spot is pronounced “Dumfries” and can be found in Prince William County.
AboutMyTrip dotCom/flickr
While Short Pump may not have the most poetic name, this area just outside of Richmond has expanded over the past ten years to include an impressive outdoor mall with the same name, apartment complexes, and just about any major retail store you could think of.
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