Every state has their fair share of laughable city names – Why, Arizona; Boring, Oregon; Hygiene, Colorado… It seems Americans have enjoyed assigning strange labels to new cities for centuries now! Idaho is no different, boasting oddities like Zaza, Squirrel, Mace, and Last Chance to name a few. Sadly, many of Idaho’s most notable and oddly-named towns have faded into ghostly obscurity, along with the origins of their monikers – although we have a feeling that most of them were chosen by facetious miners looking to shake things up above-ground. Regardless of their history, from the strange and kitschy to the slightly irreverent, here are 10 of the weirdest town names in Idaho that still have village populations greater than two individuals.

1. Shells Lick
Shells Lick, ID 83554, USA
Karunakar Rayker/Flickr
Just remember the five second rule, first.

The lack of an apostrophe in this town's name indicates that there were Idahoans licking the shells, and that the shells themselves were not licking back (thank goodness). Maps indicate that Shells Lick, Idaho exists somewhere in the Whitebird area where there is, reportedly, a river beach where shells can be found; hence, the first part of the name. The second part sounds like a dare gone wrong.
2. Slickpoo
Slickpoo, ID 83555, USA
Forest Service Northern Region/Flickr
"Aww man, these shoes are brand new..."

Like the educated reader you are, you can probably take a few guesses as to where this odd Idaho town name came from. But this unincorporated townsite near Culdesac is actually named after Josiah Slickpoo. Slickpoo helped Idaho's infamous Father Cataldo expand his Jesuit mission across Southern Idaho by providing land along Mission Creek for Cataldo's new church. The latter is what our research turned up, anyways - but both explanations seem perfectly reasonable.

In all seriousness, despite its name, it's actually a beautiful drive to get to what remains of Slickpoo. The road winds and climbs through mesmerizing rolling green and yellow pastures, and towering evergreens line the small creek. The rebuilt St. Joseph Mission still stands, although it's not open to visitors.
3. Riddle
Riddle, ID 83604, USA
Bill Williams
An unincorporated community in the southwest corner of Idaho, Riddle is supposedly run by Riddle Ranch, but the closest ranch by that name is in Oregon. A business called Riddle Ranches is in Idaho, however, but it's located near Bruneau, making the namesake of this town a riddle as well.
4. Dingle
Dingle, ID 83254, USA
j_arred/Flickr
Tucked away in Southeast Idaho, rumor has it that Dingle was given its name by Brigham Young, possibly after the sound of trains passing by, or after the sound of cowbells in the fields. But that seems pretty unlikely, as records also list it as Dingle Bell, Big Timber, Cottonwood, and Peg Leg Island before Dingle became official.

Surprisingly, Dingle was quite a booming town in its heyday (inc. 1871), complete with a blacksmith shop, drama societies, sports teams, and even multiple schools. Today, it sill lays claim to a few residential homes, some historic buildings, and a lovely LDS church that was originally started jointly with the city of Paris.
5. Ozone
Ozone Road, Ozone Rd, Idaho 83427, USA
Wikimedia Commons
The air is a little fresher in this rural town just outside of Ammon. Ozone was originally a stage coach stop, primarily used as a resting point on the way to Idaho Falls via Bone Road. Thought to be a name chosen by the original stage company, Ozone is situated in a high area just below the crest of the nearby hills, which also made ideal shelter for travelers.

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6. Beer Bottle Crossing
Beer Bottle Crossing, ID, USA
Kevin Rensink/GoogleMaps
Probably the only town in Idaho named from lawn chairs on someone's front porch. We just don't know whose porch. If you do, let us know!
7. Santa
Santa, ID 83861, USA
Andy Mangold/Flickr
Santa, Idaho is located up north, but nowhere near North Pole, Idaho. This unincorporated community likely borrowed its name from nearby Santa Anna Creek but grew into a town of firsts: the first town in Idaho to be started by a woman, and the home of Benewah County's first printed newspaper. Needless to say, the post office is a pretty popular place come December.
8. Bone
Bone, ID 83427, USA
Wikimedia Commons
Like many of Idaho's cities and towns, Bone is named after its own original founder, Orin Bone, and his family. It is also one of the largest towns on this list with two dozen or so seasonal residents. Bone's only general store was torn down piece by piece by questionable persons looking for treasure years ago and was rebuilt soon after. The store now boasts a ceiling full of signed dollar bills from visitors across the country, as well as billiards to keep things lively.
9. Cabinet
Cabinet, ID 83811, USA
Joshua Jordinson/GoogleMaps
If you look on a detailed map of Idaho, you will see the city of Cabinet, Idaho tucked away ever-so-neatly in Bonner County. Once a thriving logging community, the town was named after the Cabinet Gorge and Cabinet Mountains, which trappers would paddle through via Clark Fork. With the landscape rising on either side of the gorge, the corridor was much like that of sailing between two cabinet rows. After the Big Burn of 1910, however, little remains other than a cemetery and a few foundations. However, the scenic little town of Clark Fork nearby and the incredible views of Cabinet Gorge are well worth a visit.
10. Fish Haven
Fish Haven, ID 83287, USA
James Young/GoogleMaps
Founded by Mormon settlers in 1864, Fish Haven sits just shy of the Utah-Idaho border near Bear Lake. Since the lake's unique limestone deposits give the water a vivid Caribbean-blue color and enable it to house dozens of unique fish species, no doubt Fish Haven was named for the bounty of aquatic life and small, hidden marinas that make for ideal fish hideouts.
BONUS!

11. Paul, Idaho
Paul, ID 83347, USA
Geir Jonsson/YouTube via Family Guy
What a ridiculous name for a town... Paul! Unlike other towns that weren't so lucky, Paul is a respectable, well-earned moniker for this small town in Eastern Idaho, which was established in 1910.

Even when the origins aren’t known, it’s still fun to speculate and poke a little fun at the founders of these uniquely named towns. What do you think is the weirdest town name in Idaho? Feel free to share your favorites and any historical info as well!

Looking to dig into more of Idaho’s unique history? Here are 10 Historical Landmarks in Idaho that are worth a visit. 

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More to Explore

Weird Town Names in Idaho & Related Info

Jennifer | December 13, 2022

What is the most unique town in Idaho?

Wallace, Idaho often tops lists for being one of the most unique small towns in Idaho due to its fantastic history, numerous quirky festivals, and vibrant landmarks. In fact, its official distinction as the "Center of the Universe" is just the start of everything this fun little town has to offer!

Although the lineup changes regularly, here are a few of Wallace's annual festivals and celebrations:

  • Fall for History Festival
  • Oktoberfest
  • Center of the Universe Celebration
  • Wallace Home Town Christmas
  • New Year's Eve Torch Light Parade
  • Mountain Brewfest
  • Jackass Day
  • Depot Day
  • Wallace Huckleberry Festival
  • Gyro Days/Lead Creek Derby
  • Idaho Statehood Day
  • Mountain Archery Fest
  • Art n' Garden Days
  • Wallace Jeep and ATV Jamboree
  • Under the Freeway Flea Market
  • Wallace Extreme Ski Jor

 

The small town of Wallace is also BIG on history, and is home to a number of historic buildings. Actually, the entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places! The large number of original and still-standing 19th Century buildings gives Wallace one of the largest concentrations of Victorian commercial architecture in the entire state of Idaho.

 

 

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