Most People Don’t Know The Meaning Behind These 7 Northern California Town Names
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Kate Freeman
Author
Many towns in California are named after early European settlers to the area, but these town names are a bit different. You’ll be surprised how some of these towns got their names!
Twain Harte, CA, USA
Mark Twain and Bret Harte are two famous authors who lived in the area at one time. This Tuolumne County location got its name by combining the names of these two major historical figures from the area.
Likely, CA 96116, USA
In the mid-1880s this Northern California census-designated place changed its name from South Fork to Likely. The change didn’t happen overnight. Locals were unable to agree on a new name for the area. As the story goes, a local rancher observed that they’ll likely never come to an agreement. The townspeople then voted to name the town Likely.
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Coffee Creek, CA 96091, USA
This small census-designated place in Trinity County is said to have got its name after a load of coffee was swept away in the creek. Some say it was a pack mule carrying the coffee, other sources say it was a train.
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Loyalton, CA 96118, USA
Early settlers named this town Smithneck but changed the name during the American Civil War. Townspeople raised money for the Union Army and thought it was a good idea to change the town's name to reflect their loyalty to the Union.
Samoa, CA, USA
The small peninsula of Samoa was once a hub for the booming logging industry. Originally called Brownsville, Samoa was given its name in honor of the Samoan Island crisis in the 1890s. Locals assumed the harbor looked similar to Pago Pago in American Samoa.
Ione, CA, USA
If this town’s name sounds Greek to you, you’d be correct! The town was named after a character in the book "The Last Days of Pompeii'' by English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton. It’s said that early Ione settler Thomas Brown gave the town the name Ione and it stuck. Early gold miners to the area had previously called the town "Bedbug" and "Freezeout."
Albion, CA, USA
This coastal area was dubbed Nova Albion in 1844, inspired by what Sir Francis Drake named the coastal area when he sailed to California’s shores in the 16th century. Albion is the ancient name for Britain.
Did any of these stories surprise you? Tell us about the history of your favorite Northern California town name.
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