Most People Don't Know The Meaning Behind These 15 Texas Towns
By Katie Lawrence|Updated on December 15, 2020(Originally published December 01, 2020)
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
Often times, we drive past a sign for a town and think, “Hmm, that’s an interesting name. I wonder where it came from.” Well, fear not, my fellow Texans. I’m here to satisfy your curiosity with this list of 15 mysterious small towns in Texas and how they got their names. Test your knowledge of Texas trivia and see how many you already knew!
This hill country town was originally named Montana because of its beautiful scenery. When George Barker came in the late 1800s, he was sick with tuberculosis. He brought his strange habit of swimming in the Sabinal River every morning, whatever the weather, with him. Only when he did it in Montana, he was completely cured one morning after stepping out of the water. This miracle had such an impact on him that he changed the name of the town because it was "a perfect place to be." Hollywood thought so too, filming the movie "Seven Days in Utopia," starring Robert Duval, in the hill country town.
Comfort got its name from pure irony. The first settlers of the town were a group of free-thinking, educated Germans who left home to escape strict rule and govern themselves. Their plan was to secede from Texas and create the free German state of West Texas. Obviously this didn't happen, and the settlers got off to a bad start when they had to engage in manual labor, a huge change from their urban, academic background. They named the town Comfort in a satirical fit of rage because they were so miserable.
The town of Alanreed has seen many different names before one was finally settled on. First was Spring Tank after a dirt tank of water in the area fed by springs. Next came Prairie Dog Town because there was a large colony of the creatures nearby. After a brutal fight in a local saloon, the name was changed to Gouge Eye. Finally, it became Alanreed, named after two contractors building the railroad at the time.
This little East Texas town supposedly got its name when a group of newcomers arrived late for dinner and found that all the food had been consumed. The residents told them to "lick the skillet" if they wanted any supper in their bellies.
Athens has a rather neat story. Residents wanted the town to be a center of learning like its counterpart in Greece. After this, they realized the area resided on seven hills, the exact amount as Athens, Greece. Coincidence?
Von Ormy has a story that could be the basis of a novel. Count Norbert Von Ormy, an Austrian-Hungarian nobleman, discovered his status as a count after his mother's passing. He used his fortune to travel the United States, deciding he wanted to first move to Texas and be a cattle rancher. He stayed in San Antonio at the St. Anthony hotel and placed an ad in the newspaper offering to buy a nearby ranch and cattle to go with it. He stayed on the property for 18 months before moving to Brazil, but the town was so captivated with the story that the postmaster changed its name from Garza's Crossing to Von Ormy.
The home of the famed Garner State Park and Frio River has an interesting backstory. The rumor is that its name was born from a card game called 'Coon-Can', or 'Conquian' to Mexicans. Early settlers of the town played it and the name stuck.
You won't find many inhabitants in this small town, but you will find plenty of German history. It was originally named Wohlfahrt, which was deemed "too humorous" when pronounced phonetically. Alas, it was changed to Welfare, the English translation of Wohlfahrt that means "welcome." That sounds much more inviting, don't you think?
The pretty hill country town of Mico is an acronym for Medina Irrigation Company which constructed the Medina Dam in 1910. The families working on its construction lived in a nearby camp set up by the company that eventually grew into the town that exists today. The story goes that people were tired of the long-winded description of the place and started saying "Mico" instead.
Think this South Texas town is named after the mythical creature? WRONG! Its namesake is the well known historical figure William "Bigfoot" Wallace, who was given his nickname after his friends mistook him for an Indian named Bigfoot because he was so tall. One morning, a young girl bought him tobacco for 5 cents at the corner store and the owner put up an IOU sign to be sure everyone knew he owed the little girl her money. Later that day, the postal inspector comes by and asks what the name of the town is, so the storekeeper says "We call it Bigfoot." The name has stayed the same ever since.
There's a reason why I could only find pictures of a church when researching this town, which also happens to be the oldest Polish settlement in the country - it has holy origins. Immigrants traveled here in 1854 to find farmland. They arrived on Christmas Eve, and after midnight mass, they named their land Panna Maria, which means "young girl, Mary" in Polish.
Leave it to Texas to name a town after violence. Nobody is quite sure exactly what happened, but the tales all converge at one point - the argument in 1912 that nearly ended in bloodshed was definitely over church-related issues. Apparently, a young boy eavesdropping on the altercation said "I'm going to cut around the corner and shoot through the bushes in a minute" to get away from the scene.
While I couldn't find a picture of the town itself but one of the courthouse of the county in which it resides, its story is one to be reckoned with. There are two rumors of its origin: the old folk say it was named for the extreme effort put in to fight off bugs at a church picnic, while the youth claim the only entertainment in the town is watching the tumble-bugs hard at work.
This Travis County town is so obscure I couldn't even find a picture of it - this is a surrounding area. You can probably give a good guess as to how its name came about. Six names were submitted to the Postal Service, but evidently none were suitable because they were all turned down. Nameless was decided to be more fitting, and so the town was born.
Believe it or not, this town in Wichita County didn't get its name because a lot of pumpkins are grown there. One day, the local blacksmith told his apprentice to build a city sign to make them seem like welcoming folk. The only thing the apprentice knew how to draw was a pumpkin, and only had orange paint on hand, so the town became known as Punkin Center to match the drawing. The town's official name is Haynesville, but to locals it'll always be Punkin Center.
As you can see, Texas has a rich history that extends even into the very names of our towns. Did you learn something new today? What other mysterious small towns in Texas do you know about? Share your thoughts in the comments below! And if you know a unique little day trip destination, nominate it for a chance to be featured!
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mysterious small towns in Texas
Jackie Ann|December 14, 2020
What is Texas known for?
From oil to BBQ, Texas is known for so many things it can be hard to keep track. America’s second largest state is the nation’s biggest producer of oil, cotton, and cattle. More than just an export state, Austin is known to be the live music capital of the world, and people travel from all over the country just to try some of that world-famous Texas BBQ.
What is the most naturally beautiful town in Texas?
In a state as big as Texas, you can bet there are some truly stunning towns. The Lone Star State is home to countless naturally beautiful towns, and you’ll love exploring them all. Located in Texas Hill Country, Hunt is a charming little town exploding with scenic lakes, rivers, and rolling hills. For coastal scenery, visit Port Isabel on Laguna Madre Bay. And for those near the Texas Panhandle, a visit to Canyon is worth your while. Home to Palo Duro Canyon, the nation’s second largest canyon, visitors to this scenic town will be met with some truly inspiring canyon views.
Which town in Texas has the best restaurants?
While Austin, Dallas, and Houston would all be great options for anyone on the hunt for good food, there are several smaller cities and towns peppered around the Lone Star State that are full of local eateries that are serving some of the best food in Texas. Located in DeWitt County, Cuero is a mid-sized city of about 7,000 residents with several incredible restaurants ranging from fine dining steak houses to casual BBQ. You’ll also find some tasty restaurants over in Hearne, Texas. A smaller city of about 5,000, Hearne is home to homestyle diners, spicy Mexican restaurants, and as always, finger-licking good BBQ.
