From Climax To Nimrod: These Minnesota Towns Have Bizarre Names!
Get ready to chuckle as we discover the quirky and fascinating stories behind Minnesota’s oddly named towns! 🗺️ #Minnesota #Travel #History
Savage, Minnesota – The Land of 10,000 Lakes, is also home to some of the most peculiarly named towns you’ll ever hear of. From Castle Danger to Sleepy Eye, these towns have stories that are as unique as their names. Let’s take a whirlwind tour through some of these oddly named Minnesota places and uncover the tales behind them.
Castle Danger, Minnesota
Castle Danger might sound like something out of a fairy tale, but its name could have come from Norwegian anglers who thought the cliffs looked like a castle, or maybe from a boat named Castle that got stuck there.
Climax, Minnesota
Climax is a tiny town with a name that might make you giggle. It was named after a popular chewing tobacco brand in the late 1800s, which was a hit with baseball players.
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth has a touch of French flair, named after Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut, a Frenchman who explored the area to spread French influence in North America.
Embarrass, Minnesota
Embarrass got its name from French fur trappers who found the river full of obstacles, calling it Riviere d’Embarras, which means “River of Obstacles.”
Fertile, Minnesota
Fertile was named by a settler who thought the land looked just like his old home in Fertile, Iowa. It’s also been called the nicest place in Minnesota by Reader’s Digest.
Kiester, Minnesota
Kiester might sound funny, but it’s named after Judge Jacob Armel Kiester. It even starred in a Preparation H commercial!
Little Canada, Minnesota
Little Canada has deep French Canadian roots. Originally called Petit Canada, it still celebrates its heritage with an annual Canada Days festival.
Mahtomedi, Minnesota
Mahtomedi is named after the Dakota word for nearby White Bear Lake. Mato means gray bear, and mde means lake, so Mahtomedi is the town by the gray bear lake.
New Prague, Minnesota
New Prague was founded by Czech immigrants and has kept its heritage alive with traditional Czech restaurants.
Nimrod, Minnesota
Nimrod might sound like an insult, but it’s named after a biblical figure, Noah’s great-grandson.
Nowthen, Minnesota
Nowthen got its name from the town’s first postmaster, James Hare, who liked to say, “Now, then,” in conversation.
Quamba, Minnesota
Quamba was once called Mud Creek but was renamed after an Indian word for “mudhole” when the depot was built.
Savage, Minnesota
Savage was originally named Hamilton, but it was renamed after Marion Willis Savage, who owned the famous pacer horse Dan Patch. The suburban town near the Twin Cities still honors their legacy with a statue in front of the public library.
Sleepy Eye, Minnesota
Sleepy Eye is named after Chief Sleepy Eye, a Native American chief known for his friendships with explorers and government officials.
These towns are just a glimpse into Minnesota’s rich and quirky history. If you know any more towns with interesting stories, share them in the comments!
🗣 What do you think of these Minnesota towns with bizarre names? Are there any we missed or funny ones from other Midwestern states? Let us know in the comments section below. ⬇️