Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-30
Duplicate Town
Names are Scarce

Washington, July q CA. P.)-There
is very peculiar story connected
with the naming of Peculiar, Missouri
which is also a peculiar name for a
town.
The federal government does not
name towns and hamlets when they
are born or feel the urge for a cog
nomen, but the Post Office Depart
ment does regulate them to the ex-
tent Of prohibiting duplicating Of
names within the same state. So
when a newly formed community in
Missouri suggested a certain name
for its postof1ice, the department in
formed the inhabitants there was al
ready one by that name in their state.
Several other names were chosen
by the residents and submitted, but
always with the same result. Finally
an eXasperated official of the depart
ment, in refusing the latest choice,
wrote the city fathers among other
things that it was mighty peculiar
they could not find a good name for
their town. Whereupon he received
the following reply: Acting on your
suggestion we select the name Pc
culiar". And SO Peculiar is on the
map of today.
There is only one rule in the nam
ing of new towns, and that is that
there shall be but one of the same
name in a state. But that does not
prohibit other states from boasting
towns of the same name. For in
stance, there are As names used more
than 20 times each to designate
towns and cities. Benjamin Franklin
is remembered as an inspiration more
than any other person, and Franklin
as a town name takes the prize. occur
ing 81 times in 81 states. The others in
point of popularity run: Clinton, so
times; Chester, 90; Arlington, 20;
Washington. %; Troy. 81; Salem. 81;
Madison, 81; Marion, %; Manches-
ter, 81; Clayton, %; Glenwood. 26
Kingston, &c: Newport. 20: Ashland,
25; Centerville, 25; Cleveland. %:
Auburn, "a: Dover. "a: Hillsboro, "a;
Lincoln, "a: Monroe, "a: Oxford. "a;
Princeton. "a; Springfield, "a: War
rem, "a; Union. "a; Greenville, %;
Wilson, %; Belmont, %; Buffalo, %;
Canton, %; Dayton, %; Eureka, %;
Liberty. %; Milford, %; Plymouth.
%; Burlington. 81: Lebanon, 81;
Portland, 20: Lexington, 20; James
town, 20; Hudson, 20 and Danville,
20.
Duplicated names are the bane of
lIlc pOSl dl CiCi N, ciiIi lilC ohNCO lSp-
utation for originality rises stagger-
ing when confronted by the apparent
lack of imagination used to name
American communities. There are
even two Chicagos. six Phuadelphias,
seven Detroits, and IA Denyers.
Similarity in names also causes the
postal department considerable trou-
BILE. Indistinct penmanship might
easily confuse Eldoro, Ia, with Ell
dorado, Ia. In Pennsylvania alone
there are IS communities whose
names begin with the prefix Green:
Greene, Greenbriar, Greenburr,
Greencastle, Green Land. Greenoch,
Greenpark, Greensboro, Greensburg,
Greensboro, Queenstown, Greenville,
and Greenwald. There is Partially
for Bloom as a prefix in New York
state, as for example Bloomsbury,
Bloomingdale, Blooming Grove,
Bloomington and Bloomville.
Foreign cities have contributed
their names freely in this country.
There are IS towns known as Paris
and a like number of Genevas, II
Berlins despite the war, IL Moscows,
II Viennas, Pekins and 2 BRUSSELS.