11 Oregon Town Names That’ll Make Your GPS Have an Existential Crisis

Oregon is home to some truly peculiar and amusing town names that are enough to make any GPS question its existence! Here are 11 towns in Oregon with names that will certainly make you do a double-take:

1. Timbuktu (Washington County) — Named during timber salvaging, it’s a remote logging camp that’s far “off in the back of the beyond.”
2. Jennyopolis (Benton County) — A ghost town with an intriguing past including Oregon’s first alleged murder.
3. Pochahontas (Baker County) — Named after the Native American historic figure, it was originally Pine City before residents moved and established a new settlement.
4. Boring (Clackamas County) — Famous worldwide, it’s known for its ironic name and twin sister cities in Dull and Bland.
5. Riddle (Douglas County) — Originally Riddlesburg and Riddles, it was a vital railway stop with a colorful Old West history.
6. Idiotypeville (Tillamook County) — The name humorously suggested that only an “idiot” would work there, hence “Idiotypeville.”
7. Yallerdog (Morrow County) — From the old settlements of Dairyville (“Rawdog”) and Adamsville (“Yallerdog”), now a tiny community.
8. Boo Boo Lake (Lane County) — Named after a trout stocking mistake, it’s a quirky name for a serene location.
9. Drain (Tillamook County) — Named after early settler Charles Drain, with a motto “Gateway to the Pacific.”
10. Whorehouse Meadow (Harney County) — Named for the historic female entrepreneurs who operated there, later renamed “Naughty Girl Meadow” briefly.
11. Blitzen (Harney County) — Named after Santa’s reindeer, this ghost town has a festive yet mysterious name.

These towns highlight Oregon’s playful side with names that range from historically quirky to outright hilarious, making navigation an adventure in itself!

SOURCES

[1](https://thatoregonlife.com/2020/07/funny-town-names-oregon/)
[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GXU0ZSvuSo)
[3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ghost_towns_in_Oregon)
[4](https://www.reddit.com/r/oregon/comments/1f6rfpp/a_cool_guide_to_the_most_oddly_named_town_in_each/)
[5](https://929thebull.com/11-mispronounced-city-names-in-oregon/)