We have quite a few odd town names here in Iowa, but there's one that stands out above the rest!

The folks at Zippia scoured the internet to figure out the "weirdest, most out there" town names in all 50 states. They picked their favorites, so the results aren't based on any official survey, but they're still a lot of fun to read!

According to this list, the weirdest town name in Iowa is What Cheer. Located in Keokuk County, What Cheer once had a different name. According to Wikipedia:

"What Cheer was founded in 1865 as Petersburg, named after Peter Britton, its founder. This name was rejected by the Post Office, forcing a change of name. Joseph Andrews, a major and veteran of the American Civil War, suggested the name 'What Cheer,' and the town was officially renamed on December 1, 1879."

Nobody is absolutely positive as to why the name What Cheer was chosen, but there are a few different theories. You can read about some of those HERE.

Here are some of the top weird town names in surrounding Midwest states:

  • Illinois - Chicken Bristle
  • Wisconsin - Egg Harbor
  • Minnesota - Castle Danger
  • South Dakota - Plenty Bears
  • Nebraska - Worms
  • Missouri - Number Eight

My personal favorite strange town name on the list comes from West Virginia. The pick there was Booger Hole. Surprisingly, it isn't the only booger-related city on the list. The number one weird town name in Arkansas is Booger Hollow. Some other funny town names include Big Bottom, Washington; Bald Head, Maine; Cheesequake, New Jersey; and Elephant Butte, New Mexico. You can check out the full list HERE.

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