US Place Names ~ Aaronsburg, Pennsylvania to Algona, Iowa

Aaronsburg; town in Center County, Pennsylvania, named for Aaron Levy, who laid it out in 1786.

Abahtacook; creek in Maine, branch of the Matamiscontis River. An Indian word meaning "stream that runs parallel with a big river."

Abajo; mountains in Utah. A Spanish word meaning "low."

Abanako; village in Van Wert County, Ohio, named from an Indian tribe. The word means "the east land."

Abaquage; pond near the source of Little River, Connecticut. An Indian word meaning "flaggy meadow."

Abbeville; county, and town in same county, in South Carolina, settled and named by immigrants from France, for the French town of that name.

Abbot; town in Piscataquis County, Maine, named for Prof. John Abbot, treasurer of Bowdoin College.

Abbotsford; village in St. Clair County, Michigan, named from the home of Sir Walter Scott.

Abbott; village in Arapahoe County, Colorado, named for Albert F. Abbott, who platted it.

Abbottstown; town in Adams County, Pennsylvania, named for John Abbott, who laid it out in 1753.

Aberdeen; city in Monroe County, Mississippi, town in Moore County, North Carolina, and numerous other places, named from the city in Scotland.

Abert; lake in Oregon, named for Col. J. J. Abert, topographical engineer, United States Army.

Abiathar; peak in Yellowstone Park, Wyoming, named for Charles Abiathar White, of the United States Geological Survey.

Abilene; city in Dickinson County, Kansas, and village in Charlotte County, Virginia, named from the province of ancient Syria. The word means "grassy plain."

Abilene; city in Taylor County, Texas, named from the city in Kansas.

Abingdon; city in Knox County, Illinois, named from Abingdon, Maryland, the birth place of one of its founders.

Abingdon; village in Harford County, Maryland, town in Washington County, Virginia, and several other places, named generally from the borough in Berkshire, England.

Abington; town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, and several other places, named from the parish of Cambridgeshire, England.

Ableman; village in Sauk County, Wisconsin, named for Col. S. V. R. Ableman, who settled there in 1851.

Abocadneticook; creek in Maine, a branch of the Penobscot River. An Indian word meaning "stream narrowed by the mountains."

Aboljackarmegas; creek in Maine, a branch of the Penobscot River, at the foot of Mount Katahdin. An Indian word meaning "bare" or "bold."

Abrigada; hill in Waterbury, Connecticut, having on its side a deep cavern-like cliff called the "Indian House" hence the name, which is a Spanish word meaning "shelter" or "hiding place."

Absaroka; range of mountains in Wyoming, named from the native name of the Crow Indians. Grinnell says the word refers to some kind of a bird, possibly crows.

Acabonack; harbor in Long Island. An Indian word meaning "root place," applied to the harbor from the meadows near, where the Indians found roots which they prized.

Acadia; parish in Louisiana, and villages in Aroostook County, Maine, and Lee County, Virginia, named, from Acadia, the original name of Nova Scotia. The word is the French form of the Indian word akái, "where there is," "where there are," "where are found."

Acama; town in San Diego County, California. From the Spanish, meaning "place of repose."

Acampo; village, in San Joaquin County, California. A Spanish word meaning "portion of common given to herds for pasture."

Accomac; county, and village in same county, in Virginia. An Indian word which seems to mean "on the other side."

Acequia; village in Douglas County, Colorado. A Spanish word meaning "canal" or "channel."

Acerico; town in Sonoma County, California. A Spanish word meaning "pin cushion" or "small pillow."

Aceyedan; creek in Iowa. An Indian word, doubtfully said to mean "place of weeping."

Ackerman; town in Choctaw County, Mississippi, named for a landowner.

Ackley; town in Hardin County, Iowa, laid out in 1857 by J. W. Ackley.

Acme; village in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. A Greek word meaning "summit."

Acolito; town in San Diego County, California. The Spanish form of "acolyte."

Acorn; town in Humboldt County, California, named from the oak trees in the vicinity, conspicuous in a pine district.

Acquackanonk; township in Passaic County, New Jersey. An Indian word meaning "where gum blocks were made (or procured) for pounding corn."

Acquehadongonock; point in Maine. An Indian word said to mean "smoked fish point."

Acton; station in Los Angeles County, California, and town in York County, Maine, named from Acton, Massachusetts.

Acton; town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, named from the town in Middlesex County, England.

Acushnet; town and river in Bristol County, Massachusetts. The name of an Indian village which occupied a part of the site of the present city of New Bedford.

Acworth; town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, named in honor of Lord Acworth.

Ada; county in Idaho, named for the eldest daughter of H. C. Riggs.

Ada; town in Kent County, Michigan, named for the daughter of Sidney Smith.

Ada; village in Norman County, Minnesota, named for the daughter of W. H. Fisher, a railroad official.

Adair; counties in Iowa, Kentucky, and Missouri;

Adairville; town in Logan County, Kentucky. Named for Gen. John Adair, governor of Kentucky.

Adams; county in Colorado, named for Alva Adams, a former governor of the State.

Adams; counties in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, named for president John Quincy Adams.

Adams; counties in Iowa and Mississippi; peak of the White Mountains in New Hampshire; village in Herkimer County and town in Jefferson County, New York; county in Ohio; point at the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon; county in Pennsylvania; and county and mountain in Washington; named for President John Adams.

Adams; town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, named for Samuel Adams.

Adams; village in Gage County, Nebraska, named for an early settler, J. O. Adams.

Adams; town in Robertson County, Tennessee, named for the owner of the town site, Reuben Adams.

Adams, J. Q.; peak in New Hampshire, named for President John Quincy Adams.

Adamsboro; village in Cass County, Indiana, named for George E. Adams, its founder.

Adamsburg; borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania;

Adamstown; borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Said to have been named for President John Adams.

Addison; towns in Washington County, Maine, and Steuben County, New York, township in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and county, and town in same county, in Vermont, named for the English writer, Joseph Addison.

Addison; town in Webster County, West Virginia, named for Addison McLaughlin, a prominent lawyer.

Adel; town in Dallas County, Iowa. So named from its situation on a dell of North

Raccoon River; formerly written Adell.

Adelante; post-office in Napa County, California. A Spanish word meaning "forward" "onward."

Adena; town in Jefferson County, Ohio, named for the home or country seat of the late Governor Worthington, of Ohio, which was in Ross County. The word means "paradise."

Adirondacks; village in Warren County, and mountains, in New York. Derived from the Canienga (Mohawk) Iroquois language, in which the original form is r?_ir?ni?ks meaning "bark eaters."

Admiralty; inlet in Washington named by Vancouver, the English explorer, for incumbent in the Admiralty.

Adobe; station in Kern County, California. A Spanish word meaning a "sun-dried brick."

Adrian; city in Lenawee County, Michigan, named for the Roman Emperor Hadrian or Adrian.

Advance; village in Boone County, Indiana, named in anticipation of the Midland Railroad passing through the region.

Aetna Hot Springs; village and springs in Napa County, California, named from Mountain in Sicily.

Afton; town in Union County, Iowa, laid out in 1854 and named by Mrs. Baker, wife of one of the proprietors, from the little river in Scotland immortalized by Burns. Many other places bear the same name.

Agamenticus; mountain in York County, Maine. An Indian word meaning "on the other side of the river."

Agassiz; mountains in Arizona and New Hampshire, named for Louis J. R. Agassiz, the Swiss naturalist.

Agate; bay in Lake Superior, Michigan, and creek in Yellowstone Park, so named from the agates found in them.

Agawam; river, and town in Hampden County, in Massachusetts. An Indian word meaning "lowland," "marsh," or "meadow."

Agency; town in Wapello County, Iowa, and village in Buchanan County, Missouri, which were formerly Indian agencies.

Agua Caliente; village in Maricopa County, Arizona, and township in San Diego County, and village in Sonoma County, California, so named from the hot springs. A Spanish phrase meaning "hot water."

Agua de Vida; town and springs in Alameda County, California. A Spanish phrase meaning "water of life."

Agua Dulce; creek in Texas. A Spanish word meaning "sweet water."

Agua Fria; valley in Yavapai County, and river in Arizona, village in Mariposa County, California, and peak and village in Santa Fe County, New Mexico. A Spanish phrase meaning "cold water."

Agua Hedionda; town in San Diego County, California, named from the sulphur springs. A Spanish phrase meaning "stinking water."

Agua Tibia; town in San Diego County, California. A Spanish phrase, translated as "flute water."

Ahiki; eastern tributary of the Chattahoochee River, Georgia. An Indian word, ahi-iki meaning "sweet potato mother."

Aiken; county, and town in same county, in South Carolina, named for William Aiken, governor of the State in 1844-1846.

Aikin; landing and swamp in Chesterfield County, Virginia, named for the late owner, Albert Aikin.

Ainsworth; town in Washington County, Iowa, named for D. H. Ainsworth, a civil engineer.

Ainsworth; station on the Union Pacific Railroad in Franklin County, Washington, named for J. C. Ainsworth, a prominent western railroad man.

Aitkin; county, and township and village in same county, in Minnesota, named for Samuel Aiken or Aitken, an old trapper and fur dealer.

Ajax; villages in Nevada and Santa Barbara counties, California, named for the Greek hero of Homer's Iliad.

Akron; town in Washington County, Colorado, and village in Erie County, New York, named from the city in Ohio.

Akron; city in Summit County, Ohio, which occupies the highest ground in the northern part of the State, and several other places so named on account of their elevation. A Greek word meaning "summit" or "peak."

Alabama; settlement in Fresno County, gulch in Inyo County, mine in Placer County, and township in Sacramento County, California, named from the State.

Alabama; State of the Union and a river in that State;

Alabama City; town in Etowah County, Alabama, named for an Indian tribe. Gatschet gives the meaning as "burnt clearing." Haines, in his "American Indian," gives "thicket clearer."

Alabaster; mount in Arkansas whose summit is composed of alabaster.

Alabaster; town in Eldorado County, California, named from the gypsum deposits in the vicinity.

Alabaster; post-office in Iosco County, Michigan, so named from its quarry of gypsum and manufactory of calcined plaster.

Alachua; county, and town in same county, in Florida. An Indian word, the meaning of which is variously interpreted as alachua savanna, "grassy, marshy plain." The name is of the Creek or Maskoki language.

Alamance; county and creek in North Carolina. The word is said to have been given by Germans, from Allamanca, who settled in the valley of the creek, which received the name first. Some authorities say it is of Indian origin.

Alameda; village in Clarke County, Alabama, county, and city in same county, in California, and town in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. A Spanish word, meaning "poplar grove," or, in the ordinary use of the word, a "promenade."

Alamitos; town in Santa Clara County, and beach in Los Angeles County, California. A Spanish word meaning "little poplars."

Alamo; Post-office in Contra Costa County, California, and many other places, named from the old fort in Texas, which was so called from a grove of cottonwood trees. A Spanish word meaning "poplar" or "cottonwood."

Alamogordo; city in Otero County, New Mexico. A Spanish word meaning "large poplar" or "large cottonwood."

Alamoosook; pond in Hancock County, Maine, near Orland. An Indian word meaning "little dog place."

Alamosa; town in Conejos County and stream in Colorado. The stream was named by the early Spanish explorers, the town taking its name from the stream. A Spanish word, meaning "shaded with elms," though cottonwood is the actual growth.

Alaqua; river and town in Walton County, Florida. An Indian word meaning "sweet gum."

Alaska; Territory of the United States. Possibly from the Esquimaux word álakshak peninsula.

Albany; township and village in Whiteside County, Illinois, county in Wyoming, and many other places, named from the city in New York.

Albany; county, and city in same county, in New York, named for the Duke of York, whose Scotch title was "Duke of Albany," afterwards James II of England.

Albemarle; town in Stanly County and sound in North Carolina, and county in Virginia, named for Gen. George Monk, Earl of Albemarle, one of the original proprietors.

Alberhill; railroad station and mine in Riverside County, California, named for the owners, Albers and Hill.

Albert Lea; lake in Freeborn County, Minnesota, named for Lieut. Albert M. Lea, who explored the "Blackhawk Purchase" and published an account of his explorations in 1836.

Albert Lea; city in Freeborn County, Minnesota, between two lakes, from one of which it derives its name.

Albertville; town in Marshall County, Alabama, named for the first settler.

Albina; village, now a part of Portland, Oregon, named for the wife of Judge Page, of Portland.

Albion; town in Kennebec County, Maine, and many other places named from the ancient name of England.

Albion Hills; village in Nevada County, California, the name being suggested by the white bluffs.

Albuquerque; city in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, named for the Spanish Duke of Albuquerque, who visited this spot in 1703-1710. . From the Latin, quercus albus meaning "white oak."

Alburg; town in Grand Isle County, Vermont, named for Gen. Ira Allen, one of the original grantees.

Alcalde; town in Fresno County, California. A Spanish word, meaning "judge."

Alcatraz; island and post-office in San Francisco County, California. A Spanish word, meaning "pelican."

Alcona; county, and post-office in same county, in Michigan. An Indian form, manufactured by Schoolcraft, meaning "unknown."

Alcorn; county in Mississippi, named for James L. Alcorn, governor of the State in 1870-71.

Alden; town in Hardin County, Iowa, named for Henry Alden, who settled there in 1864.

Alden; town in Erie County, New York, named by one of its citizens for his wife's mother.

Alderson; town in Monroe County, West Virginia, named for Rev. John Alderson, pioneer settler

Aldie; town in Loudoun County, Virginia, named from the village in Italy.

Aledo; city in Mercer County, Illinois, named by the first settler from Aledo in Spain.

Aleutian; islands in the Pacific Ocean. A derivation of the Russian word aleaut, meaning "bald rock."

Alexander; county in Illinois, named for Dr. William M. Alexander, a pioneer.

Alexander; village in Morgan County, Illinois, named for John T. Alexander, a prominent landowner.

Alexander; village in Genesee County, New York, named for Alexander Rea, first settler and State senator.

Alexander; county in North Carolina, named for several prominent citizens: William J. Alexander, State solicitor; Gov. Nathaniel Alexander, and J. McNitt Alexander, secretary of the Mecklenburg Congress.

Alexander; lake in Connecticut, named for Nell Alexander, who was owner of a large tract in the town of Killingly, Connecticut.

Alexandria; town in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, named for Alexander Futton, one of the original proprietors, and a benefactor of the town.

Alexandria; township and village in Douglas County, Minnesota, named for Alexander Kincaid, a pioneer settler.

Alexandria; village in Thayer County, Nebraska, named for S. J. Alexander, secretary of state.

Alexandria; town in Jefferson County, New York; named for Alexander Le Ray, son of J. D. Le Ray, who fell in a duel in 1836.

Alexandria; county, and city in same county, in Virginia, named for a prominent family of early settlers.

Alexandria Bay; bay and village in Jefferson County, New York; named for Alexander Le Ray.

Alexis; village in Warren County, Illinois, named for the crown prince of Russia at the time it was founded.

Alford; town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, named for Hon. John Alford, of Charlestown.

Alfordsville; village in Daviess County, Indiana, named for James Alford, who built the first house.

Alfred; towns in York County, Maine, and Allegheny County, New York, named for King Alfred the Great, of England.

Algansee; township and post-office in Branch County, Michigan. An Indian form manufactured by Schoolcraft, from Ojibwa roots, and intended to signify "Algonquin Lake."

Alger; county in Michigan, and village in Hardin County, Ohio, named for Hon. Russell A. Alger, Secretary of War during President McKinley's administration.

Algodones; villages in San Diego County, California, and Sandoval County, New Mexico. A Spanish word, meaning "cotton plants."

Algoma; city in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, and places in several other States. An Indian word formed by Schoolcraft from Algonquin and auke, meaning "Algonquin waters."

Algona; city in Kossuth County, Iowa, and post-office in Jefferson County, New York. An Indian word, probably meaning the same as Algoma, "Algonquin waters."

US Place Names

Source: The Origin of Certain Place Names the United States, Second Edition, Henry Gannett, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1906.