Toad Suck voted worst town name in America (and there's quite a few)
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The town is located in Arkansas, and was voted to have the most unfortunate name in a global poll carried out by family history website findmypast.com.
So where does the name come from? According to toadsuck.org: "Long ago, steamboats traveled the Arkansas River when the water was at the right depth. When it wasn't, the captains and their crew tied up to wait where the Toad Suck Lock and Dam now spans the river. While they waited, they refreshed themselves at the local tavern there, to the dismay of the folks living nearby, who said: "They suck on the bottle 'til they swell up like toads." Hence, the name Toad Suck." Gotcha.
Around 2,000 people from seven English speaking countries, including the UK, Ireland, Canada and South Africa, were polled, and Toad Suck just beat Climax in Georgia to claim the title.
Boring in Oregon came third, while fourth and fifth place were claimed by Hooker in Oklahoma, and Assawoman in Maryland.
Number six was Belchertown in Massachusetts, while Roachtown, Illinois was seventh.
The eighth spot went to Loveladies in New Jersey, while Squabbletown in California was ninth and Monkey's Eyebrow in Kentucky was 10th.
But there are lots of other great (or should we terrible?) town names in the US that didn't even make the list, including Who'd Thought It in Texas and, one of our personal favourites, Elephant Butte in New Mexico.
Josh Taylor, genealogist and spokesperson for the website, told the Daily Mail: "If there were an Olympics for unlikely town-names, America would surely be good for a medal, if not the gold."
If you like silly town names, you're sure to like silly signposts, too:
Silly signposts spotted by travellers
- Too much information!<p> This sign comes in very handy if you need to know how to get to Egypt while you're driving through Buckinghamshire.</p>
- Spot the hidden penguin<p> We've heard of cats resting under cars but never thought we'd have to check for penguins...</p>
- Way to go?<p> We're glad we've never come across a mind-boggling sign like this on our travels!</p>
- You could be waiting a while...<p> Yes, this is a warning that snails are crossing the road near Westport on the west coast South Island, New Zealand. </p>
- Drive-thru to God<p> There's a 'better than nothing' approach to this Baptist Church sign at Homer Street and Macon Road in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.</p>
- Deer me!<p> Apparently there are some pretty aggressive deer in the mountains of Waterton, Alberta, Canada. Maybe give this place a steer...?</p>
- Waddle warning<p> Never mind the aggressive mountain deer, you've got to keep your eyes out for ducks crossing the road in Alberta, Canada , too!</p>
- Don't be tempted!<p> If you're looking for somewhere to explode your vehicle, just don't do it here, as it's not permitted.</p>
- Superheroes beware<p> Don't go thinking you can rescue anyone in these parts...</p>
- Don't even think about it!<p> This forbidding sign, spotted outside St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Madison, Wisconsin, USA, won't bring in much of a congregation</p>
- You what?<p> Does this one get the prize for being the most unhelpful sign of all???????</p>
- If I told you once, I told you four times...<p> Just in case you're in any doubt: you can't park here.</p>
- No laughing at the natives<p> This sign in Idaho, USA makes us hope the natives don't try to make us laugh!</p>
- Tell us something we don't know!<p> Possibly the last sign you want to see when you've missed a turn-off. Unless you need directions for the tiny hamlet of Lost, 40 miles west of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.</p>
- No Dumbos allowed<p> You'll have to leave your elephant behind if you're driving through Beijing...</p>
- Highly strung<p> Do not, under any circumstances, get the silly string out when you're here. We realise it's tempting but the penalties are harsh.</p>
- Too little too late?<p> This sign was snapped in County Fermanagh,when the Lough Erne river burst its banks.</p>
- Cute or what?<p> This is New Zealand's version of a pelican crossing.</p>
- Just in case you were thinking of it...<p> This No Parking sign, miles from nowhere, was spotted along Prairie Chapel Road leading to President Bush's ranch near Crawford, Texas. The signs were placed for security while the president was at his 1,600-acre ranch outside town.</p>
- Double take<p> Just make sure you pick the right sign or you'll end up all confused...</p>
- Time for a U-turn?<p> This electronic road sign in Austin, Texas, was intended to warn motorists of construction near the intersection of Lamar and Martin Luther King boulevards were changed by hackers to give a deeper message.</p>
- Way to exterminate<p> If you're looking for daleks (and who isn't?), you've come to the right place. This sign led the public to a Dr Who exhibition held at Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales.</p>
- Keep right - or left?<p> Does this sign want us to keep left or right? Confusing!</p>
- You think?<p> A leaning road sign in Glastonbury, Somerset practices what it preaches by demonstrating the message it's trying to get across.</p>
- Cyclists only?<p> We're guessing this road in Spain is just for cyclists and pedestrians to enter!</p>
- Watch the camels!<p> Camels? In the desert? Who would have thought? Thanks for the warning though!</p>
- To the cemetery? Or a dead end?<p> Neither of these signs sound very appealing. Which would you choose?</p>
- Pigs trotting<p> An animal sanctuary in California lets visitors know about its pig zone. We like the cute one at the back!</p>
- Really?<p> No, Prat Communal is actually a place in the Mid-Pyrenees, France. Glad you don't live there?</p>
- Take your pick<p> We reckon this confusing sign, photographed in London, is likely to have caused more accidents than it prevented...</p> <p> </p>
- The road to nowhere?<p> Not an end in sight...</p>
- Yes, we kind of worked that one out<p> Ooops - looks like this sign is going to disappear underwater..</p>
- Don't drive over the snails
- Who's got left and right muddled up?
- Just in case you're caught short...
- Don't go any further
- Beware of snowmobiles...<p> How many can there be in the desert in Baja, California?</p>
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