How Monkeys Eyebrow, KY was named!

Monkeys Eyebrow, KY has always been a mystery to me. After a lot of research, I have found that the name occurred from a legend. According to the legend, if you look down upon this area it looks like a monkey’s eyebrow. Okay, but what does a monkey’s eyebrow look like? I had visited the area last year to obtain further enlightenment. The town is located on a long eyebrow curve. I couldn’t find any mountains nearby so I couldn't look down on the town. After arriving home from my trip, I was still puzzled. Then one day I got an email from Joe! Joe has a farm at Monkey’s Eyebrow. Joe told me that the legend is correct but you need to take out your map and then look down at the town. I didn’t really get it until I looked closely at the map and then it hit me. Joe was right! The town is located next to the Ohio River. The way this river twists through this region it takes the shape of a monkeys face. And if monkeys do have eyebrows the location of the town is where an eyebrow should be. Take a look for yourself! Thanks Joe, I have slept much better after our conversation.
Anyway, there isn’t much left of the town but Joe’s farm is still there. But there is still one mystery left about the name of this town. Often Monkey’s Eyebrow is spelled without an apostrophe. Not to lose any more sleep, Joe and I have decided that back then maybe punctuation wasn’t such a big priority.By the way, Joe has a great web site that you need to check out. Thanks again Joe! http://www.monkeyseyebrow.org/.

Intercourse is just not the same today!

Intercourse, PA - The town was originally founded in 1754. It was known as Cross Keys after a tavern in the area. There are several unsubstantiated versions as to the origin of the name “Intercourse”. Some say the name described the long entrance to an old race track east of town. This stretch of road was first known as the “Entercourse”. By 1814, the name evolved into Intercourse. Another explanation suggests the name comes from two well known and traveled roads which crossed in the middle of the town. Today, the town is a well-known Amish settlement. Again, it is amazing how meanings of some names have changed and how we view them today.

ERROR!!!! Sorry, FLORIDA!

If some of you have read my book Hometown Revelations - Sometimes the author is wrong, or ill informed, or just probably a stupid guy from Kansas City.

Let's be perfectly clear: St. Augustine, Florida is the oldest community in the United States. Also, let's not forget about Jamestown, VA as the oldest English community.

Thanks to Albert in Florida!
Its people like Albert that have provided personal contributions to this blog and book that keep me going on this passionate subject of "how a community acquired its name".

Hey Albert, are there any other communites in Florida with great names and stories that we should know about?

It was an Accident, Maryland!

In the early 1700’s, George Deakins was given over 600 acres of land in this area by King George II of England. Deakins wanted to plat the land to establish a town. He hired two surveyors and instructed each of them to choose the best location for the town. Deakins and the town citizens studied the findings of both surveyors. To their surprise, each surveyor had chosen the same tree and area of land to plat for their new community. Deakins and the citizens exclaimed this must be an “accident”! Because of this coincidence, both Deakins and the citizens agreed that “accident” surely must be the name for their town. Shortly afterwards, the town became known as “Accident”. Throughout the evolution of naming America’s new towns we find fate, superstition or just plain accidents are responsible for the names of some of our communities.