Welcome to Wolf Hole, Arizona – Population Zero
Every state has its share of bizarre city and town names. In Michigan, where I live, you could visit Bad Axe, Colon, Climax, Hell or Jugville. Arizona, however, has always been a hot bed for strange and interesting names for its rivers, canyons, towns and cities.
Locations named by indigenous people aside, here is a list of 18 of the standout names from the Grand Canyon State. If I’m able to, I will list the story behind the name.
1. Bagdad, Buckshot, and Bumble Bee
Bagdad (Population 1,932)
While some people believe that Bagdad is simply a misspelling of the Iraqi capital, legend would have you believe something different. In the town’s early days of copper mining a father and son were working a small mine together. The boy would load ore into bags that his father had dug up. When one bag was full he would ask his dad for another. “Can I have another bag… dad?”
Buckshot (Population 7)
Buckshot refers to the pellet size in shotgun shells. It is commonly used for hunting large game, such as deer, hence the name “buck” shot. I have to assume that in the days before only seven people lived there, hunting was common.
Bumble Bee (Population 0)
Bumble Bee was established in 1863 and served as a stagecoach stop for the U.S. Cavalry. Legend has it that it was given its name due to the large number of indigenous people in the area. “Thick as bumblebees”. It is now considered to be a Ghost Town.
2. Chloride, Happy Jack, and Mexican Water
Chloride (Population 229)
The name Chloride came from the silver chloride found in the hills. Silver chloride is used in photographic emulsions and antiseptic silver solutions. The town of Chloride is the oldest continuously inhabited mining town in the state of Arizona.
Happy Jack (Population 1004)
Originally called “Yellowjacket,” the name was quickly changed once it was realized that there were at least three other towns with the same name. It’s possible that the name came from a local lumberman who was always cheerful but one newspaper report claims that the Coconino National Forest Supervisor Ronald Rotty named the town after an area of Wyoming where a bandit named Happy Jack committed crimes.
Mexican Water (Population 933)
All but seven of Mexican Water’s inhabitants are Navajo. A trading post was established in 1907 under the name Nokaita but it’s believed that the current name came from an abundance of wells that have since disappeared.
3. Miami, Nothing, and Planet
Miami (Population 1538)
Aside from the heat, Arizona’s ‘Miami’ doesn’t have much in common with Florida’s version. Apparently a group of immigrants moved in from Miami, Ohio, and wanted to name the new area after their old territory. How much do Arizona and Ohio’s ‘Miami’ have in common. Absolutely nothing… speaking of nothing…
Nothing (Population 0)
An old town sign used to read, “Town of Nothing Arizona. Founded 1977. Elevation 3269ft.
The staunch citizens of Nothing are full of Hope, Faith, and Believe in the work ethic. Thru-the-years-these dedicated people had faith in Nothing, hoped for Nothing, worked at Nothing, for Nothing.“
At its peak, the town had four citizens living in it. Locals told travelers it “got named by a bunch of drunks.”
Planet (Population 0)
Planet is now considered to be a Ghost Town. History on the name is not readily available. The geology of the area around Planet is made up of Precambrian material. The Precambrian era is the earliest part of Earth’s history. Planet’s bedrock is made up of gneiss, limestone, and amphibolite.
4. Santa Claus, Show Low, and Snowflake
Santa Claus (Population 0)
In the mid 1930’s, Nina Talbot and her husband moved from Los Angeles, CA to Kingman, AZ. Nina worked in real estate and the couple planned on operating a motel. In 1937 they purchased property fourteen miles northwest of Kingman. The property sat in the middle of 80-acres of undeveloped land.
Her vision for the land was a resort town all centering on the idea of Santa Claus and the North Pole. The main portion, which was as far as she would get, would become Santa Claus, Arizona.
You can read my article on Santa Claus, Arizona Here.
Show Low (Population 12,056)
Show Low is named after a marathon poker game between two early settlers, Clark and Cooley, in the late 19th century. The game seemed to have no winner, so Clark said, “If you can show low, you win”. Cooley turned up the deuce of clubs and replied, “Show low it is”.
Snowflake (Population 6,524)
Snowflake was founded in 1878. The founders, Apostle Erastus Snow and Mormon land agent William Flake combined their last names.
5. So-Hi, Strawberry, and Surprise
So-Hi (Population 428)
Drugs? Elevation? No one seems to know for sure how the town of So-Hi got its name.
Strawberry (Population 961)
The area around Strawberry saw its first wave of settlers around 1875. Due to the abundance of wild strawberries that grew in the area, it was decided that Strawberry would be the most appropriate name. The Strawberry Schoolhouse was established in 1885. Adorable.
Surprise (Population 143,148)
The largest population on our list, by a wide margin, Surprise was founded in 1938 by Flora Mae Statler. Statler was the daughter of another Arizona pioneer, Charles Gillett who helped found Glendale. Modern records often state that Statler named her land Surprise as she “would be surprised if the town ever amounted to much,” with her daughter backing this claim.
6. Three Way, Tuba City, and Why
Three Way (Population ?)
Searching for information on Three Way doesn’t lead to much (unless I turn safe-search off). The name’s spicy meaning aside, Three Way was likely named for the intersection of U.S. Route 191 and state routes 75 and 78.
Tuba City (Population 8,072)
Tuba City was named after the Hopi chief, Tuuvi. In Hopi, the name Tuuvi means “pine tree”.
As the Mormons arrived in the area, Chief Tuuvi guided The newcomers around the area. The Mormon pioneers had trouble pronouncing his name, so “Tuuvi” became “Tuba”.
Why (Population 167)
The town of Why lies on the western border of the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation. At the time of the naming there was a Y-intersection that ran through town. In those days, state law required that each city name have at least three letters. Since they couldn’t name the town ‘Y’, they went with the full spelling.
Did I miss any of your favorites?
Let me know in the comments below.
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