Austin's local antics might make you scratch your head, but nothing is as weird as these little Texas towns. From Nimrod to Hogeye, Texas has some quirky places. These seven towns near Austin have the strangest names you'll ever see.
1. Ding Dong
This tiny unincorporated community sits just outside of Killeen in -- you guessed it -- Bell Country. This small town got its name from Zulius Bell and his nephew, Bert.
2. Oatmeal
Oatmeal, Texas wasn't named after a love of healthy breakfast foods. Historians are divided as to why this town has such a funny name. Some believe it was inspired by local gristmill owner Mr. Othneil. Others say it came from Habermill, a German dialect word for oats. Regardless, the town has really leaned in to its unusual title. Every year, the nearby town of Bertram hosts an exciting oatmeal festival.
3. Cut and Shoot
You can't get any more Texas than this, y'all. Cut And Shoot is a small little town in Montgomery County and, according to legend, it has a colorful origin story. In 1912 a fight broke out, and the preacher was called to host a town meeting at the Community House. Instead, he went dancing at a nearby saloon. This caused a stir of controversy in the area and split the town into two sides: those who supported the preacher and those who didn't. A rowdy group of protesters surrounded the Community House and caused a fuss. The commotion scared a little boy who said he was going to cut around the corner and shoot through the bushes. No one was hurt in the squabble, but the name "Cut and Shoot" stuck.
4. DISH
If you think this would be a really great advertising opportunity, you're not wrong. This Denton County town used to be called Clark, but in 2005 they were presented with an offer they couldn't refuse. The DISH Network offered residents 10 years of free satellite services if they changed the name. How would you feel about the switch?
5. Zipplerlandville, Texas
This teeny tiny town only has about 22 residents. If you want to know where they came up with this kooky name, you might have to take the 1.5 drive north of Austin to find out!
6. Dime Box
This Central Texas town got its name from the early settlers in the 1880s. The townsfolk kept a small box near Jones's Brown Mill. When people needed to mail a letter, they would place their envelope inside and include a dime for fees. The residents worked out a type of honor system where everyone took turns taking the mail to Caldwell, Texas. Hopefully nobody would steal the dimes!
7. Nameless
After the post office denied the residents' town name requests, the locals decided to just call their hometown Nameless. This sounds like the punchline of a joke, but it's completely true. Venture to this Travis County town and see for yourself.
Looking for more kooky fun? These are the 8 weirdest places you can possibly go in Austin.
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