San Francisco may be an eccentric city, but if you're feeling the urge to travel this beautiful state, you'll discover some fascinating history in nearby towns that happen to have some very strange names. Let's take a look into some of these towns, from Weed to Rough and Ready.
1. Weed
This town name has nothing to do with what you think! Weed was actually named after Abner Weed, the founder of the local lumber mill. Weed is a city located in Siskiyou County.
2. Mormon Bar
Mormon Bar was settled during the Gold Rush. Mormons occupied the area around 1849, but now It is somewhat of a ghost town, and is listed on many maps and ghost town travel guides as such.
3. Rough and Ready
The first established settlement in Rough and Ready dates from 1849 by a mining company, known as the Rough and Ready Company. This is another California Gold Rush town.
4. Cool
Established in 1850, Cool has a marathon called The Way Too Cool 50 Kilometer.
5. French Camp
French Camp was also known as Castoria, named after "castor," the Latin word for "beaver," which reflects the town's central role in the California Fur Rush. Today, there is not much of a French influence in French Camp. Ha!
6. Nice
Nice was not intended to be called Nice. The town was originally called Clear Lake Villas, until Charles William Bayne renamed the place after his former hometown, Nice, France.
7. Chinese Camp
Chinese Camp was established in 1854 by Chinese Gold miners. At one point, there were wars between Chinese miners involving only knives. Today, it is a semi-ghost town easily accessible if you're visiting nearby Yosemite.
8. You Bet
You Bet is a small city in the Sierra Nevada foothills. According to legend, people asked about a proposed name, and one miner would reply, "You bet." After much drinking, the miners decided that You Bet sounded just right.
Did we miss any towns? Let us know. And, if you're interested in strange and weird things then check out The 10 Weirdest Places You Can Possibly Go In San Francisco.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!