16 Hilarious Texas Town Names Out-of-Staters (and Even Some Texas Natives) Would Never Guess Exist
Texas is known for doing things big. Big sky, big trucks, big personalities, and apparently, big creativity when it comes to naming towns.
From the quirky to the downright absurd, the Lone Star State is sprinkled with small towns and unincorporated communities whose names are hard for out-of-staters to believe are real.
But one thing’s for sure: Each name comes with a story, a bit of history, and a really big chuckle.
Dime Box
Dime Box is a town that sounds like it should come with a jukebox and a slice of pie.
This little community in Lee County got its name from an actual box that early settlers used to leave outgoing mail and dimes for postage.
Eventually, a post office was built, but the name stuck.
Dime Box is tiny, charming, and living proof that Texans will absolutely name a town after the most practical object in sight.
It may not cost a dime to visit, but the photo ops are priceless.
Cut and Shoot
No, it’s not the title of a Western. It’s a real Texas town.
Cut and Shoot sits outside of Conroe and got its name from a church dispute that nearly turned violent in 1912.
Legend says a young boy watching the scene declared he was going to “cut around the corner and shoot through the bushes.” Locals thought the phrase was catchy, and it somehow became the town’s official name.
Visitors might raise their eyebrows, but residents are used to it.
After all, nothing says small-town Texas like turning a near-riot into your town’s claim to fame.
Bug Tussle
There are a few Bug Tussles across the U.S., but Texas may have the most endearing one.
One of the most popular stories of how Bug Tussle got its name is that a swarm of bugs once disrupted a church ice cream social there.
The name stuck out of pure humor.
Can’t you just picture a bunch of Texans brushing off bugs and deciding, “Well, guess that’s our town name now”?
Ding Dong
Yes, really. There’s a town in Bell County, Texas, called Ding Dong.
It’s named after two early store owners, the Bell family, who hired a sign painter to create a sign for their general store. The artist added two bells and labeled them “Ding” and “Dong.”
Locals thought it was hilarious, and the name took off.
Ding Dong might not be big, but its name has turned it into a roadside legend. You can’t say you’ve done a proper Texas road trip without snapping a photo next to the sign.
Earth
This one sounds like it should be the name of a planet, not a tiny Texas town. But Earth, Texas is very real.
Originally called Fairlawn, the town changed its name in the 1920s when the post office rejected the original for being too common.
The locals picked “Earth” instead, believing it to be a name no other place would dare try.
They were right. Earth remains a one-of-a-kind name with a population under 1,000. It’s not the center of the universe, but it might be the center of West Texas farming.
Nameless
Nameless, Texas, is either the result of a great joke or a terrible bureaucratic mess… maybe both.
The story goes that every name the residents submitted for their new post office was rejected by the U.S. Postal Service.
Frustrated, they finally said, “Fine. Just call it Nameless.” And that’s exactly what happened.
It’s hard not to appreciate the dry humor of a town that gave up on being unique and ended up more memorable than most.
Oatmeal
Yes, this unincorporated community is called Oatmeal. And yes, it absolutely leans into the name.
Located in Burnet County, Oatmeal hosts an annual Oatmeal Festival complete with oatmeal-themed food, games, and even a mascot.
The town’s name likely comes from a nearby German milling family named “Othmeal,” but it got anglicized over time.
Whatever the origin, it’s now a wholesome favorite among Texas town names.
And let’s be honest: Who wouldn’t want a bumper sticker that says “I ❤️ Oatmeal”?
Jot ‘Em Down
This one sounds like something your grandma would say when handing you a grocery list.
Jot ‘Em Down, Texas, was inspired by a popular radio comedy show from the 1930s called Lum and Abner.
The fictional store in the show was called the “Jot ‘Em Down Store,” and a local general store owner in Texas decided to name his own place after it.
Eventually, the surrounding area took on the same name. It’s a nod to simpler times when a pencil and notepad were all the technology a store needed.
Tarzan
You read that right. Tarzan, Texas, is out in the oil fields of Martin County.
Back in the 1920s, the unincorporated community’s first postmaster wanted a name that would stand out. He and his wife suggested “Tarzan” because they loved the books.
They submitted it, and somehow, it was approved.
Today, it’s little more than a crossroads with a name that makes passersby do a double-take. But hey, it’s still swinging strong.
Kermit
While this town wasn’t named after the frog, the connection is hard to ignore.
Kermit, Texas, was actually named for Kermit Roosevelt, the son of President Theodore Roosevelt.
But once The Muppet Show hit the airwaves, the town embraced the Kermit the Frog connection with open arms.
At one point, the local chamber of commerce even hosted Kermit-themed events. It may have presidential roots, but these days, it’s all about green.
Telephone
Before cell towers and before TikTok, there was a Texas town named Telephone.
When the community applied for a post office in the 1880s, all the names they wanted were already taken.
The general store happened to own the only telephone in town, so they submitted “Telephone” as a joke, and the name was approved.
It’s a small place, but the novelty never gets old. If nothing else, it makes for a great punchline when you say, “I’m heading to Telephone this weekend.”
Old Dime Box
Yes, it’s different from Dime Box. Old Dime Box was the original settlement.
When the railroad came through, the town picked up and moved a few miles to be closer to the tracks, creating “New” Dime Box.
But the old site didn’t disappear. It simply became “Old Dime Box,” and today, both exist just miles apart in Lee County.
It’s rare to find a town that spawned a sequel. Texas made it happen twice with a dime.
Notrees
Located in the Permian Basin, Notrees lives up to its name. There are, nearly literally, no trees.
The unincorporated community got its name in the 1940s when someone from the oil company noted the total absence of trees in the area. It was blunt.
It was accurate, and it stuck.
If you ever visit, don’t expect shade. But you will get a chuckle out of the sign welcoming you to a place that makes zero promises.
Muleshoe
Muleshoe isn’t a punchline. It’s a whole identity. This small city in West Texas proudly displays giant muleshoe sculptures, a museum, and even a mule named Ol’ Pete memorialized in bronze.
The name comes from a nearby ranch established in the 1800s, and the town embraced it with full Texas flair.
Muleshoe might sound silly at first, but the locals wear it like a badge of honor.
And honestly, it kind of grows on you.
Fluvanna
Fluvanna sounds like something you’d name a grandma in a children’s book, but it’s a real unincorporated community in Scurry County.
The name supposedly comes from Fluvanna County, Virginia.
But why it was chosen for Texas is still a bit of a mystery. Locals just rolled with it.
It may not be a big place, but it does make you smile. And sometimes that’s more than enough.
Zipperlandville
Try saying that three times fast. Zipperlandville might be the most fun town name in Texas.
Located in Falls County, this tiny community was named after the Zipperlen family, who founded a store there.
They didn’t just call it Zipperville. They added a few extra syllables for flair.
It’s a mouthful, but it’s memorable. And in a sea of Springfields and Fairviews, that counts for a lot.
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