Interesting Names

For Little Rock Public Radio, this is Dan Boice, with Naming Arkansas and curious and couriouser names.
As listeners will have gathered, most places in Arkansas and elsewhere are named for pretty standard reasons including natural features, religious devotion, famous politicians, and business leaders. But sometimes places pick up names based on less expected reasons, including famous battles fought elsewhere, local legends, pet names, mistakes on road signs, and even sports officials. And sometimes the reason behind a name, if it was ever known, is now long forgotten. Not that this stops people from concocting fun stories to explain the name, stories that sometimes defy belief or leave you scratching your head and thinking, “Really? We have a town named for that?” Join us as we explore some unexpected – and always interesting – ways that Arkansans have named places in the Natural State!
For the University of Arkansas at Monticello this is Dan Boice.