How does a town name effect what you think of it

[Uffda]

Also, the name "Falls" incorporated into the city name gives it that almost refreshing ring

Right, The word falls does give a nice outdoorsy feel to it.

Thank you two for the good laugh this morning.

[RockHarbor]

Are you being sarcastic or agreeing with us? Whatever the case, the word "FALLS" in a city name does give a refreshing, outdoorsy feel. I don't care what anybody says.

IDAHO FALLS, ID
GREAT FALLS, MT
CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI
NIAGARA FALLS, NY

All sound beautiful and refreshing and outdoorsy and energetic and alluring.

[RockHarbor]

Right, The word falls does give a nice outdoorsy feel to it. Like it might be a pretty place with low crime and clean crisp air.

EXACTLY. It always is a lovely name...

[Uffda]

Are you being sarcastic or agreeing with us? Whatever the case, the word "FALLS" in a city name does give a refreshing, outdoorsy feel. I don't care what anybody says.

IDAHO FALLS, ID
GREAT FALLS, MT
CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI
NIAGARA FALLS, NY

All sound beautiful and refreshing and outdoorsy and energetic and alluring.

Neither. I was being truthful...your comments made me laugh.

[Omababe]

Whatever the case, the word "FALLS" in a city name does give a refreshing, outdoorsy feel. I don't care what anybody says.

Falls City?

[Padre]

Are you being sarcastic or agreeing with us? Whatever the case, the word "FALLS" in a city name does give a refreshing, outdoorsy feel. I don't care what anybody says.

IDAHO FALLS, ID
GREAT FALLS, MT
CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI
NIAGARA FALLS, NY

All sound beautiful and refreshing and outdoorsy and energetic and alluring.

Niagra Falls makes me think of people in the early 20th century running off to go on a honeymoon. Kind of a Vegas before the airplane was popular.

[RockHarbor]

Are you being sarcastic or agreeing with us? Whatever the case, the word "FALLS" in a city name does give a refreshing, outdoorsy feel. I don't care what anybody says.

IDAHO FALLS, ID
GREAT FALLS, MT
CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI
NIAGARA FALLS, NY

All sound beautiful and refreshing and outdoorsy and energetic and alluring.

Neither. I was being truthful...your comments made me laugh.

I'm glad I made you laugh. Here's more to giggle & chuckle about: The sky is blue. Grass is green. (Lol...kidding) Falls City: Thats not quite the same, as it doesnt necessarily suggest flowing, splashing water when "falls" isn't listed second. Niagara Falls: Sure, it kinda makes me think of that, too. Yet, people aren't mostly drawn to Niagara Falls because of honeymooners in eras past. Along w/ touristy attractions, they are drawn for the same reason people drive into Yellowstone, and make sure to stop & see the large Yellowstone Falls. The natural wonder of nature is fascinating, alluring, refreshing. Who doesnt like a waterfall? And, Sioux Falls does have a ring to it that "Omaha" and "Des Moines" and "Wichita" doesnt have. Its a similar ring you have with "Cedar Rapids" and "Coon Rapids." Its a ring more natural & rugged, and refreshing. Anyways, Im not arguing something that is so obvious. P.S. Notice flat states like Florida dont have any "falls" towns/cities that come to mind? The word "falls" means something, and conveys something to the senses. (Uffda: Growing up in Omaha, I admit I didnt know Sioux Falls even had a waterfall downtown. The word "falls" is common enough, that I didnt stop to think about the fact that "falls" actual meant something real. After visiting Sioux Falls and places like Idaho Falls, and seeing/feeling the rushing, splashing waterfall downtown, I now take the word "falls" seriously in a city's name. Maybe you dont have that awareness I now have? I'm considering you're likely like how I was growing up, where the word "falls" doesnt necessarily make you feel anything, nor its not something that you really think about.)

[Omaha Cowboy]

In going with the current flow of discussion- Does “Grand Rapids” also elicit an outdoorsy and or refreshing feeling that some of you have expressed for cities in SD, Idaho and New York state etc ...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[Coyote]

You left out Cedar Falls, home of the University of Northern Iowa.
Or Cedar Rapids, home of Coe College, who will play Creighton this Thursday.

[Uffda]

Maybe you dont have that awareness I now have? I'm considering you're likely like how I was growing up, where the word "falls" doesnt necessarily make you feel anything, nor its not something that you really think about.)

This more interesting all the time... and makes less and less sense.

I am quite sure the early settlers of Sioux Falls didn’t use the word Falls in their newly incorporated town because it gave the village a ‘refreshing, warm homey feel’. They named it based on the history of the falls and the Native Americans that were around there.

Also for the record, I have know of the falls of the Sioux River probably long before you visited.

[Uffda]

In going with the current flow of discussion- Does “Grand Rapids” also elicit an outdoorsy and or refreshing feeling that some of you have expressed for cities in SD, Idaho and New York state etc ...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Let’s not forget Dell Rapids and Rock Rapids.

[Cermak]

Idaho Falls sounds fantastic, standing by a stream with a fly fishing pole and a open bottle of Rum.

[Omaha Cowboy]

In going with the current flow of discussion- Does “Grand Rapids” also elicit an outdoorsy and or refreshing feeling that some of you have expressed for cities in SD, Idaho and New York state etc ...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Let’s not forget Dell Rapids and Rock Rapids.

How in the world could I have forgotten those? ...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[Omaha Cowboy]

You left out Cedar Falls, home of the University of Northern Iowa.
Or Cedar Rapids, home of Coe College, who will play Creighton this Thursday.

Dang. I deserve a “:head slap” for forgetting those two in Iowa.. So there are many cities now listed in this thread which give people that outdoorsy and refreshing feeling.. Who would have known? ...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[Padre]

This is beginning to remind me of the old commercials for Irish Spring soap. I guess now we know why they used the word “spring.”

[RockHarbor]

Maybe you dont have that awareness I now have? I'm considering you're likely like how I was growing up, where the word "falls" doesnt necessarily make you feel anything, nor its not something that you really think about.)

This more interesting all the time... and makes less and less sense.

I am quite sure the early settlers of Sioux Falls didn’t use the word Falls in their newly incorporated town because it gave the village a ‘refreshing, warm homey feel’. They named it based on the history of the falls and the Native Americans that were around there.

Also for the record, I have know of the falls of the Sioux River probably long before you visited.

Well, duh, I'm sure you're correct -- no I'm certain you are. But, that still doesn't exclude the fact that towns with the name "falls" or "rapids" or "springs" have that certain ring to them. (I'm sure using the name "Kingston Falls" in the movie "Gremlins" was chosen to give their town a homey, warm American feel to it. I'm sure Jack in the movie Titanic being from "Chippewa Falls, WI" was chosen to make it sound like an "American boy from a warm & traditonal all-American hometown" far from home, on the Ireland-originating liner.) In fact, using any element of the outdoors or nature, even "field" (as in "Springfield" or "Mayfield"), give a certain feeling. Why are you even arguing this? The "Irish Spring" soap example is perfect (thanks for that). That refreshing & natural element/feel I speak of is exactly why they named that product with that particular name. It's all so obvious.

[RockHarbor]

Idaho Falls sounds fantastic, standing by a stream with a fly fishing pole and a open bottle of Rum.

You could probably fly fish. It is a great waterfall off their downtown. Ive been there before. I need to Google "Great Falls" and "Chippewa Falls" to see their waterfall.

[nebugeater]

Well since this is already off track and we now know how many people feel when visiting an outdoors named town how do some of these make you feel?


Greasy Oklahoma
Screamer Alabama
Smackover Arkansas
Toast North Carolina
Conception Junction Missouri
Starvation Heights Oregon
Hard Scratch Iowa
Pee Pee Ohio
Hazard Nebraska

[Uffda]

Well since this is already off track and we now know how many people feel when visiting an outdoors named town how do some of these make you feel?


Greasy Oklahoma
Screamer Alabama
Smackover Arkansas
Toast North Carolina
Conception Junction Missouri
Starvation Heights Oregon
Hard Scratch Iowa
Pee Pee Ohio
Hazard Nebraska

[Omababe]

Pee Pee Ohio

[nebugeater]

Pee Pee Ohio

IF you spend too much time there then you will likely end up in Conception Junction Missouri

[RockHarbor]

Well since this is already off track and we now know how many people feel when visiting an outdoors named town how do some of these make you feel?


Greasy Oklahoma
Screamer Alabama
Smackover Arkansas
Toast North Carolina
Conception Junction Missouri
Starvation Heights Oregon
Hard Scratch Iowa
Pee Pee Ohio
Hazard Nebraska

Well, good point IF those names gave a natural, outdoorsy feel. But, they don't. Does "Brick, NJ"? Does "Grimes, IA?" (Like your list, they are unique names, but they don't -- therefore they dont oppose my point.) Look, some of us enjoy writing and creative writing, and I always have. And, if I were writing a book or script, and wanted to pick a town name that sounded All-American, warm and traditional, OR outdoorsy and refreshing, I would pick a town name like "______ Falls" or "Rapids" or "River" or "Springs", ect. Maybe some of you just don't "get it" because you think differently and are not oriented as a "writer" -- that's all. I could look into more movies & books to PROVE my point. "Dantes Peak" comes to mind. "Peak" is a natural feature. It sounds outdoorsy & refreshing & natural & scenic. It is a good name for a town sitting below a volcano. The writers could have chosen any name, but they chose an appropriate one. Anyways, point (more then enough) made here.

[GenX]

Well since this is already off track and we now know how many people feel when visiting an outdoors named town how do some of these make you feel?


Greasy Oklahoma
Screamer Alabama
Smackover Arkansas
Toast North Carolina
Conception Junction Missouri
Starvation Heights Oregon
Hard Scratch Iowa
Pee Pee Ohio
Hazard Nebraska

Colon Nebraska

[Uffda]

This post probably should be on top to be the lead into this discussion.

[RockHarbor]

When I was moving out here, and I saw "I-80 West: Reno" at freeway interchanges in Salt Lake City, I kept thinking "Why is that just a perfect name for a city of Nevada?" I went to school as a kid w/ somebody with that last name, and I had read Reno was named after a person in history. Yet, that didn't answer my question. On my long drive from that point, I had time to think about it. Brushing it off, I later concluded it was because it rhymes with "Casino" and "Keno." It's almost sounds like "Keno, Nevada" or "Casino, Nevada." It's also a name I hear in Western movies -- either because the city is mentioned, or a character is named that. So, it sounds western. It also has a fun ring, kinda of like "Rio." So, it is a great city name for a "glitter gulch" town out in the West -- like "glitter gulch" Las Vegas. Its almost strange how the perfect names landed on cities.

[GrandpaaSmucker]

When I was moving out here, and I saw "I-80 West: Reno" at freeway interchanges in Salt Lake City, I kept thinking "Why is that just a perfect name for a city of Nevada?" I went to school as a kid w/ somebody with that last name, and I had read Reno was named after a person in history. Yet, that didn't answer my question. On my long drive from that point, I had time to think about it. Brushing it off, I later concluded it was because it rhymes with "Casino" and "Keno." It's almost sounds like "Keno, Nevada" or "Casino, Nevada." It's also a name I hear in Western movies -- either because the city is mentioned, or a character is named that. So, it sounds western. It also has a fun ring, kinda of like "Rio." So, it is a great city name for a "glitter gulch" town out in the West -- like "glitter gulch" Las Vegas. Its almost strange how the perfect names landed on cities.

About 10 yrs ago I was in a 12 man fantasy football league on the internet where the champion got a lousy $600 at the end of the season. I was going to win the league for sure until some lowlife guy who lived in Reno teamed up with another player at the very end to cheat me. That guy would of lied, killed or raped my mother to win that league. That got me half jokingly wondering if those folks out in Reno were not a tough breed!

[RockHarbor]

Well, there are plenty of nice & great people here... BUT: Overall, people seem a bit ruder and more out-for-themselves here, than Omaha (including drivers, parking, holding doors, ect.). I immediately noticed after arriving here. This is a combo of NV & CA manners & cultures here. However, on average, Omaha & Lincoln probably are one of the nicest peopled cities around, so most cities would probably seem ruder than Omaha. (For example, the public of Memphis seemed fairly rude when I was there, hitting me like a whiff of bad air.) Sometimes, with the high sagebrush desert culture & big fat trucks & people wearing jeans & flanels & wooly hats, its almost a little too "Laramie, WY" feeling here for my personality sometimes, especially in Carson City and towns outside of Reno -- but I still like it well enough. Up at nearby Lake Tahoe, it is a summer & winter playground that is very touristy & sportsy -- a whole different culture & world. (Locals here dont generally make a big deal about the lake, and plenty here dont go up to it for years even. It baffles me, yet I understand, too -- as it is becoming less & less of a big deal to me even. Yet, there boats, kayaks, and RVs & campers around town, so I know some do appreciate & enjoy it.) Reno is more & more "Californianized." Because the Bay Area is getting more & more expensive & unaffordable, the Reno area is having a constant influx of Californians -- making it more expensive, and bringing their CA big city/fast-paced 'tudes around. Almost on the CA border, it feels like a touch of Northern CA, flashy neon Las Vegas, and dry & rustic ID (or maybe WY) blended together, imo. Its a tad closer to Boise, ID than Las Vegas. Some people say Reno is not truly Nevada. I can see why. It sits on the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada chain, only about 10 miles from the CA border, so it gets a little more rain, thus is not as bone dry & barren as the rest of Nevada. Yet, still very dry & hot. Elevation around 4500. Evenings cool down. Snowflakes can be seen even into June, the mountains to the west make the evening's light come to a close sooner, and the summers noticably quicker & shorter -- much like Denver. I like summers longer, honestly... And, it doesnt have the exciting summer storms the Midwest can get, but you can get thunder & lightning here once in awhile in late summer -- just like Denver. Funny, the high elevation affects me in mile high Denver (5,280 ft), making me want to live lower, but not here (4500 ft), and Ive since learned the negative effects on humans from high elevation generally begin around 5,000 feet on up. Maybe thats why people are strangely snotty in Denver? They probably need more air, and are suffering from dehydration, causing crabiness. (When first out here, I actually kept the green & skyscraper-studded & very urban Midwest cities up as screensavers. I did miss "my Midwest cities", and still miss things about them -- or I wouldnt be here.)

[ScrattyB]

How does a town name effect what I think of it?

It doesn't. It's just the name of a town. I just learned there are water falls in Sioux Falls last year.
People give dumb names to things all the time, so to me it's nothing, just an identifier.

[RockHarbor]

So, because it means nothing, you wouldnt mind buying a house in a subdivsion called "Toxic Dump Phase II" or "Rat's Nest" over "Falcon's Landing" or "Cherrywood Park?" Interesting.

[GetUrban]

So, because it means nothing, you wouldnt mind buying a house in a subdivsion called "Toxic Dump Phase II" or "Rat's Nest" over "Falcon's Landing" or "Cherrywood Park?" Interesting.

Toad Suck, Arkansas would be a much larger city than Little Rock, had it not been for the name. The name Little Rock is kind of limiting too, admittedly.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

I've thought about this in terms of Chicago and its suburbs. Nearly every prefix or suffix you could possibly think common in American town naming has been used multiple times and there's no correlation to which are used for nice towns and which for not so nice towns. For example:

You got your 'villes: Naperville - wealthy and sophisticated. Merrilville and Romeoville? - Meh.

Your Parks: Oak Park and Highland Park - very nice; Melrose Park and Bedford Park - Meh

Your Oaks: Oak Park and Oak Brook - nice; Oak Lawn, Oak Forest, Oakbrook Terrace - meh

Your Heights: Arlington Heights - nice; Glendale Heights - meh

You even have your reversals: Forest Park - nice, Park Forest - meh.

I could go on, that's not nearly an exhaustive list, but you get the point.

Then you also get the places with very nice sounding names that are meh (Hoffman Estates) and the places with meh sounding names that are uber nice (Glencoe).

This carries over to neighborhoods within Chicago too. Bucktown - sounds lame, is rather wealthy and sophisticated. Garfield Park - sounds pleasant but is quite the opposite.

[RockHarbor]

Yes, as you guys helped point out: Although a place's name doesnt mean everything to everybody, it does mean something to many (or maybe most) people. (I think fictional books/movies show this. The author/screenwriter often picks a name that appropriately works. "Dantes Peak" or "Planet Vulcan" or "Smallville", ect. That shows the importance that exists right there.) P.S. I like the name "Little Rock", although not the most favorable name for a big city. That "toad" town name is awful...

[RockHarbor]

"Tony & I are so excited! We chose our new plan, and we signed the papers today. We are building our new dream home in CESS POOL, that big new subdivision going in north of Gretna. I just think that name has such a pretty ring... I just love the water." Other Couple: (Standing there speechless) Just driving my point home even more... haha. Names of places DO matter -- of course.