WEST VIRGINIA - Whether you are traveling from Maryland, crossing the border from Pennsylvania, or driving down from Ohio, you will quickly discover that West Virginia is home to some incredibly bizarre and surprisingly "raunchy" town names. While the Mountain State is famous for its breathtaking Appalachian scenery, deep coal mining history, and incredible outdoor recreation, whoever was in charge of naming its local municipalities clearly had a unique, and sometimes entirely unintentional, sense of humor.
From hilarious double entendres to slightly uncomfortable anatomical references, here is a look at the most unusual, head-scratching, and raunchy-sounding town names you will find scattered across West Virginia.
1. Booger Hole (Clay County)
You simply cannot discuss ridiculous West Virginia geography without starting with Booger Hole. Located deep in the wooded hollows of Clay County, this tiny community sounds like the punchline of an elementary school joke. However, its history is actually incredibly dark. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the area was notorious for a string of unsolved murders and brutal mob violence. According to local lore, the town's terrifying reputation led residents to call it a "booger" hole—an old Appalachian slang term for a boogeyman or a scary, haunted place. Today, it remains a quiet spot, but the legendary name still makes people giggle (and shiver).
2. Nutter Fort (Harrison County)
Located in Harrison County just south of Clarksburg, Nutter Fort features a name that sounds uncomfortably like crude modern slang. Despite the inevitable double-takes from out-of-state drivers passing through, the origin has absolutely nothing to do with anatomy. The town was actually named after the Nutter family—specifically brothers Thomas, Matthew, John, and Christopher Nutter. In 1772, they helped build a protective defensive bastion that became known as Nutter's Fort, offering local settlers sanctuary during regional conflicts. The original wooden fort is long gone, but the slightly suggestive name proudly lives on.
3. Bald Knob (Pocahontas County)
Situated high up in the Appalachian Mountains, Bald Knob is a geographic name that immediately raises eyebrows and practically invites cheeky double entendres. While it sounds like a highly suggestive anatomical reference, it is actually a very literal description of the local terrain. In Appalachian mapping terminology, a "knob" simply refers to a prominent, rounded mountain peak. Because this specific peak was historically stripped of its virgin red spruce during the intense logging booms of the early 20th century, it appeared entirely "bald" at the summit. Today, it is best known for its incredible scenic railway tours, even if the name draws a few laughs at the ticket counter.
4. Fraziers Bottom (Putnam County)
Down in the rural stretches of Putnam County, you will find the unincorporated community of Fraziers Bottom. While "bottom" jokes are an absolute staple of juvenile humor, the name is deeply rooted in practical geographic and historical facts. In traditional agriculture, "bottom" or "bottomland" simply refers to the low-lying, highly fertile land situated right next to a river. In the late 18th century, a family with the surname Frazier migrated to the area and settled right along the local riverbanks to farm. The name stuck, cementing a permanently amusing municipality into the West Virginia map.
5. Virginville (Brooke County)
Rounding out the list is Virginville, an unincorporated community located near the Pennsylvania border in Brooke County. It sounds like a ridiculous, slightly inappropriate destination from a teen comedy movie, but the reality is beautifully straightforward. Established as a local post office in 1907, the community simply derived its name from a loving nod to the state's namesake—Virginia. While the local post office officially shut its doors in 1973, the hilarious name still holds a permanent place on the local highway signs, ensuring decades of double-takes from anyone driving past.
