This is a list of geographic acronyms and initialisms. That is, it's a list of the names of cities, towns, lakes, and other geographic places that are derived from acronyms.

Acronyms An acronym is a word or name formed from the initial components of a longer name or phrase. Acronyms are usually formed from the initial letters of words, as in ''NATO'' (''North Atlantic Treaty Organization''), but sometimes use syllables, as ...

are abbreviations formed by the initial letter or letters of the words that make up a multi-word term. For the most part, the geographic names in this list were derived from three or more other names or words. Those derived from only two names are usually considered

portmanteaus A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of wordsList of geographic portmanteaus. However, there are exceptions to this two/three rule in both lists, so it is more of a guideline than a hard-and-fast rule.

Regions

Countries

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 243 million people, and has the world's second-lar ...

— Punjab, Afghania, Kashmir, (I for pronunciation), Sindh, and BaluchisTAN, the northern provinces of

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...

. The name also means ''Land of the Pure'' in Urdu and Persian.

Provinces

* Malampa Province, Vanuatu — islands that make up the province: MALakula, AMbrym, PAama *

Penama Province Penama is one of the six provinces of Vanuatu, located in the northeast of the country and consisting of three major islands: * Ambae (or Aoba) * Maewo * Pentecost The name Penama is derived from the initial letters of PENtecost, Ambae and MA ...

, Vanuatu — islands that make up the province: PENtecost, Ambae, MAewo *

Tafea Province Tafea is the southernmost of the six provinces of Vanuatu. The name is an acronym for the five main islands that make up the province: Tanna, Aneityum, Futuna, Erromango and Aniwa. History Unlike the other provinces of Vanuatu, the territoria ...

, Vanuatu — five islands that comprise the province: Tanna, Aneityum, Futuna, Erromango and Aniwa

Other regions

Banzare Coast Banzare Coast (), part of Wilkes Land, is that portion of the coast of Antarctica lying between Cape Southard, at 122°05′E, and Cape Morse, at 130°10′E. This coast was spotted by the US Exploring Expedition in Feb. 1840. It was seen from t ...

, Wilkes Land, Antarctica — British–Australian–New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition *

Benelux The Benelux Union ( nl, Benelux Unie; french: Union Benelux; lb, Benelux-Unioun), also known as simply Benelux, is a politico- economic union and formal international intergovernmental cooperation of three neighboring states in western Europe: ...

— BElgium NEtherlands LUXembourg *

Calabarzon Calabarzon (), formally known as the Southern Tagalog Mainland, is an administrative region in the Philippines, designated as Region IV-A. The region comprises five provinces: Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, and Rizal; and one highly urba ...

— the Southern Tagalog Mainland region of the Philippines, comprising five provinces: CAvite, LAguna, BAtangas, Rizal, and QueZON * LoVeSe — three island groups in northern

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...

: LOfoten, VEsterålen, and SEnja, often used in relation to the political issue of oil extraction in the region. "LoVe" is also a common variation, referring to just Lofoten and Vesterålen. * Luzviminda — three island groups in the Philippines: LUZon, VIsayas, and MINDAnao * Mimaropa, Philippines — provinces comprising the Southwestern Tagalog Region: MIndoro (East and West), MArinduque, ROmblon and PAlawan *

NEPA The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a United States environmental law that promotes the enhancement of the environment and established the President's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). The law was enacted on January 1, 1970.Un ...

, a common nickname of NorthEastern PennsylvaniA * NOVA — NOrthern VirginiA * Shoshanguve, South Aftrica — SOtho, SHAngaan, NGUni and VEnda, the languages of the peoples relocated to this township *

Soccsksargen Soccsksargen (officially stylized in all caps; ), formerly known as Central Mindanao, is an administrative region of the Philippines, designated as Region XII. Located in south-central Mindanao, its name is an acronym that stands for the regio ...

, Philippines — administrative region: SOuth Cotabato, Cotabato City, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, SARangani and GENeral Santos City *

SOWEGA Southwest Georgia is a fourteen-county region in the U.S. state of Georgia. It has a 2010 census population of 496,433, and is the least populated region in Georgia, just slightly behind Southeast Georgia. Additionally, the area has historically ...

— SOuth WEst GeorgiA * TAG Corner — Tennessee Alabama Georgia

Populated places

Cities and towns

Places named after companies

Many of these places are former

company towns A company town is a place where practically all stores and housing are owned by the one company that is also the main employer. Company towns are often planned with a suite of amenities such as stores, houses of worship, schools, markets and re ...

. * Abanda, Alabama — Atlanta, Birmingham AND Atlantic Railroad * Alco, Louisiana — Alexandria Lumber COmpany *

Alcoa, Tennessee Alcoa is a city in Blount County, Tennessee, United States, south of Knoxville. Its population was 10,978 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Knoxville, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area. As its name suggests, Alcoa was the site of a lar ...

— ALuminum COmpany of America * Alpoca, West Virginia — ALpha POCAhontas Coal Company * Ameagle, West Virginia — AMerican EAGLE Colliery * Asco, West Virginia — Atlantic Smokeless COal Company *

Atco, Georgia Atco is a small unincorporated community on the northwestern side of Cartersville in southern Bartow County, Georgia, United States. There are numerous baseball and soccer complexes in the area, primarily along Sugar Valley and Cassville Roads, ma ...

— American Textile COmpany * Atco, New Jersey — Atlantic Transport COmpany * Ballico, California — BALLIntine COmpany *

Becco, West Virginia Becco is an unincorporated community in Logan County, West Virginia, United States. Becco is located on County Route 16 and Buffalo Creek, northeast of Man. Its population is included as part of the Amherstdale census-designated place A cen ...

— Bufalo Eagle Colliery COmpany * Cadomin, Alberta — CAnadian DOminion MINe * Calavo Gardens, California — CALifornia AVOcado Growers Association * Caldor, California — CALifornia DOoR Company * Calgro, California — CALifornia GROwers Wineries * Calpack, California — CALifornia PACKing Corporation * Calpet, Wyoming — CALifornia PETroleum Company * Calwa, California — CALifornia Wine Association *

Canora, Saskatchewan Canora is a town, located at the junction of highways No. Saskatchewan Highway 5, 5 and Saskatchewan Highway 9, 9 in east central Saskatchewan, about 50 km north of Yorkton. It is centrally located on the corners of four adjacent rural mun ...

— CAnadian NOrthern RAilway * Ceepeecee, British Columbia — either Canadian Packing Corporation or California Packing Corporation, or likely first Canadian, then California * Charmco, West Virginia — CHARleston Milling COmpany * Cimic, Illinois — Chicago Illinois Midland Railroad, Illinois Central Railroad * Cipsco Park, Illinois — Central Illinois Public Service COmpany * Cleo, Oregon — A backwards acronym for Oregon Export Lumber Company *

Clinchco, Virginia Clinchco is a town in Dickenson County, Virginia, Dickenson County, Virginia, United States. The town, formerly known as Moss, was named for both the Clinchfield Railroad and the Clinchfield Coal Corporation. The population was 337 at the 2010 Unit ...

— for both CLINCHfield Railroad and CLINCHfield Coal COrporation * Closplint, Kentucky — CLOver SPLINT Coal Company * Cofoco, West Virginia — COal FOrk COal Company, now known as Coal, West Virginia *

Colwich, Kansas Colwich is a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States, located northwest of Wichita. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,455. History Colwich was founded in 1887. The name is a portmanteau of Colorado and Wichita, o ...

— COLorado and WICHita Railroad Company * Cominco, Saskatchewan — COnsolidated MINing and Smelting COmpany * Copco, California — California Oregon Power COmpany * Cumbo, West Virginia — CUMberland Valley Railroad, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad *

Delanson, New York Delanson is a village in Schenectady County, New York, United States. The population was 377 at the 2010 census. Delanson is in the southeastern portion of the town of Duanesburg. Geography Delanson is located at (42.748640, -74.185222). Acco ...

— DELaware ANd HudSON Railroad * Domex, Saskatchewan — DOMe EXploration, Ltd. * Elco, Illinois — E. Levenworth and COmpany General Store (from the abbreviation "E. L. Co" stenciled on boxes in front of the store) *

Falco, Alabama Falco, also spelled Falko, is an unincorporated community in Covington County, Alabama, United States. The community lies entirely within the Conecuh National Forest. History The community's name is an acronym for the Florida-Alabama Land Compan ...

— Florida–Alabama Land COmpany * Gamerco, New Mexico — Gallup AMERican COal Company * Gimco City, Indiana — General Insulation and Manufacturing COmpany (now part of

Alexandria, Indiana Alexandria is a city in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana, United States. It is about northeast of Indianapolis. According to the 2010 census, its population was 5,145, a decrease of 17.8% from 6,260 in 2000. History Alexandria was pl ...

) * Grenora, North Dakota — GREat NOrthern RAilway * Harco, Illinois — HARrisburg COlliery Coal Company * Herpoco, California — HERcules POwder COmpany * Ioco, Port Moody, British Columbia — Imperial Oil COrporation or COmpany (actual name: Imperial Oil, Ltd.) * Irmulco, California — IRvine and MUir Lumber COmpany *

Kayjay, Kentucky Kayjay is an unincorporated community located in Knox County, Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It bor ...

— Kentucky–Jellico Coal Company * Kicco, Florida — Kissimmee Island Cattle COmpany * Kofa, Arizona — King OF Arizona Mine * Kyrock, Kentucky — KentuckY ROCK Asphalt Company * Labuco, Alabama — LAcey–BUek Iron COmpany * Lacjac, California — LAChman & JACobi * Latexo, Texas — LouisianA TEXas Orchard Company * Lobeco, South Carolina — LOng, BEllamy, and COmpany *

Lorado, West Virginia Lorado is an unincorporated community in Logan County, West Virginia, United States. Lorado is east-northeast of Man, along Buffalo Creek. Lorado has a post office A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail ser ...

— LORAin Coal and DOck Company * Mercoal, Alberta — McLeod (E for pronunciation) River Hard COAL Company * Micco, West Virginia — Main Island Creek COal Company *

Mico, Texas Mico is an unincorporated area, unincorporated community in northeastern Medina County, Texas, Medina County, Texas, United States. It is approximately west of Downtown San Antonio off Farm to Market Road 1283. The community is part of the San Ant ...

— Medina Irrigation COmpany * Mococo, California — MOuntain COpper COmpany *

Mokane, Missouri Mokane is a small city in southern Callaway County, Missouri, United States. The population was 185 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Jefferson City Metropolitan Statistical Area. History The settlement was first named Smith's Landing, after T ...

— MissOuri KANsas and Eastern Railway * Mopeco, California — MOhawk PEtroleum COmpany *

Nacmine, Alberta Nacmine is a community within the Town of Drumheller, Alberta, Canada. It was previously a hamlet within the former Municipal District (MD) of Badlands No. 7 prior to the MD's amalgamation with the former City of Drumheller on January 1, 1998. ...

— North America Collieries, Ltd. plus the word MINE * Naplate, Illinois — NAational PLATE Glass Company * Nolalu, Ontario — NOrthern LAnd LUmber Company *

Norco, California Norco is a city in Riverside County, California, in the United States. Norco is known as Horsetown, USA and prides itself on being a "horse community," with horse trails, hitching posts, and corrals, and city ordinances requiring construction to ...

— NORth COrona Land Company *

Norco, Louisiana Norco is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,984 at the 2020 census. The community is home to a major Shell petroleum refinery. The CDP's name is derived from the New Orleans Refi ...

— New Orleans Refinery COmpany * Norco, Saskatchewan — NORanda COmpany * Norpak, North Dakota — NORthern PACific Railroad (with a K replacing the C) * Nyando, New York — New York AND Ottawa Railway, former station on the line; now known as Rooseveltown * Ocapos, Arizona — A backwards acronym for SOuthern PAcific COmpany (i.e. Southern Pacific Railroad) * Ohaton, Alberta — Osler, HAmmond, and NanTON, Winnipeg financial firm * Orenco, Oregon — OREgon Nursery COmpany * Orseco, Oregon — ORegon SEcurities COmpany; name changed to Champion now historical * Parco, Wyoming — Producers And Refiners COrporation * Pennsuco, Florida — PENNsylvania SUgar COmpany * Phosmico, Florida — PHOSphate MIning COmpany * Praco, Alabama — PRAtt Consolidated Coal COmpany * Raco, Michigan — Richardson & Avery COmpany * Raeco, Washington — Rodes, Appel, and Earnest plus COmpany * Reco, Alberta — REliance COal Company * Sasco, Arizona — Southern Arizona Smelter COmpany * Saspamco, Texas — San Antonio Sewer Pipe (A for pronunciation) Manufacturing COmpany * Seco, Kentucky — South East COal Company * Sedco Hills, California — South Elsinore Development COmpany * Seroco, North Dakota — SEars ROebuck and COmpany * Siboco, Oregon — SIuslaw BOom COmpany * Sterco, Alberta — STERling COllieries * Stoil, California — STandard OIL Company (former location of a pumping station) * Sumica, Florida — Société Universelle des Mines, Industrie Commerce et Agriculture *

Svit Svit ( hu, Szvit) ( pl, Świt) is a small town in Poprad District in the Prešov Region in northern Slovakia. It lies west of the city of Poprad, at the foothills of the High Tatras. History Svit is one of the youngest Slovak towns. It was esta ...

, Slovakia — Slovenské VIzkózové Továrne (English: "Slovak Viscose Works") * Talco, Texas — Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana Candy COmpany (seen on a box of candy) *Tapco, Arizona — The Arizona Power COmpany * Tapoco, North Carolina — TAllassee POwer COmpany * Tracoal, West Virginia — TRAce Fork COAL Company * Tumco, California — The United Mines COmpany * Upalco, Utah — Utah Power And Light COmpany * Vancorum, Colorado — VANadium CORporation of AMerica, with a substitution of a U for the A * Vicco, Kentucky — Virginia Iron Coal and Coke COmpany *

Weslaco, Texas Weslaco is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census the population was 41,103, and in 2020 the estimated population was 41,103. It is located at the southern tip of Texas in the Rio Grande Valley near the Mexic ...

— W. E. Stewart LAnd COmpany * Wevaco, West Virginia — WEst VirginiA COlliery Company * Wiscoal, Kentucky — WISconsin COAL Company * Zimco, Alabama — ZImmerman Manufacturing COmpany

Places named after people

* Aflex, Kentucky — A. F. LEckie (X instead of CK) * Aitch, Pennsylvania — Aumen, Isett, Trexler, Crexwell, and Harker, town founders *

Alcolu, South Carolina Alcolu is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Clarendon County, South Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 429. Alcolu has a post office with ZIP code 29001, which opened on August 17, 1 ...

— ALderman COldwell LUla; mill owner, friend, and eldest daughter, respectively * Almadane, Louisiana — three early settlers: AL Damereal, MAnn Huddleston, and DAN Knight + E for euphony * Anarene, Texas — ANnA LauRENE Graham, daughter of early pioneer J. M. Keen *

Anco, Kentucky Anco is an unincorporated community in Knott County, Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Il ...

— ANderson COmbs, first postmaster *

Arbyrd, Missouri Arbyrd is a small town in southeast Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 509 at the 2010 census. The town was officially incorporated in 1919. History A post office called Arbyrd has been in operation since 1911. The town' ...

— A. R. BYRD, landowner *

Archerwill Archerwill ( 2021 population: ) is a village in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan within the Rural Municipality of Barrier Valley No. 397 and Census Division No. 14. The village is approximately north of Wadena, south of Tisdale and ...

, Saskatchewan — councilors ARCHie Hamilton Campbell and ERvie Edvin Hanson, and secretary-treasurer WILLiam S. Pierce of Barrier Valley Rural Municipality * Arjay, Kentucky — R. J. Asher, coal operator * Armelgra, Alberta — ARthur MELville GRAce, engineer for the Canadian Pacific Railway *

Arvida, Quebec Arvida ( ) is a settlement of 12,000 people (2010)Peritz, Ingrid, "Saguenay 'utopia' dreaming big again", ''The Globe and Mail'', 13 November 2010, p. A31 in Quebec, Canada, that is part of the City of Saguenay. Its name is derived from the name o ...

— ARthur VIning DAvis, president of Aluminum Company of Canada * Awe, Kentucky — Anthony Wayne Everman, first postmaster *

Bahama, North Carolina Bahama is an unincorporated community in northern Durham County, North Carolina, United States. History Prior to European colonization, the present location of Bahama and the surrounding upper Neuse River basin were home to native peoples includi ...

— three leading families of the community: BAll, HArris, and MAngum *

Balmorhea, Texas Balmorhea ( ) is a city in Reeves County, in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 479 in the U.S. Census of 2010. History Balmorhea was platted in 1906. Its founders were Ernest D. Balcom, H. R. Morrow, and John and Joe Rhea; the town's n ...

— BALcolm, MOrrow, RHEA, town founders *

Benld, Illinois Benld is a city in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,464 at the 2020 census, down from 1,556 in 2010. It is located in the Metro-East portion of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. ''Benld'' was declared the " ...

— BEN L. Dorsey, early settler * Bolada, Arizona — three family names: BOnes LAne DAndera * Bresaylor, Saskatchewan — three founding families: BREmner, SAYers, and TayLOR *

Bromer, Indiana Bromer is an unincorporated community in Northeast Township, Orange County, in the U.S. state of Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 ...

— early settlers: Boyd, Roll, Oldham, McCoy, Ellis, and Reid * Bucoda, Missouri — early settlers: BUchanan, COburn, and DAvis *

Bucoda, Washington Bucoda () is a town in Thurston County, Washington, United States. The population was 600 at the 2020 census. The community refers to itself as the "World's Tiniest Town with the Biggest Halloween Spirit". History The first American settler at ...

— investors in local industry: J. M. BUckley, Samuel COulter, John B. DAvid * Cabarton, Idaho — C. A. BARTON, official of the Boise Payette Lumber Company (a former company town of that company) * Cadams, Nebraska — C. ADAMS, local banker * Chaney, Oklahoma — six family names: Carey, Hull, Adams, Nichols, Edmonds, Yarnold * Charlo, Port Elizabeth, South Africa — CHARles LOvemore, landowner * Comrey, Alberta — names of six early settlers: Columbus Larson, Ole Roen, Mons Roen, R. Rolfson, J. J. Everson, Ed Yager *

Dacono, Colorado The City of Dacono is a home rule municipality located in southwestern Weld County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 6,297 at the 2020 United States Census, an increase of +51.66% since the 2010 United States Census. Dacono is a p ...

— DAisy Baum, COra Van Vorhies and NOra Brooks *

Delmar, Iowa Delmar is a city in Clinton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 542 at the time of the 2020 census. History Delmar was platted in 1871, shortly after the railroad was built through the site. The name Delmar is said to be a combination ...

— initials of six women on the first train to the new town: Della, Emma, Laura, Marie, Anna, and Rose. * Edmore, Michigan — EDwin MOoRE, the first settler of the village * Emida, Idaho — East, MIller, and DAwson, three early family names * Eram, Oklahoma — four children of Ed Oates: Eugene, Roderick, Anthony, and Marie * Ethanac, California — ETHAN A. Chase, landowner and political leader (town is now named

Romoland, California Romoland is a census-designated place (CDP) in Riverside County, California, United States. The population was 1,684 at the 2010 census, down from 2,764 at the 2000 census. History On June 25, 1900, the first Ethanac Post Office was established ac ...

) * Faloma, Oregon — Force Love Moore, three original land-owners, with added vowels * Fastrill, Texas — F. F. FArrington, P. H. STRause, and Will HILL, postmaster and two lumbermen * Gamoca, West Virginia — GAuley, MOley, and CAmpbell * Gathon, Illinois — Gallager, Adams, Tremblay, and Herzog (ON added by the post office) * Geekabee Hill, Western Australia — George Kershaw Brown * Germfask Township, Michigan — town founders: John Grant, Matthew Edge, George Robinson, Thaddeus Mead, Dr. W. W. French, Ezekiel Ackley, Oscar (O.D.) Sheppard, and Hezekiah Knaggs * Golah, New York — coined by Rev H. W. Howard from five local family names (names unknown) * Hacoda, Alabama — HArt, COleman, DAvis, three local businessmen * Halbrite, Saskatchewan — three Canadian Pacific Railway engineers: HALl, BRuce, WhITE * Helechawa, Kentucky — HELEn CHAse WAlbridge, daughter of W. Delancy Walbridge, first president of Ohio and Kentucky Railroad * Hemaruka, Alberta — daughters of A. E. Warren, General Manager of Canadian National Railway: HElen, MArgaret, RUth and KAthleen * Hisega, South Dakota — six women who built a camp site and country club at the location: Helen Scroggs, Ida Anding, Sadie Robinson, Ethel Brink, Grace Wasson, and Ada Pike * Itmann, West Virginia — Isaac T. MANN, president of Pocahontas Consolidated Coal Company * Jacam, Manitoba — J. A. CAMpbell, politician * Jayem, Kentucky — John Marshall Robsion, Sr., congressman *

Jay Em, Wyoming Jay Em is an unincorporated community in northern Goshen County, Wyoming, United States, just below the headwaters of the Rawhide Creek, on the old Texas Trail. It lies along U.S. Route 85, 35 miles north of the city of Torrington, the county ...

— Jim Moore, cattle rancher * Jayenne, West Virginia — Johnson Newlon Camden, US senator * Jaype, Idaho — John P. Weyerhaeuser Jr., president of Potlatch Lumber Company * Jetson, Kentucky — J. E. Taylor and SON, co-owners of a local business * Kinnorwood, Illinois — H. L. KINney, George H. NORris, Robert P. WOODworth, land owners *

Klej Grange, Maryland Klej Grange is an unincorporated community three miles (5 km) northwest of Stockton in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. It is located at the intersection of Klej Grange, Betheden Church, and Ward Roads. Origin of name The acronym ...

— Joseph William Drexel's four daughters: Katherine, Lucy, Elizabeth, and Josephine * Kragon, Kentucky — K. RAGON, founder and president of the Kentucky Wood Products Company * Lecoma, Missouri — three local merchants: LEnox, COmstock, and MArtin *

Le Mars, Iowa Le Mars is the county seat of Plymouth County, Iowa, United States. It is located on the Floyd River northeast of Sioux City. The population was 10,571 at the time of the 2020 census. Le Mars is part of the Sioux City metropolitan area. Histo ...

— eight women from Cedar Rapids on a railroad excursion who were asked to name the town. Two of the letters, L and M, represent two women each: Lucy Ford and Laura Walker; Elizabeth Underhill or Ellen Cleghorn; Mary Weare and Martha Weare; Adeline Swain; Rebecca Smith; Sarah Reynolds. * Lookeba, Oklahoma — LOwe, KElly and BAker, town founders (with an extra O) * Mabana, Washington — MABel ANderson, daughter of an early settler, plus A for pronunciation * Mabscott, West Virginia — MABel SCOTT *

Maleb, Alberta Maleb, formerly known as Conquerville, is a locality in southern Alberta, Canada within the County of Forty Mile No. 8. It is approximately south of Highway 3 and southwest of Medicine Hat. History Conquerville, now Maleb, was first establ ...

— initials of the Bowen family: Morley, Amy, Lorne, Elizabeth, Bowen; disagreement over whether these are the initials of the parents or the children *

Maljamar, New Mexico Maljamar is an unincorporated community in Lea County, New Mexico, United States. The zip code is 88264. It is close to Hobbs and Carlsbad. According to legend, Maljamar's founder William Mitchell named the town after his three children Malcom, ...

— MALcolm, JAnet, MARgaret, children of William Mitchell, oil operator * Marenisco Township, Michigan — either MARy ENId SCOtt, or MAry RElief NIles SCOtt, the wife of Emmet H. Scott, a timber producer *

Marietta, Ohio Marietta is a city in, and the county seat of, Washington County, Ohio, United States. It is located in southeastern Ohio at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers, northeast of Parkersburg, West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, Ma ...

— MARIe AntoinETTe plus A *

Marmarth, North Dakota Marmarth ( ) is the largest city in Slope County, North Dakota, Slope County in the U.S. State of North Dakota with a population of 101 as of 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is situated in the southwestern part of Slope County, along th ...

— MARgaret MARTHa Fitch, very young granddaughter of A. J. Ealing, railroad president * Mesena, Georgia — coined by Dr. J. F. Hamilton, using the initial letters of the first names of his six daughters (names unknown) *

Milo, Oklahoma Milo is a community located in Carter County, Oklahoma, United States. It is on State Highway 53, south of the Arbuckles The Arbuckle Mountains are an ancient mountain range in south-central Oklahoma in the United States. They lie in Murray Count ...

— initials of four daughters of J. W. Johnson (names unknown) *

Mohall, North Dakota Mohall is a city in Renville County, North Dakota, United States. It is the county seat of Renville County. The population was 694 at the 2020 census. Mohall is part of the Minot Micropolitan Statistical Area. History Mohall was founded in 19 ...

— Martin O. HALL, founder and first postmaster * Mohrland, Utah — four investors in a coal mine: Mays, Orem, Heiner, and Rice plus LAND * Natal, Oregon — NAThAnieL C. Dale, local landowner and Columbia County clerk * Nemato, Port Alfred, South Africa — NElson MAndela TOwnship * Newport, Texas — initials of seven founding families: Norman, Ezell, Welch, Pruitt, Owsley, Reiger, and Turner * Neyami, Georgia — three subdevelopers: NEwton, YAncy, MIlner *

Norvelt, Pennsylvania Norvelt is a census-designated place in Mount Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States, founded in 1934 as Westmoreland Homesteads. In 1937 it was renamed to honor Eleanor Roosevelt. The community was part of the Calum ...

— EleaNOR RooseVELT *

Pawn, Oregon Pawn was a historic unincorporated community in Lane County in the U.S. state of Oregon. It lay at the headwaters of the North Fork Siuslaw River, where Sam Creek and West Branch join to form the river in the Siuslaw National Forest of the Cent ...

— local residents who applied for a post office: Poole, Ackerley, Worthington, Nolen * Peedee, Kentucky — Pumphrey David Smith, landowner *

Primghar, Iowa Primghar is a city in, and the county seat of, O'Brien County, Iowa, United States. The population was 896 at the time of the 2020 census. Primghar is 23.5 miles south of Iowa State Highway 9, 28 miles east of Sioux Center and 6.75 miles north o ...

— initials of eight people who had a major part in platting the town: Pumphrey; Roberts; Inman; McCormack; Green; Hayes or Hays; Albright; Rereick or Renck * Renwer, Manitoba — A. E. WarREN and W. E. Roberts, railway officials * Reston, Virginia — Robert E. Simon, founder of Reston, plus TON * Safe, Missouri — possibly early settlers: Shinkle, Aufderheide, Fann, and Essman * Soda, Texas — initials of four names submitted to the post office (names unknown; now a ghost town) * Tako, Saskatchewan — homesteaders: Taylor, Aked, Krips, Olsen * Tamalco, Illinois — W. H. TAylor, John M(A)cLaren, Frank COlwell, prominent locals * Tejay, Kentucky — Thomas Jefferson Asher, landowner, founder, and judge *

Texico, Illinois Texico (62889 - also called Field) is an Unincorporated area, unincorporated community in Jefferson County, Illinois, Jefferson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 851 at the 2010 census. Texico was named by Cashus M. Columbus Theo ...

— TEXas, Illinois, Claybourn, Osborn, the latter two being local family names * Wahjamega, Michigan — William A. Heartt, James A. Montgomery, and Edgar George Avery * Wascott, Wisconsin — W. A. SCOTT, railroad company president * Walong, California — W. A. LONG, railroad official * Willows, Saskatchewan — WILliam Gibson LOWeS, owner of the first store *

Wimauma, Florida Wimauma is an unincorporated census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,373 at the 2010 census, up from 4,246 at the 2000 census. History Wimauma was founded by Captain C.H. Davis in 1902. Davis ...

— WIlma, MAUd, MAry, daughters of Captain C. H. Davis, first postmaster

Other places

* Abac, Georgia — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College * Alorton, Illinois — ALuminum ORe plus TON * Anzac, Alberta — Australia New Zealand Army Corps *

Bacova, Virginia Bacova is an Unincorporated area, unincorporated community in Bath County, Virginia, Bath County, Virginia, in the United States. It was created in the early 20th century as a company town; its name is simply an abbreviation of Bath County, VA. ...

— BAth COunty VirginiA * Barford, Saskatchewan — BArrier River FORD * Biola, California — Bible Institute Of Los Angeles * Cal-Nev-Ari, Nevada — CALifornia, NEVada, ARIzona *

Claycomo, Missouri Claycomo is a village in Clay County, Missouri, United States, as part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Its name is a portmanteau of "Clay County, MO". The population was 1,343 at the 2020 census. Ford Motor Company owns the Kansas City Asse ...

— CLAY COunty, MissOuri * Covada, Washington — six nearby mines: Columbia, Orin, Verin, Ada, Dora, and Alice * Cudsaskwa Beach, Saskatchewan — CUDworth, SASKatchewan WAkaw * Denare Beach, Saskatchewan — DEpartment of NAtural REsources *

Hico, Missouri Hico is an extinct town in Dallas County, in the U.S. state of Missouri Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iow ...

— HIckory COunty (although Hico is in Dallas County) * Hocomo, Missouri — HOwell COunty MissOuri * Ilasco, Missouri — elements and ingredients of cement: Iron, Lime, Aluminum, Silica, Carbon, and Oxygen *

Kenova, West Virginia Kenova is a city in Wayne County, West Virginia, United States, situated at the confluence of the Ohio and Big Sandy Rivers. Located near a tristate border, the city's name is a portmanteau of Kentucky, Ohio, and Virginia (Va). Founded in 1 ...

— KENtucky, Ohio, VirginiA * Kenora, Ontario — three predecessor communities: KEewatin, NOrman and RAt Portage *

Lockridge, Oklahoma Four Counties Corner is a suburban unincorporated community that is centered on the quad-point where four counties meet: Kingfisher, Logan, Oklahoma and Canadian. It is one of only two such county quad-points in the state of Oklahoma, and is also ...

— Logan, Oklahoma, Canadian, and Kingfisher Counties plus RIDGE *

Macy, Nebraska Macy is a census-designated place (CDP) in Thurston County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,045 at the 2020 census. It is within the Omaha Reservation, and includes Omaha Nation Public Schools. Macy is the birthplace of the Nati ...

— (O)MAha AgenCY (location of Indian agency to the Maha or

Omaha people The Omaha ( Omaha-Ponca: ''Umoⁿhoⁿ'') are a federally recognized Midwestern Native American tribe who reside on the Omaha Reservation in northeastern Nebraska and western Iowa, United States. There were 5,427 enrolled members as of 2012. Th ...

) *

Mandaree, North Dakota Mandaree (Hidatsa: Adixoodagoorahareesh) is a census-designated place (CDP) in McKenzie County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 596 at the 2010 census. Mandaree is located on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in the Mandan, Hi ...

— MANdan, HiDAtsa and REE, the three tribes whose reservation the place is on. (Ree is another name for the

Arikara Arikara (), also known as Sahnish,
''Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation.'' (Retrieved Sep 29, 2011)

) *

Molanosa, Saskatchewan Molanosa ( cr, ᑮᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᓯᕽ, kîskahikanisihk) is a small isolated community located in Northern Saskatchewan, approximately 70 kilometres south of La Ronge near the northern end of Montreal Lake. It is considered the geographic ...

— MOntreal LAke, NOrthern SAskatchewan *

Nalcrest, Florida Nalcrest is a retirement community in Polk County, Florida, United States. The community's ZIP code is 33856. It is part of the Lakeland– Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. The community's name is an acronym for National Associati ...

— National Association of Letter Carriers plus REST, retirement community for postmen *

Noida, Uttar Pradesh Noida, short for New Okhla Industrial Development Authority, is a planned city located in Gautam Buddha Nagar district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Noida is a satellite city of Delhi and is a part of the National Capital Region (NCR) o ...

— New Okhla Industrial Development Authority *NOLA — A common nickname for New Orleans, LouisianA * Okarche, Oklahoma — OKlahoma ARapaho CHEyenne * Omphghent Township, Illinois — Our Mother of Perpetual Help + GHENT (city in Belgium) * Ovapa, West Virginia — Ohio, VirginiA, PennsylvaniA *

Pen Mar, Maryland Pen Mar is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Maryland, and Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is one of the border towns in the United States with a portmanteau name. Pen Mar came to prominence as a resort in the 2 ...

- PENnsylvania and MARyland *Penowa, Pennsylvania — PENnsylvania, Ohio, West VirginiA * Sharedon Park, South Africa — Self Help Association of REsidents plus DON, a neighbourhood somewhere in the Cape Town area * Texarkana, Texas/Arkansas — TEXas ARKansas LouisiANA * Ti, Oklahoma — a backwards acronym for Indian Territory * Usna, Oklahoma — United States North America * Usona, Alberta — United States Of North America * Usona, California — United States Of North America *

Veyo, Utah Veyo (also Glencove) is a census-designated place in western Washington County, Utah, United States, on the edge of the Dixie National Forest. Description The town lies along State Route 18 north of the city of St. George, the county seat of W ...

— either Virtue, Enterprise, Youth, and Order or VErdure and YOuth * Viropa, West Virginia — VIRginia, Ohio, PennsylvaniA *

Walden, Ontario Walden ( Canada 1996 Census population 10,292) was a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, which existed from 1973 to 2000. Created as part of the Regional Municipality of Sudbury when regional government was introduced, the town was dissolve ...

— WAters, Lively, DENison, three of the several communities that merged to form the town * Wamac, Illinois — WAshington, MArion, and Clinton Counties * Wyco, West Virginia — WYoming COunty

Neighborhoods

Many of these names were the result of neighborhood rebranding, first in New York, and then in other cities. The names were mostly coined in imitation of Soho in Manhattan.

New York

* DoBro — DOwntown BROoklyn *

Dumbo, Brooklyn Dumbo (or DUMBO, short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The area known as Dumbo used to be known as Gairville. It encompasses two sections: one located between the Manhatta ...

— Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass * FiDi — FInancial DIstrict *

NoHo, Manhattan NoHo, short for North of Houston Street (as contrasted with SoHo), is a primarily residential neighborhood in Lower Manhattan in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is bounded by Mercer Street to the west and the Bowery to the east, ...

— NOrth of HOuston Street *

Nolita Nolita, sometimes written as NoLIta and deriving from "North of Little Italy",Roberts, Sam"New York’s Little Italy, Littler by the Year"''New York Times'' (February 21, 2011) is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. No ...

— NOrth of Little ITAly *

NoMad, Manhattan NoMad ("North of Madison Square Park"), also known as Madison Square North, is a neighborhood centered on the Madison Square North Historic District in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. The name NoMad, which has been in use since 19 ...

— NOrth of MADison Square Park * Sobro — SOuth BROnx * SoHo, Manhattan — SOuth of HOuston Street *

Tribeca Tribeca (), originally written as TriBeCa, is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan in New York City. Its name is a syllabic abbreviation of "Triangle Below Canal Street". The "triangle" (more accurately a quadrilateral) is bounded by Canal Stree ...

— TRIangle BElow CAnal Street

Los Angeles

* DTLA — DownTown Los Angeles * NoHo — NOrth HOllywood * SoLA — SOuth Los Angeles * WeHo — WEst HOllywood

Denver, Colorado

LoDo LoDo (Lower Downtown) is an unofficial neighborhood in Denver, Colorado, and is one of the oldest places of settlement in the city. It is a mixed-use historic district, known for its nightlife, and serves as an example of success in urban reinves ...

— LOwer DOwntown * LoHi — LOwer HIghland * RiNo — RIver NOrth Art District * SoBro — SOuth BROadway

Metropolitan and suburban areas

* Camanava — the Northern Manila District of

Metro Manila Metropolitan Manila (often shortened as Metro Manila; fil, Kalakhang Maynila), officially the National Capital Region (NCR; fil, link=no, Pambansang Punong Rehiyon), is the seat of government and one of three defined metropolitan areas in ...

, Philippines; cities: CAloocan, MAlabon, NAvotas, VAlenzuela *

Gerbangkertosusila The Surabaya metropolitan area, or known locally as Gerbangkertosusila ( jv, ꦒꦼꦂꦧꦁꦏꦼꦂꦠꦱꦸꦱꦶꦭ, Gerbangkertasusila, from ''Gresik-Bangkalan-Mojokerto-Surabaya-Sidoarjo-Lamongan''), is a metropolitan area in East Java, ...

— official acronym for the Surabaya Extended Metropolitan Area in East Java, Indonesia: GREsik BANGkalan MojoKERTO SUrabaya SIdoarjo LAmongan *

Jabodetabek The Jakarta metropolitan area or Greater Jakarta, known locally as Jabodetabek (an acronym of Jakarta–Bogor–Depok–Tangerang–Bekasi), and sometimes extended to Jabodetabekjur (with the acronym extended to include part of Cianjur Regency) ...

— the capital of Indonesia and suburbs: JAkarta, BOgor, DEpok, TAngerang and BEKasi * Muntapat, Metro Manila, Philippines — three cities: MUNtinlupa, TAguig, PATeros * Muntiparlas, Metro Manila, Philippines — three cities: MUNTInlupa, PARañaque, LAS Piñas *

Soweto Soweto () is a township of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for ''South Western Townships''. Formerly a s ...

, Johannesburg, South Africa — SOuth WEstern TOwnships

In other cities

* CARAG, Minneapolis, Minnesota — Calhoun Area Residents' Action Group *NoBo,

Traverse City, Michigan Traverse City ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population wa ...

— NOrth BOardman Lake District *

NoDa NoDa (short for "North Davidson") is a popular arts district in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. It is located in the North Charlotte neighborhood on and around North Davidson Street and 36th Street, approximately one mile northeast of Upt ...

, Charlotte, NC — NOrth DAvidson Street * NoMa, Washington, DC — NOrth of MAssachusetts Avenue * NoPa, San Francisco, California — NOrth of the PAnhandle * NuLu, Louisville, Kentucky — a portmanteau of "New" and "Louisville" *

Lamasco Lamasco is a former town, and current district, in Evansville, Indiana originally bounded by the present day streets of St. Joseph Avenue on the west, First Avenue on the east, Maryland on the north and the Ohio River on the south to Fulton (mea ...

Evansville, Indiana Evansville is a city in, and the county seat of, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, United States. The population was 118,414 at the 2020 census, making it the state's third-most populous city after Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, the largest city in ...

— town founders: John and William LAw, James B. MAcCall, Lucius H. SCOtt *

SoBe SoBe (stylized as ) is an American brand of teas, fruit-juice blends and enhanced water beverages owned by PepsiCo. The name SoBe is an abbreviation of South Beach, named after the upscale area located in Miami Beach, Florida. In the past, the ...

, Miami Beach, Florida — SOuth BEach *

SoBo Sobo may refer to: Places * Sobo, La Brea, Trinidad and Tobago * Mount Sobo, Japan * SoBo or South Mumbai Other * Sobo (deity) * Sobo language (disambiguation) * Alexandra Sobo Alexandra Sobo (born ) is a Romanian female volleyball player, pl ...

, Mumbai — SOuth BOmbay * Sobro, Nashville, Tennessee — SOuth of BROadway *

SoDo, Seattle SoDo, alternatively SODO, is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, that makes up part of the city's Industrial District. It is bounded on the north by South King Street, beyond which is Pioneer Square; on the south by South Spokane Street, b ...

, Washington — originally SOuth of the DOme; now SOuth of DOwntown * SoHo, Hong Kong — SOuth of HOllywood Road * SoHo, London, Ontario — SOuth of HOrton Street * SoHo (Tampa), Florida — SOuth of HOward Avenue * Soho, West Midlands (Birmingham, England) — SOuth HOuse *

SoMa Soma may refer to: Businesses and brands * SOMA (architects), a New York–based firm of architects * Soma (company), a company that designs eco-friendly water filtration systems * SOMA Fabrications, a builder of bicycle frames and other bicycle ...

, San Francisco, California — SOuth of MArket Street * SoMa, Vancouver, British Columbia — SOuth MAin * SoPi, Paris — SOuth of PIgalle

Natural features

Bodies of water

* Ayceecee Creek, British Columbia — Alpine Club of Canada (creek draining glaciers on Three Bears Mountain) *

Lake Carasaljo A man-made lake in the center of Lakewood Township, New Jersey, Lake Carasaljo was created in the mid-1700s when the South Branch of the Metedeconk River was dammed to provide power for a sawmill, which became known as Three Partners Mill. The l ...

— daughters of Joseph Brick, owner of local Bergen Iron Works: CARrie (A for pronunciation), SALly, and JOsephine * Lake Chaweva — CHArleston, WEst VirginiA * Copco Lake, California — California Oregon Power COmpany * Emar Lake, Saskatchewan — Eldorado Mining And Refining * Lake Jacomo, Missouri — JAckson COunty, MissOuri * Owaa Lake, Saskatchewan — Outdoor Writers Association of America (to mark a meeting of that organization in June 1967) * Sareco Bay, Saskatchewan — SAskatchewan REsearch COuncil; contains Sareco Island * Snafu Lake, Yukon — Situation Normal, All Fucked Up (drained by Snafu Creek); there is also a Snafu Lake in Ontario and a Snafu Creek in Northwest Territories * Swenoda Lake and Swenoda Township, Swift County, Minnesota — SWEdish NOrwegian DAnish, nationalities of settlers in that region *

Lake Taneycomo Lake Taneycomo is a man-made lake or reservoir on the White River in the Ozark Mountains of Taney County, Missouri. The reservoir's name is a portmanteau for the county and state in which it is located: ''Taney Co''unty, ''MO''. Lake Taneyco ...

, Missouri — TANEY COunty, MissOuri * Tarfu Lake, Yukon — Things Are Really Fucked Up (fed and drained by Tarfu Creek) * Lake Wagejo, Michigan — WAlter Koelz, GEorge Stanley, JOhn Brumm, zoologists

Topography

Delmarva Peninsula The Delmarva Peninsula, or simply Delmarva, is a large peninsula and proposed state on the East Coast of the United States, occupied by the vast majority of the state of Delaware and parts of the Eastern Shore regions of Maryland and Virginia. ...

— DELaware MARyland VirginiA * Fasp Mountain, British Columbia — First Aid Ski Patrol * Isar Mountain, Washington/British Columbia — Internation Search And Rescue * Multorpor Butte or Mountain — a mountain near Mount Hood: MULTnomah County, ORegon, PORtland *

Tamu Massif Tamu Massif is a seamount in the northwest Pacific Ocean, sitting atop a triple junction of mid-ocean ridges. Tamu Massif is located in the

Mount Garibaldi Mount Garibaldi (known as Nch'kaý to the indigenous Squamish people) is a dormant stratovolcano in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Pacific Ranges in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It has a maximum elevation of and rises above the surroun ...

, British Columbia — University of British Columbia * Veeocee Mountain, British Columbia — Varsity Outdoor Club of the University of British Columbia

Others

* Alwinsal — potash mine at

Guernsey, Saskatchewan Guernsey is an Organized hamlet within the Rural Municipality of Usborne No. 310 in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It previously held village status until it dissolved in 2005. History Prior to December 31, 2005, Guernsey was incor ...

named after a French–German consortium that invested: 1) Mines Domanials de Potasse d'ALsace (French) 2) WINtersall AG (German) 3) SALzfuther AG (German) * Amdewanda No. 630 — school near Eston, Saskatchewan; first trustees: Clyde AMey, Sid DEan, Robert WAmsley plus NDA for alliteration * Barholis No. 746 — school near Glenbain, Saskatchewan; early settlers: BARnes, HOLmes and InnIS * Elanco (commonly used name for

Eastern Lancaster County School District The Eastern Lancaster County School District ("Elanco") is a school district in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It is a member of Lancaster–Lebanon Intermediate Unit (IU) 13. Schools * Brecknock Elementary School – Denver, Pennsylvania * ...

) — Eastern LANcaster COunty *

6489 Golevka 6489 Golevka is an Apollo, Mars-crosser, and Alinda asteroid discovered in 1991 by Eleanor F. Helin. Its name has a complicated origin. In 1995, Golevka was studied simultaneously by three radar observatories across the world: Goldstone in Ca ...

, asteroid named for three observatories that studied it for the Yarkovski effect — GOLdstone Observatory in California; EVpatoria Planetary Radar, Yevpatoria, Ukraine; KAshima Space Technology Center, located in Kashima, Ibaraki, Japan * Kemoca Park, Montmartre, Saskatchewan — KEndal, MOtmartre, and CAdiac; three communities the park serves * Mohonasen High School, Rotterdam, New York — MOHawk, ONOndaga, SENeca (with an A replacing the last O), three tribes that once lived in the Rotterdam area * Odhill railway station, Manitoba — O. D. HILL, K.C. * Rawebb railway station, Manitoba — RAlph WEBB, politician * Camp Shagabec, Saskatchewan — church campground for parishes at Shaunavon, Hazenmore, Assinaboia, Govenlock, Abbey, Bracken, Eastend, Consul-Cabri-Climax * Solanco School District, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania — SOuthern LANcaster COunty * Viento State Park, near

Hood River, Oregon The city of Hood River is the seat of Hood River County, Oregon, United States. It is a port on the Columbia River, and is named for the nearby Hood River. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 8,313. It is the only city in Oregon whe ...

— Henry VIllard, William ENdicott, TOlman

References

{{reflist

acronym An acronym is a word or name formed from the initial components of a longer name or phrase. Acronyms are usually formed from the initial letters of words, as in ''NATO'' (''North Atlantic Treaty Organization''), but sometimes use syllables, as ...

placenames Toponymy, toponymics, or toponomastics is the study of ''toponyms'' (proper names of places, also known as place names and geographic names), including their origins, meanings, usage and types. Toponym is the general term for a proper name of ...