Have you ever wondered how a town or city got its name? Many places are named after a person that had a role in establishing them. Other city name origins aren’t quite as obvious. Regardless of the source, an unusual town or city name, even a very short one, can serve as a reminder of a community’s long history.

24/7 Wall St. set out to discover the country’s 50 shortest town and city names by reviewing all incorporated towns, cities, and villages listed by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Each place that appears on this list has a name that’s just three letters long. Since each name is equal in length, we listed these cities from least to most populous. The smallest town on this list has just 231 residents, while the largest has nearly 38,000.

Click here to see the shortest town and city names.

Several of these places at one point held a different name, which changed upon their incorporation as a town, village, or city. Eva, Alabama, for example, was originally known as Cowhead. But when the town needed to change its name in order to incorporate and build a post office, Cowhead became Eva, in honor of a baby girl delivered by a local physician.

These short names came from a variety of sources. Religious texts, prominent citizens, and local industries all served as the inspiration for some places on the list. Other name origins are difficult to determine. Having a shorter town name was practical back in the 19th and 20th centuries, because when many of these places were officially incorporated, the addresses had to be handwritten. Quite a few town histories state that short names were chosen for convenience, as cutting out letters saved residents time and ink when writing their return addresses.

To identify the shortest town and city names in the nation, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed all incorporated places tracked by the U.S. Census. These are places with a charter recognized by state and elected officials. We did not consider Census Designated Places (CDPs), which are statistical, unincorporated entities. Hawaii, where all places are considered CDPs, was an exception. To count the characters in each place’s name, we counted “town,” city,” “village,”and “municipality,” only when these were parts of the official title.

For example, in the case of Gas City, Indiana, the word city is part of the proper name, whereas the word city in Gas, Kansas, is not part of the official title and was excluded from the character count. There are more than 50 places in America with three-letter names — 24/7 Wall St. selected the 50 with the largest populations. Population figures are five-year averages from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016 American Community Survey.

50. Zap
> State: North Dakota
> Population: 209

It’s no question that this city in Mercer County, North Dakota has a funky name. A man by the name of Mr. Pettibone, who was a railroad company official and the designated person for naming new villages, is believed to have given this small city its name. Evidently, his inspiration for Zap came from a coal mining town in Scotland called, Zapp, and this area in North Dakota also had coal mine. The name has stuck ever since.

49. Bee
> State: Nebraska
> Population: 231

Despite its name, Bee, Nebraska, has nothing to do with the honey-making insects. Actually, it comes from the fact that Bee is located in Precinct B of Seward County. The village has leaned into the name, declaring itself on its website a “Honey of a Town.”

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48. Roy
> State: New Mexico
> Population: 240

The small town of Roy, New Mexico, attracts visitors from all over as a great place to boulder, or rock climb, without a harness. According to bouldering enthusiasts, the rock outcropping makes for challenging climbing.

47. Dix
> State: Nebraska
> Population: 244

This town in Kimball County, Nebraska, wasn’t always called Dix. In 1879, the area was known as Bennett, which,at the time, only had one section house and a depot. The name comes from the hometown of the woman who previously owned the land, Margaret Robertson of Dixon, Illinois. Dixon, Nebraska, already existed, so town officials removed the last syllable, making it Dix.

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46. Keo
> State: Arkansas
> Population: 270

Keo in Lonoke County, Arkansas, popped up as a result of a newly constructed railroad that enabled farmers to sell their crops nationwide. The city was known for its impressive cotton plantation back in the 20th century. This tiny town is just 23 miles southeast of the capital of Arkansas, Little Rock.

45. Ney
> State: Ohio
> Population: 282

Ney, which only has 282 residents, was founded in 1889 and is located in Defiance County, Ohio, about 55 miles southwest of Toledo.

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44. Orr
> State: Minnesota
> Population: 286

In the late-19th century, the area that became Orr, Minnesota, sprouted up as a result of the timber industry. One settler was William Orr, who founded a hotel and general store and put his name on both. Orr was named for that prominent citizen.

43. Sun
> State: Louisiana
> Population: 312

Like much of Louisiana, the village of Sun has many creeks, rivers, and ponds in and around its boundaries. It sits just across the border with Mississippi.

42. Lee
> State: Illinois
> Population: 358

Lee, Illinois. is due west of Chicago, about 70 miles away. The village itself is very small in terms of land area, only taking up 0.22 square miles, and it’s home to 358 residents.

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41. Joy
> State: Illinois
> Population: 376

Formerly dubbed the “hog capital of Illinois,” the small village of Joy has a new label in the works: The home of the proclaimed Rock Paper Scissors World Championship. There’s a catch though: Only two people faced off in the debut competition. Joy is in Mercer County, about 175 miles southwest of Chicago.

40. Ute
> State: Iowa
> Population: 382

Ute describes itself as a “small town in Western Iowa that is full of life.” It’s 70 miles north of Omaha, Nebraska, centered at the split of two branches of the Soldier River Cutoff.

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39. Max
> State: North Dakota
> Population: 391

This North Dakota town is home to just under 400 residents, and is located in McLean County. Max is 76 miles south, of the state capital Bismarck.

38. Jay
> State: Florida
> Population: 399

Jay, Florida, got its name from its first postmaster, J.T. Nowling. The town was incorporated in 1951. In the 1970s, oil was discovered in this northwest Florida town, providing hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.

37. Dix
> State: Illinois
> Population: 406

Dix, Illinois, was first called Rome. After it was discovered that there was another city in the state named Rome, the town changed its name to Dix in honor of Civil War Major General and Union Pacific Railroad President, John Adams Dix.

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36. Ila
> State: Georgia
> Population: 407

Ila is situated in Madison County, Georgia, near Athens. Ila was incorporated in 1910, however, like most towns, its roots stretch further back. Settled in 1879, the original town name was “0’possum” (Note, that’s a zero there, not an “o”) but was then changed three years later to Ila, in honor of a local girl in the community.

35. Eek
> State: Alaska
> Population: 472

Eek, Alaska, once had the much longer name of Ekvicuaq. Missionaries who traveled to the Inuit town were unable to pronounce that name, so it was shortened to Eek.

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34. Lee
> State: Florida
> Population: 478

Lee, Florida, describes itself as the place “where heaven smiles down on earth.” The tiny town sits roughly 15 miles south of the Florida-Georgia stateline.

33. Ray
> State: North Dakota
> Population: 483

Ray, North Dakota, was named after Al G. Ray, a chief special agent for the Great Northern Railway. Established in 1902 alongside the railway, Ray, in Williams County, was a supplier and service center for settlers and ranchers.

32. Loa
> State: Utah
> Population: 587

The first settlers in Loa, Utah,a town in Wayne County, were Mormon pioneers. Missionary Franklin Young, who had served in Hawaii, gave the town the name Loa, which means high, large, and powerful in Hawaiian. The town was officially incorporated nearly a century ago and its population remains small at just under 600 people.

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31. Amo
> State: Indiana
> Population: 598

Amo, Indiana, lies about 25 miles west of Indianapolis in Hendricks County. The town was founded by Joseph Morris in 1850 as Morristown, but was later incorporated as Amo in 1913.

30. Eva
> State: Alabama
> Population: 601

This Alabama town was not always called Eva. In fact, its original name was Cowhead — much less beautiful than its current name. Located in Morgan County, Cowhead underwent the necessary name change in 1883 so that a post office could be established. The name came as a suggestion from a local physician who, upon deciding a new town name, had just delivered a baby who was named Eva.

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29. Ava
> State: Illinois
> Population: 613

Ava, Illinois, sits just east of the border with Missouri and north of the Trail of Tears State Forest. The town is small, covering just over one square mile, but has a sizable Amish population.

28. Guy
> State: Arkansas
> Population: 653

Guy sits in Faulkner County, about 40 miles north of Little Rock. Guy’s history goes back to the mid-19th century, when T.J. Rowlett first settled in the area. Rowlett was the lone person in this town for 17 years until three families, who sought to relocate after the Civil War, accompanied him. Guy was one of the few places in the area that had not been destroyed from the war. The town was named Guy around 1890 after the postmaster’s son, and was incorporated in 1966.

27. Gas
> State: Kansas
> Population: 664

Gas, Kansas, is named for the natural gas discovery there in the late-19th century. Residents have embraced the strange name with the town’s quirky slogan: “Don’t pass Gas, stop and enjoy it.”

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26. Roy
> State: Washington
> Population: 689

Founded in 1884, Roy, Washington, was initially called Media because it was the median point between the larger cities of Tacoma and Tenino. After it was incorporated, Roy was renamed for founder James McNaught’s son, Roy.

25. Man
> State: West Virginia
> Population: 828

A community of less than 1,000 people, Man is situated at the mouth of Buffalo Creek in the western part of the state in Logan County. The town dedicated its name to prominent 19th-century West Virginia House of Delegates member Ulysses Hichman, by taking the last syllable of his surname. The town was incorporated 100 years ago.

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24. Arp
> State: Texas
> Population: 851

Ever heard of Arp, Texas? This town is located where the Missouri Pacific Railroad and Highway 135 meet in Smith County. The first documented settlers were said to have made their mark in 1868. However, the town didn’t start drawing attention until 1931 when a successful oil well was drilled. Arp’s population peaked in 1936 to 2,500 residents, more than double the number who live there today.

23. Yoe
> State: Pennsylvania
> Population: 994

Yoe, Pennsylvania, was originally called Snyderstown, after early founders Jacob Snyder and his family. But when the town wanted to open a post office, residents discovered there was already a Snyderstown in the state. Jacob Snyder’s grandson proposed changing the name to “Yohe” in honor of his mother, Catherine Yohe. But his father had remarried so the “h” was dropped to avoid offending his stepmother.

22. War
> State: West Virginia
> Population: 1,044

The name of this town in West Virginia is derived from War Creek, which runs through it. The town was incorporated in 1920 and is located in McDowell County in the state’s southwest region.

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21. Tye
> State: Texas
> Population: 1,063

Tye, Texas, underwent several name changes after it was founded in 1881. First called Tebo, the name was then changed to Hinds after one of the first families to settle there. Finally, it became Tye to honor the town’s minister and first postmaster John P. Tye.

20. Iva
> State: South Carolina
> Population: 1,137

Founded by Dr. Augustus Cook, the town of Iva acted as a shipping station for the Seaboard Railroad. Originally named Cook’s Station, Cook changed the town’s name to Iva when he discovered that there was another community with the same name. Iva is in Anderson County.

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19. Ola
> State: Arkansas
> Population: 1,170

Ola, Arkansas, was first named Petit Jean after a nearby river. That was until J.M. Harkey began to open businesses like a sawmill, cotton gin, and a store in town. He became such a prominent citizen that the town’s residents accepted a proposal to rename the town Ola after his first child.

18. Rio
> State: Wisconsin
> Population: 1,190

Located in Columbia County, it’s said that the name Rio, actually was the result of a mistake. A now-defunct newspaper, “Portage Register-Democrat,” asserts the name Rio was meant to be written as Ohio. Reportedly, the “o” and “h” smudged together in a request for a post office, which made it look like an uppercase “r” and lead postal officials to think the town’s name was actually Rio.

17. Ada
> State: Minnesota
> Population: 1,729

Ada was in an undesirable area for a long time in the 19th century, due to destruction caused by grasshoppers and its location was a considerable distance from the nearest market. It wasn’t until businessman William Shields’ arrival that the town started to attract newcomers. He convinced settlers to move there. In 1875, Ada had 22 residents, and by 1885 there were 720. Today, Ada, located in Norman County, has more than 1,700 residents.

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16. Bay
> State: Arkansas
> Population: 1,956

Despite its name, Bay, Arkansas, isn’t actually located at the edge of any major lake or ocean, though it is relatively close to the Mississippi River. Bay is home to two large Native American mounds, used for burial and ritual purposes, which are known as the Bay Mounds. Bay is in Craighead County, in northeast Arkansas.

15. Jal
> State: New Mexico
> Population: 2,105

Jal, New Mexico, is named for the John A. Lynch ranching operation in the southeastern corner of the state. The initials, JAL, were used to brand cattle and that name stuck for the town as well.

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14. Ely
> State: Iowa
> Population: 2,133

Ely is a short name that’s popular. Several states, including Minnesota, Texas, and Nevada, all have an Ely within its borders. Ely, Iowa, describes itself as a “progressive community” in Linn County.

13. Ord
> State: Nebraska
> Population: 2,329

Ord, Nebraska, and the North Loup Valley it resides in, played a major role in the westward expansion of early American settlers. Fort Hartsuff, in Ord, offered pioneers a refuge as they fought with Native Americans during the Plains Indian War. Ord was named after General E.O.C. Ord, who established Fort Hartsuff. Ord is in Valley County.

12. Ina
> State: Illinois
> Population: 2,450

Ina, Illinois, originally came about because its founders wanted to build a railroad depot in southern Illinois. A railroad worker was staying with a nearby family and asked the homeowner, S. E. “Jerry” Brown, to name the town. Brown had two daughters, Anna and Ina. Since there was already a town named Anna, Ina became the town name. Ina is in Jefferson County.

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11. Jay
> State: Oklahoma
> Population: 2,479

When deciding on a name for a new town in Oklahoma, the postal authorities had three options: Center, Washbourne, and Jay. They picked Jay because it was shorter and easier to write. The name comes from Jay Washbourne, who donated 10 acres of land to start the town.

10. Van
> State: Texas
> Population: 2,666

Van, Texas, was originally known as Swindall after George Swindall who donated land to build a school in 1880. That name was unofficial and renamed Van by its first postmaster, James Vance.

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9. Ava
> State: Missouri
> Population: 2,955

Ava, Missouri’s name has a reference, specifically to 2nd Kings 17:24, which reads in part “And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava…”

8. Ely
> State: Minnesota
> Population: 3,441

Like many other cities and towns in Minnesota, Ely is located on the shore of a lake — Shagawa Lake to be exact. The area offers many outdoor activities, like canoeing, fishing, and hiking in the summer, and skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.

7. Ely
> State: Nevada
> Population: 4,169

The origin of the name Ely, Nevada, has different theories as to where it came from. It may be from Smith Ely, who funded a nearby mine, frontiersman John Ely, a New York congressman, or Ely, Vermont, the hometown of early settler J.W. Long.

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6. Tea
> State: South Dakota
> Population: 4,628

The original name of Tea, South Dakota, was Byron, but the name was already in use by another South Dakota town. While brainstorming for a new name at a meeting, residents took a tea break and decided to add “tea” to the list of potential replacements. It was eventually selected as the permanent name.

5. Ada
> State: Ohio
> Population: 6,046

For many years after it was established in the 19th century, Ada, solely relied on the lumber industry to keep the town afloat. The town, first known as Johnstown, was significantly bolstered by the arrival of a railroad. Ada is in Hardin County.

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4. Opp
> State: Alabama
> Population: 6,635

Opp is named after a lawyer who helped a small town thrive. Henry Opp, a lawyer from Andalusia, Alabama, defended the L & N Railroad in its plan to build a railroad around a somewhat populated area. Because the railroad forked in the area, it spurred the town’s growth. In appreciation of Opp’s work, local residents named the Covington County town after him.

3. Rye
> State: New York
> Population: 15,949

Rye is one of the oldest American cities in the country, located in Westchester County, New York. The area was first settled in 1660, after Native Americans signed a treaty to share the land. In 1695, the town broke away from New York and joined Connecticut in protest of a court ruling, but rejoined New York in 1700. The town name was chosen to give homage to the settlers’ ancestors in Rye, England.

2. Ada
> State: Oklahoma
> Population: 17,240

Ada was incorporated on April 1, 1901, and the very next day, the town’s first newspaper, the Ada Star, debuted. The town was named after the daughter of an original settler, Jeff Reed, who had proposed her name be used for the post office designation. Cotton was the main contributor to the success of the community’s economy in the early 20th century. Today, Ada is the county seat of Pontotoc County.

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1. Roy
> State: Utah
> Population: 37,853

Roy, Utah, has an unusually tragic story for how it got its name. The town was known as Central City, Sandridge, the Basin, and Lakeview before ultimately being changed to Roy to honor Roy C. Peebles, a local boy who died in 1884.

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