People have long been fascinated with very long words and extremely long names in particular. A famous example is the Welsh village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, or Llanfair PG, for short. Names are meant to describe and distinguish one place or person from another. While long names might be unique and better distinguish a place, other times short names are preferred.

When settlers came to the United States more than three centuries ago, they had many opportunities to name new cities. Often, they named towns after people who have contributed in some way to the town’s development. Or they named towns after landmarks or historical events. Sometimes these names were meaningful, and sometimes less so.

Whether they have a deep meaning or not, 24/7 Tempo set out to discover the town or city with the shortest name in each state.

In most states, these places have names consisting of four letters or fewer, with one exception at seven letters. This doesn’t come close to other towns around the world, where even one letter can be a name. In fact, there is a village in Sweden a one-letter name: Å.

Cities around the world choose their names for a variety of reasons. A place like Cairo was named to remember its glory in ancient history — Cairo means “one who is victorious” in Arabic. Other cities are simply named to describe the location, like Shanghai, which means “city above the sea.”

Sometimes, the idea behind a community’s name is to distinguish it from others and may therefore represent a geographic feature. Towns sometimes also change their names, either because they have grown too much or they do it as a publicity stunt. The resulting names can be quite amusing — here are 50 of the least common town names in every state.

Click here to see the shortest city name in every state

Methodology:

To identify the shortest town name in every state, 24/7 Tempo 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 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,” “municipality,” etc. only when these were parts of the official title. For example, with Gas City, Indiana, “City” is part of the city’s proper name so we counted it, whereas the “city” in Gas, Kansas, is not part of the official name and was not counted. Most states’ shortest place names are tied with other places in the state. Ties were broken by taking the shortest place name with the largest population. Population figures are five-year averages from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.

1. Alabama
> Shortest town name: Opp
> Population: 6,520

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

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2. Alaska
> Shortest town name: Eek
> Population: 491

Eek, Alaska is a traditional Yup’ik Eskimo village that’s split in two by the Eenayarak River. It used to be located on the Apokok River, but flooding forced the village to relocate in the 1930s. The original name of the village was actually Ekvicuaqm, but missionaries were unable to pronounce it, so the name was eventually shortened to Eek.

3. Arizona
> Shortest town name: Mesa
> Population: 491,194

Located in the Greater Phoenix Area, Mesa is the third largest city in Arizona. Despite its modern metropolis feel today, the history of Mesa dates back to the Hohokam people at least two thousand years ago. The Hohokam built a huge canal system hundreds of miles long that is considered to be the most sophisticated in the continent. Many of them are still used to this day.

4. Arkansas
> Shortest town name: Bay
> Population: 2,077

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, which are known as the Bay Mounds.

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5. California
> Shortest town name: Napa
> Population: 79,516

If you like wine, there’s a good chance you’re already familiar with Napa, California. Founded in 1848, Napa quickly became an agricultural powerhouse, as well as a gold rush town. The area has continued to flourish, largely because of tourism.

6. Colorado
> Shortest town name: Rye
> Population: 185

Rye, Colorado, located in the San Isabel foothills, got its name specifically because it’s so short. The town was originally named Table Top Mountain, but post office workers said that was too long. They got their wish for a shorter name and it was changed to Rye.

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7. Connecticut
> Shortest town name: Derby
> Population: 12,596

Not only does Derby hold the shortest name for Connecticut, but it’s also its smallest city. Located between rivers, the city was colonized by early settlers who named the area after Derby, England in 1675. Today Derby benefits from its relative proximity to larger cities. New Haven and Bridgeport are within commuting distance, and New York City is less than two hours away by train.

8. Delaware
> Shortest town name: Dover
> Population: 37,331

The name “Dover” may be short, but the city isn’t short on things to do. Dover just so happens to be Delaware’s capital city. The city is just a handful of miles away from Delaware Bay and the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge.

9. Florida
> Shortest town name: Jay
> Population: 396

Jay, typical small town U.S.A., is about 1.7 square miles in Santa Rosa County, not far from the Alabama border. It was incorporated in 1951 and named after its first postmaster, J.T. Nowling. The median household income is almost $40,000 and the median property value is about $70,000.

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10. Georgia
> Shortest town name: Ila
> Population: 405

Though Ila, Georgia, has a unique name, its first moniker was downright strange. Settled in 1879, the town that became Ila was first called “0’possum” (Yes, that’s a zero there, not an “O.”). It was later changed to Ila after “a very beautiful little girl” from the community.

 

11. Hawaii
> Shortest town name: Hilo
> Population: 46,284

Hilo, a city of about 58 square miles, is known for beautiful waterfalls and lush rainforests. Some of its first inhabitants lived there as early as 1100 AD. You can see the famous dormant volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, in Hilo, which means “twist” in Hawaiian.

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12. Idaho
> Shortest town name: Kuna
> Population: 18,445

During the late 1800s, a pathway westward through Idaho was put in place. To avoid building on uneven terrain, the Oregon Short Line Railway Company decided to build a station called “Kuna” about 15 miles from Boise. A town would then grow from around the station. It’s also just north of a lava tube cave system known as Kuna Caves.

13. Illinois
> Shortest town name: Ina
> Population: 2,495

Ina, Illinois, originally came about because its founders wanted to attract a railroad to come through 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 was selected as the name.

14. Indiana
> Shortest town name: Amo
> Population: 530

The small town of Amo, Indiana, lies about 30 miles west of Indianapolis in Hendricks County. The town was founded by John Morris in 1850 as Morristown and changed its name in 1855. The town was incorporated in 1913.

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15. Iowa
> Shortest town name: Ely
> Population: 2,078

Ely is one of the more popular short city names, as it appears on this list three times along with towns in Minnesota and Nevada. Ely, Iowa, was originally settled in 1838 by a German immigrant. It became a railroad town and a place for pioneers to stock up on supplies.

16. Kansas
> Shortest town name: Gas
> Population: 488

Located in Allen County, the city of Gas obtained its name from the abundance of natural gas that was discovered in the area. That isn’t to say the city doesn’t know what its name implies. The town’s slogan is: “Don’t Pass Gas, Stop and Enjoy it.”

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17. Kentucky
> Shortest town name: Clay
> Population: 1,030

Clay, Kentucky, has been named “Clay” several times. The town was originally named Ashland, probably in honor of the Lexington home of 19th-century statesman Henry Clay. It was changed to Clay, then postmaster Bush D. Winstead renamed it Winstead. Three months later, the name Clay returned. It was renamed Claysville in 1860 before the Clay name returned for good in 1872.

18. Louisiana
> Shortest town name: Sun
> Population: 335

Sun, Louisiana is a small village on the eastern edge of the state. It’s just a few miles away from the border with Mississippi. Like many southern Louisiana cities, the area around Sun is checkered with rivers, creeks, and lakes.

19. Maine
> Shortest town name: Saco
> Population: 19,342

Saco, Maine is bordered on the east by Saco Bay and on the south by the Saco River. Though it started as a mill town and textile manufacturing area, Saco now uses its coastline area to attract visitors.

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20. Maryland
> Shortest town name: Luke
> Population: 109

Despite its small population, the town of Luke was once an important industry town in Maryland. The industry was paper, and business was booming. At one point, over 1,000 people were employed at the Piedmont Pulp and Paper Company, located in what is now called Luke. The town once known as West Piedmont changed its name to accommodate the family that chartered the paper company — the Luke family.

21. Massachusetts
> Shortest town name: Lynn
> Population: 93,617

The city of Lynn, Massachusetts, actually predates the U.S. The city that became Lynn was founded in 1630. Settlers who moved to Lynn from nearby Salem initially called the city Saugus, but once its first minister came from King’s Lynn, England, the townspeople renamed the city Lynn in his honor.

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22. Michigan
> Shortest town name: Troy
> Population: 83,881

Troy was first settled by pioneers who traveled from the city of the same name in New York in the 1820s. Once known for its agriculture, Troy has blossomed into a suburb of over 80,000 people. The city is home to several universities and upscale shopping experiences that bring customers across city and even state lines to buy high-end merchandise.

23. Minnesota
> Shortest town name: Ely
> Population: 3,398

The Ely, Minnesota, area was settled by Native Americans before white settlers were attracted by what they believed was gold in the area. The discovery turned out to be iron pyrite or fool’s gold. However, that led to the discovery of iron ore deposits.

24. Mississippi
> Shortest town name: Iuka
> Population: 2,978

Founded in 1857, the city of Iuka was built on a Chickasaw native reserve. Named after Chief Iuka, the town is near the only area in Mississippi that was subject to battle during the Civil War.

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25. Missouri
> Shortest town name: Ava
> Population: 2,916

Like many other places on this list, Ava, Missouri, has gone through a historical name change. The town was first called Militia Springs because during the Civil War, Missouri’s Union militia camped out around the area. It was renamed Ava in 1881.

26. Montana
> Shortest town name: Troy
> Population: 687

Unlike its name relative in Michigan, Troy, Montana is a small community in between the Kootenai River and a scenic mountain range. Fearing the wilderness as well as indigenous tribes, pioneers didn’t settle the land until gold was discovered in the mid-1860s. That was until gold was discovered in the mid 1860s. There are several theories on how the city earned its name, but the most accepted stems from the story of E.L. Preston, who named the town after the son of the family who provided him with a place to live while he laid out the town site.

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27. Nebraska
> Shortest town name: Ord
> Population: 2,284

Ord, Nebraska, and the North Loup Valley it resides in played a major role in the westward expansion of early American settlers. Fort Hartsuff, located 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.

28. Nevada
> Shortest town name: Ely
> Population: 4,063

The city of Ely is best known as the Nevada’s most important copper mining region. To accommodate growth of the copper industry, the Nevada Northern Railway was built in 1906. This well-preserved railroad acts as a tourist hot spot when visitors look for something other than the glitz and glamor of Las Vegas.

29. New Hampshire
> Shortest town name: Dover
> Population: 31,316

Dover, New Hampshire, was an early lynchpin for the state’s economy, even before the U.S. broke away from England. During the colonial era, Dover’s proximity to the ocean made it a thriving shipbuilding hub for the colonies.

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30. New Jersey
> Shortest town name: Lodi
> Population: 24,498

Named after an Italian city, Lodi became an incorporated city after merging with the Lodi Township and Saddle River Township in 1894. The presence of a large Italian community in Lodi made it the ideal choice for the hit TV show The Sopranos, which chose several of the town’s restaurants and bars as film locations.

31. New Mexico
> Shortest town name: Jal
> Population: 2,032

Jal, New Mexico, gets its name from the John A. Lynch ranching operation that settled near present-day Jal. The initials, JAL, were used to brand cattle and that name stuck for the town as well.

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32. New York
> Shortest town name: Rye
> Population: 15,862

Rye is one of the oldest American cities in the country. The area was first settled in 1660, after Native Americans signed a treaty to share the land. The town ceded from New York and joined Connecticut in protest of a court ruling in 1695, but joined back in 1700 permanently. The town name was chosen as it gave homage to the settlers’ ancestors in Rye, England.

33. North Carolina
> Shortest town name: Cary
> Population: 163,266

Cary, North Carolina, is named for Samuel Fenton Cary, even though he had nothing to do with the town itself. The town’s actual founder, Francis Page, admired Cary because of his strong stance against alcohol, and so he named the town in his honor.

34. North Dakota
> Shortest town name: Ray
> Population: 479

The small town of Ray, North Dakota is named after Al G. Ray, a chief special agent for the Great Northern Railway. Established in 1902 alongside the railway, Ray became a supplier and service center for settlers and ranchers.

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35. Ohio
> Shortest town name: Ada
> Population: 5,970

For many years after it was established, Ada, Ohio, 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.

36. Oklahoma
> Shortest town name: Ada
> Population: 17,276

In the late 1880s, the Daggs family began to settle in the Native American territory that is now known as Ada. The town is named after the daughter of Jeff Reed, a relative of the Daggs who was appointed to carry mail through hostile land. Incorporated in 1901, the city is home to country music singer Blake Shelton and retired NFL player Jeremy Shockey.

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37. Oregon
> Shortest town name: Bend
> Population: 90,500

Bend, Oregon, lies on both sides of the Deschutes River in central Oregon. There used to be a ranch on the banks of the river known as Farewell Bend Ranch. That name was eventually shortened to just Bend and became the town’s name.

38. Pennsylvania
> Shortest town name: Yoe
> Population: 1,052

Once called Snyderstown, Yoe was established on what was once part of two farms in York township. After being denied a permit for a post office on the grounds that another town in Pennsylvania was bearing the same name, the name Yoe was suggested by Moses Snyder to commemorate his mother and his father’s first wife. The settlement continued to grow and was incorporated into a borough in 1893.

39. Rhode Island
> Shortest town name: Warwick
> Population: 81,079

Upon its founding in 1642, Warwick, Rhode Island was initially called Shawomet. For decades, there was a disagreement about whether the city belonged to Rhode Island or Massachusetts. Robert Rich, the Duke of Warwick, settled the matter and sided with Rhode Island. Out of gratitude, its residents renamed the city after him.

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40. South Carolina
> Shortest town name: Iva
> Population: 1,515

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

41. South Dakota
> Shortest town name: Tea
> Population: 5,098

As you may have guessed, Tea, South Dakota gets its name from the drink. The town was initially named Byron, but when applying for a post office, townspeople learned the name was taken. They were told to come up with a list of 10 short names to replace it. During a tea break, the name “Tea” was added to the list and eventually selected as the permanent name.

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42. Tennessee
> Shortest town name: Dyer
> Population: 2,446

The quiet city of Dyer embraces its little city feel. Established in 1899, it was originally known as Peck’s Switch — a name given to it by railroad workers in the area. The town’s railway history is commemorated every July with the annual Dyer Station Celebration.

43. Texas
> Shortest town name: Van
> Population: 2,649

As many towns began to grow over a century ago, they needed a post office. To get one, they had to settle on a name, so postmasters had a lot of say in what many towns were called. Van got its name from its first postmaster, James Vance.

44. Utah
> Shortest town name: Roy
> Population: 38,238

Roy was settled in 1873, 25 years after the neighboring community of Ogden. The reason why it was left alone for so many years was because settlers didn’t want to live on the dry and sandy land. Harsh conditions aside, four brothers-in-law came and measured the land for what they hoped would be a permanent settlement. The name is derived from Roy C. Peebles, a child of a local school teacher who died.

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45. Vermont
> Shortest town name: Barre
> Population: 8,711

Barre is just about seven miles southeast of Montpelier, Vermont’s capital. The city was first settled in the late 18th century. Its original name was Wildersburgh. What keeps Barre’s economy going is granite quarrying and finishing as well as tourism.

46. Virginia
> Shortest town name: Wise
> Population: 3,047

High on the Appalachian Plateau sits the town of Wise, Virginia. The county seat of Wise County, it was named after Henry A. Wise, who had just become Governor of Virginia. Wise would be a six-term congressman infamous for his unabashed defense of slavery and his role as a Confederate army officer.

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47. Washington
> Shortest town name: Roy
> Population: 692

The city of Roy, Washington used to be known as Media because it was roughly halfway between Tacoma and Tenino for those travelling along the Northern Pacific Railroad in the 1870s. The name Roy comes from the name of founder James McNaught’s son.

48. West Virginia
> Shortest town name: Man
> Population: 1,009

A community of less than 1,000 people, Man is situated at the mouth of Buffalo Creek on the west side of the state. 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.

49. Wisconsin
> Shortest town name: Rio
> Population: 1,091

It’s believed that Rio actually comes from a mistake. A now-defunct newspaper asserts the name “Rio” comes from the word “Ohio.” Reportedly, the “O” and “H” smudged together in a request for a post office, looking like an uppercase “R” and making postal officials think the town’s name was actually Rio.

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50. Wyoming
> Shortest town name: Cody
> Population: 9,761

When Colonel William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody passed through the region in the late 19th century, he knew he stumbled on something special. Finding rich irrigation, hunting grounds, and within a close proximity to Yellowstone National Park, he came back with his men to start work for a town in the mid-1890s. In 1901, Cody was incorporated and some of its street signs are named after those men to this day.

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