Iowa got its name from the Ioway people, a tribe of Native Americans who occupied the area before the European settlers came. According to their language, Iowa means “beautiful” or “beautiful land.” Just like our state name has a meaning behind it, so do many of our town names! You may not even have heard of some of these stumpers, but the history behind them is fascinating. Here are 11 town names in Iowa and the meaning behind them that you probably never knew:
- Jamaica
Ashton B Crew/Flickr Apparently, the name that the townspeople wanted was already taken and they couldn’t agree on a different one, so they did the only thing you can do in that situation. The mayor put on blindfold, faced a map and placed his finger on Jamaica, and so the town name was born. That seems like a reasonable fair way to settle the situation to be honest. Perhaps more disputes should be put to the blindfold test.
Unfortunately, Jamaica, Iowa doesn’t quite have the same weather patterns as the island it’s named for. Bundle up!
- Pella
Dmetz61753/Wikimedia Commons The name Pella is a reference to Perea (an ancient kingdom ruled by Herod the Great), where the Christians of Jerusalem found refuge during the Roman-Jewish War. The town was named Pella because the townspeople were seeking religious freedom, much like the people of Perea. As you can see from the picture the town looks pretty stately, appropriate for its history having been named for an ancient kingdom.
- Elkader
Kevin Schuchmann/Wikimedia Commons Elkader was named after the Algerian leader Abd al-Qadir al-Jaza’iri. In 1846, the founders decided to name it for the young Algerian who was leading his people in resisting the French colonial takeover of Algeria. You may begin to see a trend, wars have a big influence on names in Iowa.
- Defiance
Dave/Flickr The story goes that the town got its name because the townspeople, who had relocated from another settlement, were unhappy that the railroad had not laid tracks by their old settlement. So because of that, the people called themselves ‘defiers’ and the town Defiance.
That may seem like a small issue now, but at the time Iowans lived and died by the railroad. You would have to move if you weren’t railroad accessible, unless you were operating on the most rural of bases.
- Beebeetown
Beebeetown Iowa / Facebook Originally the town was called Officialredrydercarbineactiontwohundredshotrangemodelairrifle, but the town was asked by the Post Office to come up with something a little shorter, hence the name “Beebeetown.” Honestly, we can’t tell which one is more outlandish.
It turns out though that Beebeetown was named for a prominent family in the area, the Beebee family. It’s not a reference to a type of gun like the original name might have indicated.
- What Cheer
Quinn Dombrowski/Flickr After their first choice of town names was rejected, the townspeople successfully got the town named “What Cheer,” which is an old slang term similar to today’s “What’s up.” It’s truly a wildcard once those first names get shot down.
- Council Bluffs
Andy Perkins/Flickr Council Bluffs was named for a meeting of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with the Otoe tribe, which took place at Council Bluff, near present day Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, which is 20 miles to the north. With this name you can never forget the rich history of the state.
- Fertile
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr Take a guess. It’s a pretty tough one! It was named Fertile because of…you guessed it! The fertile soil in the area. We respect a straight forward naming process.
- Lost Nation
Channone Arif/Flickr There are a few different local legends about the origin of the town name. One version says a man was looking for some relatives living in the area, and when he was asked where he was going, he said that he was looking for the lost nation. Seems like an odd response when they might have been able to help him find his family, but here we are.
- Correctionville
Magicpiano/Wikimedia Commons Correctionville is one that isn’t as obvious to most people. The city actually gets its name from a surveying practice of making correction lines. It is not in fact a town of prisons.
- Des Moines
Jason Mrachina/Flickr Our state capital was named after the Des Moines River, which is adapted from the French Rivière des Moines, which means “River of the Monks.” The French phrase “des Moines” translates to either “from the monks” or “of the monks”. Some think Des Moines refers to French Trappist monks, who lived in huts on top of what is now known as Monks Mound near St. Louis. Either way, monks were involved in this naming process.
If you’re from Iowa, we’d love to hear what town you’re from and how it got its name. From what we’ve uncovered most names are either deeply symbolic and thought out or completely random. Have any more fun town name stories? Share them with us in the comments section below!
Ashton B Crew/Flickr
Apparently, the name that the townspeople wanted was already taken and they couldn’t agree on a different one, so they did the only thing you can do in that situation. The mayor put on blindfold, faced a map and placed his finger on Jamaica, and so the town name was born. That seems like a reasonable fair way to settle the situation to be honest. Perhaps more disputes should be put to the blindfold test.
Unfortunately, Jamaica, Iowa doesn’t quite have the same weather patterns as the island it’s named for. Bundle up!
Dmetz61753/Wikimedia Commons
The name Pella is a reference to Perea (an ancient kingdom ruled by Herod the Great), where the Christians of Jerusalem found refuge during the Roman-Jewish War. The town was named Pella because the townspeople were seeking religious freedom, much like the people of Perea. As you can see from the picture the town looks pretty stately, appropriate for its history having been named for an ancient kingdom.
Kevin Schuchmann/Wikimedia Commons
Elkader was named after the Algerian leader Abd al-Qadir al-Jaza’iri. In 1846, the founders decided to name it for the young Algerian who was leading his people in resisting the French colonial takeover of Algeria. You may begin to see a trend, wars have a big influence on names in Iowa.
Dave/Flickr
The story goes that the town got its name because the townspeople, who had relocated from another settlement, were unhappy that the railroad had not laid tracks by their old settlement. So because of that, the people called themselves ‘defiers’ and the town Defiance.
That may seem like a small issue now, but at the time Iowans lived and died by the railroad. You would have to move if you weren’t railroad accessible, unless you were operating on the most rural of bases.
Beebeetown Iowa / Facebook
Originally the town was called Officialredrydercarbineactiontwohundredshotrangemodelairrifle, but the town was asked by the Post Office to come up with something a little shorter, hence the name “Beebeetown.” Honestly, we can’t tell which one is more outlandish.
It turns out though that Beebeetown was named for a prominent family in the area, the Beebee family. It’s not a reference to a type of gun like the original name might have indicated.
Quinn Dombrowski/Flickr
After their first choice of town names was rejected, the townspeople successfully got the town named “What Cheer,” which is an old slang term similar to today’s “What’s up.” It’s truly a wildcard once those first names get shot down.
Andy Perkins/Flickr
Council Bluffs was named for a meeting of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with the Otoe tribe, which took place at Council Bluff, near present day Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, which is 20 miles to the north. With this name you can never forget the rich history of the state.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Take a guess. It’s a pretty tough one! It was named Fertile because of…you guessed it! The fertile soil in the area. We respect a straight forward naming process.
Channone Arif/Flickr
There are a few different local legends about the origin of the town name. One version says a man was looking for some relatives living in the area, and when he was asked where he was going, he said that he was looking for the lost nation. Seems like an odd response when they might have been able to help him find his family, but here we are.
Magicpiano/Wikimedia Commons
Correctionville is one that isn’t as obvious to most people. The city actually gets its name from a surveying practice of making correction lines. It is not in fact a town of prisons.
Jason Mrachina/Flickr
Our state capital was named after the Des Moines River, which is adapted from the French Rivière des Moines, which means “River of the Monks.” The French phrase “des Moines” translates to either “from the monks” or “of the monks”. Some think Des Moines refers to French Trappist monks, who lived in huts on top of what is now known as Monks Mound near St. Louis. Either way, monks were involved in this naming process.
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Address: Iowa, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Iowa Town Names December 27, 2022 CC What are other towns in Iowa?
Cedar Rapids Davenport Adel Red Oak Glenwood Vinton Tiffin
The OIYS Visitor Center
Iowa Town Names
December 27, 2022
CC
What are other towns in Iowa?
Cedar Rapids Davenport Adel Red Oak Glenwood Vinton Tiffin
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
- Cedar Rapids
- Davenport
- Adel
- Red Oak
- Glenwood
- Vinton
- Tiffin
