Texas Towns with Unusual Names

If you live in Texas you know that we do things bigger and better than anywhere (it ain’t braggin’ if it’s true). Texans are a proud lot and sometimes we do things a little bit different here … like naming our cities and towns. Trying to figure out how to get from here to there, you look at a map. But suppose you are going to Gruene, TX; how would you ask directions. Perhaps your destination is Mexia or even Bexar County. Pronounce them phonetically and you will be looking into a blank face looking back at you … like it’s you with the problem. So I am listing below only a few names of Texas towns. Some will be easy to pronounce, but they are, like we Texans, a bit unusual. A pronouncin’ list follows the list.

Texas Town with Unusual Names

Bee Cave
Beeville
Boenre
Burnet
Chillicothe
Cut and Shoot
Dime Box
Ding Dong
Dripping Springs
Gruene
Gun Barrel City
Mexia
Mule Shoe
Noonday
Oatmeal
Paint Rock
Palestine
Ponder
Rising Star
Uncertain

Hard to Pronounce Names (Pronouncin' List)

Boerne: The town of Boerne (pronounced Ber-ney) is a city in the Hill Country of Texas in the United States. It is the county seat of Kendall County Boerne was named in honor of Ludwig Börne, a German author and publicist, and its population was 6,178 at the 2000 census. The city is noted for the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case City of Boerne v. Flores.

Burnet: Burnet is a city in Burnet County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,735 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Burnet County.
Residents typically pronounce the name of the town (and county) as "BURN-it" rather than "bur-NET" as might be expected. (Its Burn –it, durn-it, learn it!)

Gurene: The town of Gruene, Texas (pronounced like the color "green", was founded in 1872 by German farmer Heinrich (Henry) D. Gruene

Mexia: Mexia (pronounced meh-HAY'-uh) is a city in Limestone County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,563 at the 2000 census. Original home of Anna Nicole Smith, for you pop culturalists!

Bexar: Bexar County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population was 1,392,931. Its county seat is San Antonio. It is pronounced "bear"

Palestine: Palestine (pronounced pal-a-steen) is located in east Texas.

Texas Influence on Pop Culture

Harold Jenkins felt that his real name wasn't marketable, and he changed his show business name in 1957. (Harold Lloyd Jenkins would always remain his legal name, however). Looking at a road map, he spotted Conway, Arkansas and Twitty, Texas. Thus, he went with the professional name of "Conway Twitty".