7 Bizarrely Named Towns In New York
New York is perpetually among the top states to visit in the nation. When it comes to the naming game, the Empire State can take on any other. The state keeps its deep Native American heritage close to its heart. Essentially "calling it how you see it," the areas and natural features later sprouted towns like Poughkeepsie, which remains one of the most known, mispronounced towns in the state.
Often leaving you tongue-tied with some of the most bizarrely sounding names, discover a whole new side of the state you think you know. Find out which town is the state's friendliest, with boutique shopping, mansions, and waterfront dining with retro vibes. Each town is an open invitation to learn the intriguing story behind the name and unique local culture over adventures that never repeat.
Chautauqua
The namesake for the county and lake on whose western shore the town sits may cause hesitation to pronounce, but it's simple: Shuh-taw-kwuh. Surrounded by lush state forests, some half an hour from Lake Erie's southeastern shore, it calls you for a summertime refresh from the city. Camp Pendergast is a top-rated base among the guests, who enjoy cooling dips post-hikes. Learn a thing or two in between, and the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau is a great place to start. The name translates from the Seneca language as "a bag tied in the middle, describing the lake's shape." The town has an ancestral connection to this lake. You can take the Chautauqua Belle on a boat tour while the Chautauqua Institution was founded in 1874 as an educational center for Sunday-school teachers and has since expanded to offer a variety of educational programs for all ages.
Chautauqua was an adult movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the institution that provided popular adult education courses and entertainment at the time. Among the various "halls," the spinoffs from the institution throughout town are local cultural spots for gatherings, events, and performances. The artsy town is full of places to enjoy art, crafts, and designs, including the Norton Hall, the intimate Bratton Theater, and local boutiques. Head to Andriaccio's Restaurant to recharge on gourmet Italian. The Miller Bell Tower juts into the lake on a grassy peninsula, perfect for picnicking against the blue. From here, you can easily visit the Barcelona Lighthouse along Lake Erie on the NY side and the Pennsylvania Welcome Center just south across the border.
Oneonta
Home to a reputable SUNY, many associate Oneonta with the national favorite pastime and rich Indian American heritage in the Mohawk Valley. First known as McDonald's Mills, then Milfordville in 1817, "Oneonta" derived from the Native American language for the "place of open rocks." Located centrally between greater Binghamton and Albany, it's easy to get here via Interstate 88. Oneonta welcomes you after a mountainous approach with deep heritage as an Indian council site turned hub of the Tri-County area of Otsego, Delaware, and Schoharie. The riverside college town in the Catskills foothills is famous for baseball, which gets you sliding right past the odd moniker. It is an enriching cultural experience to combine on a summertime getaway.
The historic Damashke Field opened in 1906 as Elm Park with past-class acts like Babe Ruth and Rogers Hornsby. Cooperstown All-Star Village is a popular stay, if not staying at Susquehanna Trail Campground Oneonta, NY. Neahwa Park offers an expansive, pet-friendly green with baseball fields, tennis courts, a skate park, and a playground. Oneonta Sports Park is popular among families for various miniature golf courses, including disc and foot. Don't miss the campus on a stroll and stop by the renovated A.J. Read Science Discovery Center, with free entry and interactive science activities. South of town, Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch is rich in wildlife, including ghost pipes and wood frogs, prey birds like hawks and vultures, wildflowers along the Susquehanna River, and beautiful fall foliage.
Penn Yan
Boasting the best spot atop the Y-shaped Keuka Lake's eastern arm, this down-to-earth Yankee town embraces the lakeside rurality. Penn Yan is infatuated with the great outdoors from the doorstep of the many welcoming guest accommodations. Home to lakes, waterfalls, and beautiful town greens from the doorstep, you may not even think twice about the intriguing moniker with so much to experience. Named not after a person but its geolocation on the border with Pennsylvania, get a glimpse into the past life in the area at the intimate YCHC Oliver House Museum. Anchored by a Main Street that is straight out of a storybook, the Windmill Farm & Craft Market is a seasonal fair to mingle and buy local goods like freshly dug creamer potatoes and huge pots of honey.
Keuka Outlet Trail kicks off right from Elm Street, the town's heartline, then meanders toward Seneca Lake with waterfalls along the way. You can set a picnic in the sight of one, like Cascade Falls, which powered the area's many mills in the 1800s. Take the trail all the way and dine at the apt Trails End, a restaurant in Dresden on Seneca's western shore. Back in town, Keuka Restaurant is a local haunt serving surf-n-turf in wooded accents. Indian Pines Park offers a woody appeal for recreation, while the lakefront Red Jacket Park is perfect for a morning jog or watching the sunset with your four-legged friend. The next-door Morgan Marine offers boat rentals to experience this unique lake firsthand. Stay in history at the yellow, white-columned Laurentide Inn.
Poughkeepsie
The name is not the only head-scratcher about this Dutchess County town on the east bank of the Hudson River, or is it a city? The City of Poughkeepsie grabs your attention and really runs with it, operating as a separate entity within the larger town by the same name. The name means “reed-covered lodge by the little water place,” according to the Wappinger Indian language. Fame-tinged in its infancy, it was settled by the Dutch in 1683, temporarily a state capital, and the US Constitution was ratified here in 1788. The important river grain port along the Hudson River declined after the Erie Canal was finished in 1825. Stop by Quiet Cove Riverfront Park and dine on New American fare at Shadows on the Hudson before drinks at Mill House Brewing Company.
Upon turning into a manufacturing and commercial center, Poughkeepsie held on to its small-town roots, where the Smith Brothers first made cough drops in 1852. But instead of pronouncing it with an "f," like cough, plus the reversed middle and end sounds, it remains among the Empire's most familiar Upstate towns and mispronounced, even among the US natives. For a full "Puh-kip-see" experience, don't miss the adventurous Walkway Over the Hudson State Park and the drive-in theater. Some come here for schooling or a campus stroll of the iconic Vassar College (founded 1861), plus Marist College (1929), among others. The lively feel and fun name make it one of the best places to visit, and being just a hop on a train from and to New York City, you're in a naturally beautiful area.
Sag Harbor
Named after a tuber, a potato-like staple crop cultivated by the local Pequot people, this unincorporated village is literally more than meets the eye, being part of both Southampton and East Hampton. Not your typical Hamptons town, Sag has an immense personality, encompassing beautiful beaches, boutiques, and trendy dining. Although the area is a long sought-after summer destination, partially for the peachy lifestyle by the beach, Sag is still most famous for its whaling history and keeping it "cool' in the otherwise often stuffy area. The creative community today attracts travelers from around the country, including like-minded artists and adventurous souls. You can visit the nearby Shelter Island and Montauk, which are some 30-minute drives east.
The "see-to-be-seen vibe" applies more to talented individuals and their work, like at the Grenning Gallery. Plus, there are so many low-key nature spots worth exploring and nooks around town, like coffee shops and taverns. After a morning at Grindstone Coffee & Donuts, stop by the local market and the town's marina. From Old Fort to the beautiful white Old Whalers Church of Sag, Havens Beach should be on everyone's itinerary no matter the season. The down-to-earth vibe rooted in the deep historical connections to the sheltered bay amplifies the real sense of place. Beachcombing its stretches of sand along the calming vistas and tame surf, you'll be bathing in scenic nature that inspires all the arts.
Schoharie
Schoharie is the seat of the county by the same name. With Schoharie Creek lacing in the north and Fox Creek through the heart, this teeny tiny creekside town, pronounced "skuh-hair-ee" feels cozy and adorable in the Catskill Mountains. Many come for the rural lifestyle, the pace, and the change in scenery from the city. Featuring lots of beautiful plants and fun garden items, plus fresh produce for sale, Schoharie Valley Farms/The Carrot Barn is worth the drive just for the apple cider, doughnuts, or apple cider donuts alone. You can stock up on Oscar's Smokehouse meats and cheeses later, but meanwhile, pick up a great sandwich to go on a hike.
It's easy to see how the town drowned in greenery got its name, which comes from a Mohawk word meaning "floating driftwood." Lily Park on Fox Creek spotlights a classic covered bridge along the trail, perfect for a unique photoshoot or a shaded rest stop. In the summer, you can stop by Terrace Mountain Orchard for apple picking. We welcome you anytime to browse the pretty pastel-yellow library. Don't miss Gas Up, a unique outdoor museum on the area's history that is not far from Rickard Hill Fossils. Schoharie Valley Railroad Museum boasts a red caboose. Stop by Palatine House 1743 Museum on the way to a fun evening at Wayward Lane Brewing amid lush nature just on the outskirts.
Skaneateles
Skaneateles boasts prime perch along the scenic northern shore of one of the nation's cleanest lakes. Only second to Lake George in New York, Skaneateles Lake attracts water fans from near and far as a favorite lakeside escape for centuries, particularly among the rich NYC families on summer vacation. Synonymous with beauty, health, and wealth, the state's friendliest town is accessible to an average American on a getaway. It offers a thriving maritime heritage, with historic mansions, cozy cafes, trendy boutiques, and quaint inns to have a blast out of the waters. Soak up the Hallmark movie vibes with wrap-around porches along the handsome main street, a town green, like Thayer Park or the gazebo at Clift Park, and visit local creatives at Skaneateles Artisans.
Translating from the Native American Iroquois tribe a "long lake," it's not uncommon to see a celebrity on vacation eyeing the crystal clear waters. From boating and sightseeing cruises to reinvigorating hikes and trailing the perimeter, the perfectly swimmable lake cleanses your soul of the dusty city. Some follow the wine trail and sample the local libations, from craft to bourbon, while others resort to retail therapy at the popular Skaneateles Jewelry. Perhaps the railbed path, Charlie Major Nature Trail, only feels abandoned because many turn into the Last Shot, a small-batch distillery, on the route. Bring a like-minded companion for lounging on the beach or antiquing, but don't get caught mispronouncing the proud name, and accentuate the middle "at" in "Skanny-at-las."
Tuxedo
Tuxedo is a perfect pitstop if traveling north from NYC to Beacon or Poughkeepsie. Home to a historic downtown, the old train station and the town's pretty Emporium building are worth stopping for a selfie. It is a miracle how a town with such a memorable name surrounded by natural wonders stays undercover in Orange County. Not named after a magician's outfit piece, the name comes from the Native American Indigenous word “tuxedo,” of the Lenni-Lenape tribe, used to describe the "crooked river." You'll be tempted by the beautiful river views along the Ramapo River. Stretch your legs with a four-legged friend through Harriman State Park, a huge space to roam with lakes, beaches, wooded trails, and camping areas, perfect for a whole getaway amid wildlife and elevated vistas.
With so many lakes and trailheads around, including easy access to the Appalachian Trail just north, the love for the outdoors must be in the local blood. Lemon Squeeze is a unique rock formation where you can squeeze through, play around, and scramble the rocks or enjoy a serene picnic and photoshoot, plus the trail from Elk Pen to Island Pond for more views. Many enjoy the neighboring Lake Welch Beach for a summer day of recreation. Browse the Snob Group, a boutique, and the pretty Tuxedo Park Library. The town doesn't feel so pompous after you get a good grip on local humor. Don't miss the Tuxedo Lookout at sunset, Dottie Audrey's Bakery Kitchen for dinner or breakfast the next day before browsing the next-door Vera Johnson Antiques for a perfect keepsake.
A Glimpse Into New York’s Uncommon Heritage Through Names
Home to Long Island, the "Big Apple," and Times Square, New York, can be both in-your-face blunt and quizzical when it comes to handles. It is a fascinating trait to discover through unique towns, surrounded by adventures that never repeat, like foliage hikes in Oneonta. Sag Harbor, after a tuber cultivated by the local Pequot people and used as a staple crop, is not like the rest of the Hamptons, with a name complementing its creative touch.
Keeping the native descriptions of the many lakes, rivers, and other gifts of nature, these towns carry their monikers proudly despite causing minor and significant goofs in mispronunciation. In Skaneateles, you can enjoy retro vibes during the wintertime "Dickens Christmas" or summertime recreation along one of the nation's cleanest lakes.
