
the town of Climax, Michigan, on a map. (SevenMaps/Shutterstock)
There are a handful of Michigan town names that raise eyebrows. Read on to learn about some of the most outrageous.
Every Michigander knows that the traditional answer to “Where in Michigan are you from?” is to point to a spot on your palm (Yoopers being a notable exception, although some have a neat two-handed way of pulling it off). Now, you might think that this tradition is purely due to the distinct shape of the Mitten—but looking at some of the town names in the Wolverine State, there might be another origin: not being able to keep a straight face when you say them!
From the saucy to the staggering to the borderline sacrilege (you’ll know it when you see it), Michigan is full of towns with eyebrow-raising names. Take a look at some of the most outrageous examples, and see if you’re ready for a road trip to some of the most shocking towns in the state. Just be warned that your mind may make a few detours straight into the gutter!
1. Bad Axe, Michigan
A town for the very toughest people? Not quite. The town of Bad Axe, in Huron County, didn’t get its name from all the “bad axes” living there, but from something much more literal. Bad Axe started as a hunting camp, and in the nineteenth century, a group of hunters left behind an old, rusty, out-of-shape axe, and the people who found it left behind referred to the site as “Bad Axe Camp,” which was incorporated in 1885 into the Village, and later Town, of Bad Axe, which it remains to this day.
2. Beaver Island, Michigan
One of the more wholesome possibilities that springs to mind regarding Beaver Island is that it’s just crawling with industrious, dam-building critters. This island, the largest in Lake Michigan and part of Charlevoix County, has a curious history—including eight years as a Mormon monarchy, complete with a reigning king, King Strang, from 1848 to 1856, and a thriving Irish-American community that earned it the nickname “America’s Emerald Isle.” Today, though, there are indeed beavers on Beaver Island, along with birds, fish, and other critters, plus annual music and biking festivals.
3. Clam Union Township, Michigan
Not to be confused with Clam Lake Township in Wexford County or nearby Helena Township, formerly known as Clam River Township, Clam Union Township is located in Missaukee County with a population of just 907. The township is a haven for unusual names, also being home to the unincorporated community of Prosper, but it takes its name from the Clam River, as do the other clammier towns and communities in Michigan.
4. Climax, Michigan
Really, the town of Climax ought to be the, ahem, high point of our list. A village in Kalamazoo County with a population of less than 800 people, Climax got its name in the 1830s, when a land surveyor saw the fertile farmland in the area and declared this site the climax of all the scouting the trip had shown. Today, Climax is a small community roughly halfway between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo—and is a major highlight of the drive between the two cities.
5. Colon, Michigan
You may have heard about a town being described as the heart of a region, but what about other organs? Perhaps it’s best not to go there. After all, the village of Colon, in the southwestern corner of the Mitten, has a claim to fame that has nothing to do with the digestive system. Colon is the home of the Abbott Magic Company and describes itself as The Magic Capital of the World, with annual gatherings of stage magicians.
6. Cumming Township, Michigan
While a long-standing rivalry between Cumming and Climax has never been confirmed, it certainly wouldn’t be surprising. This civil township in Ogemaw County is home to a little over seven hundred people and a wide variety of lakes. Whether it’s fishing, swimming, or ice skating, you can take your pick, but highlights include such bodies of water as Cummings Lake, Devil’s Washbasin, Grousehaven Lake, and even nearby tributaries, such as Skunk Creek, which hopefully doesn’t live up to its name!
7. Felch Township, Michigan
If you’re not quite sure why this town name makes people blush, you might want to refrain from looking it up where your browser history can be logged—or right after you’ve eaten. A civil township in Dickinson County (okay, yes, this is a little on the nose) in the Upper Peninsula, Felch Township takes its name from Alpheus Felch, Michigan’s fifth-ever governor. Today, Felch is a small town of a little over six hundred and eighty people.
8. Hell, Michigan
Any guesses on what the road to this town is paved with? It takes a person with a good sense of humor to live in the middle of Hell itself, and that sense of humor is reflected all over town. Visitors to this unincorporated community in Livingston County are greeted with a “Welcome to Hell” sign, devil’s flames and all. While the origins of the town’s unusual name are lost to history, it’s now a point of pride. Today, visitors who “go to Hell” can enjoy a meal at the Hell Hole diner, ice cream from the Creamatory, and even be honorary “Mayor of Hell” for the day!
9. Jugville, Michigan
Located in the, ahem, bosom of Newaygo County, in the northwestern part of the Mitten, Jugville is a lakeside town perfect for a summer getaway. Another town whose name’s origins are now a mystery (perhaps something to do with moonshine? Or a cousin of the “Brown Jug” of U of M fame?), Jugville of today is best known for opportunities to enjoy sailing, hiking, and other outdoor adventures. Just remember to stay hydrated while you’re doing all that activity—in fact, maybe that’s what all the jugs are for!
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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