Photo Credit: Lawrence OP
There are many place names in the US that are associated with Thanksgiving. Some of these are taken from the message of the holiday and some from the rituals, such as the food we eat at this time. It’s not surprising that these cities, towns, and villages etc., have taken these names, as Thanksgiving is such a big part of the nation’s culture. Since the first Thanksgiving feast in 1621 when the pilgrims and the Native American Wampanoag tribe joined together to celebrate a bountiful harvest at Plymouth in Massachusetts, American families have given thanks by sharing a traditional dinner. Here's a list of the 35 most "thankful" cities, whose names are a constant reminder of the thankful season!
GIVING THANKS
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." - John Fitzgerald Kennedy
- Thanksgiving, Talbot County, Maryland
- Thankful, Wilkes County, North Carolina
TO BE A PILGRIM
The pioneers who traveled on the Mayflower were called the Puritans. Eventually the word, ‘pilgrims’ and Pilgrim Fathers came into use when referring to the Puritans. Pilgrim is taken from the Latin words ‘per’ (through) and ‘ager’ (land or field) and came to mean a foreigner. The word developed through Old French and English to the word we know today.
- Pilgrim, Benzie County, Michigan
- Pilgrim, Martin County, Kentucky
- Pilgrim, Dade County, Missouri
- Pilgrim, Gonzales County, Texas
SHARING JOY
"Remember God's bounty in the year. String the pearls of His favor. Hide the dark parts, except so far as they are breaking out in light! Give this one day to thanks, to joy, to gratitude!" - Henry Ward Beecher
- Joy, White County, Arkansas
- Joy, Mercer County, Illinois
- Joy, Horry County, South Carolina
- Joy Lake, Washoe County, Nevada
- Mount Joy, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
A TIME FOR LOVE
"For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Love Valley, North Carolina
- Love County, Oklahoma
- Loveland, Colorado (Nickname - City of Love)
- Loving, Eddy County, New Mexico
LET THE FEASTING COMMENCE
Turkey
It’s commonly believed that Native Americans introduced the wild turkey to the Pilgrims, although not necessarily at the first Thanksgiving. Benjamin Franklin campaigned for the turkey to be the national symbol for the country. Americans will eat 48 million Thanksgiving turkeys with the leading producer being Minnesota.
- Turkey, Marion County, Arkansas
- Turkey, Breathitt County, Kentucky
- Turkey, Sampson County, North Carolina
- Turkey, Highland County, Ohio
- Turkey, Hall County, Texas
- Turkey, Wyoming County, West Virginia
- Turkey Creek, Evangeline Parish, Louisiana
Cranberry
Native Americans called them ‘ibimi berries’. The colonists named them ‘craneberries’. There are two theories for this. One is that the stem and bud looks like the head and neck of a crane and the other is that cranes living around Cape Cod fed on the berries, which grew on the bogs.
- Cranberry, Raleigh County, West Virginia
- Cranberry, Carroll County, Maryland
- Cranberry, Avery County, North Carolina
- Cranberry, Butler County, Pennsylvania
Pumpkin
Native Americans grew pumpkins before settlers came. Historians believe that the pumpkin pie came later, following the first Thanksgiving, but it is likely that pumpkins were served, flavored with honey or syrup.
- Pumpkin, San Jacinto County, Texas
- Pumpkin, Paulding County, Georgia
- Pumpkintown, Randolph County, Georgia
- Pumpkintown, Jackson County, North Carolina
- Pumpkintown, Pickens County, South Carolina
- Pumpkintown, Randolph County, West Virginia
- Pumpkintown, Macon County, Tennessee
AND NICKNAMES FOR PLACES ASSOCIATED WITH THANKSGIVING SENTIMENTS
- Philadelphia – City of Brotherly Love
- Orem, Utah – Family City USA
It's easy to be festive during the holidays, but these 35 thankful cities have a reminder to be thankful all year. Know of a "thankful" city that didn't make the list? Tell us about it in the comments section below!
