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Help[Opinions] Re: What do you think is the worst named city you’ve ever heard?
in reply to a message by Rainya
In addition to North Carolina and Pennsylvania, there are towns called Climax in Michigan, Minnesota, Colorado, and Georgia and a Climax Springs in Missouri. And there may well be examples in other states, too.
Back when these places were named no one would have associated the name with sexuality. "Climax" was not used as a sexual term until 1880 and most people in the general public wouldn't have known of that use until about 20 years after that.
Back when these places were named no one would have associated the name with sexuality. "Climax" was not used as a sexual term until 1880 and most people in the general public wouldn't have known of that use until about 20 years after that.
This message was edited 5/20/2025, 9:53 AM
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I wasn’t aware climax was a sexual term? My only association with climax is the climax of a book plot.
This message was edited 5/20/2025, 10:43 AM
From the Online etymology dictionary:
The meaning "sexual orgasm" is recorded by 1880 (also in terms such as climax of orgasm), and is said to have been promoted from c. 1900 by birth-control pioneer Marie Stopes (1880-1958) and others as a more accessible word than orgasm (n.).
I have always thought the reason modern people thought this was a bad place name was because of the sexual meaning. I don't see why people should think the meaning "high point of a story" should be objectionable.
The meaning "sexual orgasm" is recorded by 1880 (also in terms such as climax of orgasm), and is said to have been promoted from c. 1900 by birth-control pioneer Marie Stopes (1880-1958) and others as a more accessible word than orgasm (n.).
I have always thought the reason modern people thought this was a bad place name was because of the sexual meaning. I don't see why people should think the meaning "high point of a story" should be objectionable.