The geek in me loves to collect list of things related to color, in this case, U.S. cities with color names. As the list grew, I wondered how each hue had found its way into the names of these cities, especially some of the more curious names. Like Blue Jay, White House, Black Jack, Red Lick and Blue Ball.
Cities with Black in Their Name
How Black Jack, Missouri Got Its Name
The City of Black Jack was named for three, unusually large and outstanding American Oak trees that germinated and grew at a main intersection in the city. They provided a place to rest, a place to meet fellow travelers, and a means to measure distance to and across the Missouri River. In 1840, these three trees were named and became widely known and recognized as ‘the Black Jacks’.
Black Diamond, Washington
Black Earth, Wisconsin
Black Hawk, Colorado
Black Jack, Missouri
Black Mountain, North Carolina
Black River Falls, Wisconsin
Black Rock, Arkansas
Black, Alabama
Blackburn, Missouri
Blackduck, Minnesota
Blackey, Kentucky
Blackfoot, Idaho
Blackshear, Georgia
Blackwater, Missouri
Blackwell, Oklahoma
Blackwell, Texas
Cities with Blue in Their Name
The color blue has several cities with color names that caught my attention.
How Blue Earth, Minnesota Got Its Name
The name Blue Earth is a translation of the Dakota Indian word “Mahkato,” meaning “Greenish blue earth.” The name of both the county and city of Mankato would be “Mahkato” if a spelling mistake made when the name was chosen had not changed the “h” to “n”. The name has remained Mankato ever since.
How Blue Jay, California Got Its Name
The town started as the homestead of Art and Norma Wixom. They leased a few vacation cabins and opened a store in 1914. Stoney DeMent leased the land and built a market called The Blue Jay Market in 1934. The store was named for the blue colored birds that live in the area, and this later became the name of the town built up around it. The naming of the town is something of a misnomer: the local variety of jay is actually the Steller's jay, not the closely related blue jay. While this is widely known in the area, the name has stuck.
How Blue Ball, Pennsylvania Got Its Name
The name originates from the Blue Ball Hotel, built more than two hundred years ago by John Wallace in Earl Town. Locals soon began calling the town "Blue Ball" after the inn. In 1833, Earl Town officially changed its name to Blue Ball.
Blue Ash, Ohio
Blue Ball, Pennsylvania
Blue Earth, Minnesota
Blue Grass, Iowa
Blue Hill, Nebraska
Blue Island, Illinois
Blue Jay, California
Blue Lake, California
Blue Mound, Kansas
Blue Mound, Texas
Blue Mounds, Wisconsin
Blue Rapids, Kansas
Blue Ridge Manor, Kentucky
Blue Ridge, Georgia
Blue Ridge, Texas
Blue River, Oregon
Blue River, Wisconsin
Blue Springs, Alabama
Blue Springs, Missouri
Blue Springs, Nebraska
Bluefield, Virginia
Bluefield, West Virginia
Cities with Brown in Their Name
Brown
Brown City, Michigan
Browndell, Texas
Brownell, Kansas
Brownfield, Maine
Brownfield, Texas
Browning, Missouri
Browns Valley, Minnesota
Brownsboro Farm, Kentucky
Brownsboro Village, Kentucky
Brownsboro, Texas
Brownsdale, Minnesota
Brownsmead, Oregon
Brownsville, Kentucky
Brownsville, Minnesota
Brownsville, Oregon
Brownsville, Tennessee
Brownsville, Texas
Brownton, Minnesota
Brownwood, Texas
Old Brownsboro Place, Kentucky
Cities with Gray or Grey in Their Name
Gray or Grey
Gray, Georgia
Gray, Iowa
Gray, Louisiana
Gray, Maine
Grayling, Alaska
Graymoor-Devondale, Kentucky
Grayson, Georgia
Grayson, Kentucky
Graysville, Alabama
Grayville, Illinois
Grey Eagle, Minnesota
Grey Forest, Texas
Greybull, Wyoming
Cities with Green in Their Name
Bowling Green, Florida
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Bowling Green, Missouri
Bowling Green, New York
Bowling Green, Ohio
Camp Verde, Arizona
Fountain Green, Utah
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green City, Missouri
Green Cove Springs, Florida
Green Forest, Arkansas
Green Grass, South Dakota
Green Isle, Minnesota
Green Lake, Wisconsin
Green Park, Missouri
Green Ridge, Missouri
Green River, Utah
Green River, Wyoming
Green Spring, Kentucky
Green, Kansas
Green, Ohio
Greenacres, Florida
Greenback, Tennessee
Greenbelt, Maryland
Greenbrae, California
Greenbrier, Arkansas
Greenbush, Minnesota
Greencastle, Indiana
Greencastle, Missouri
Greendale, Indiana
Greendale, Missouri
Greene, Iowa
Greenfield, California
Greenfield, Illinois
Greenfield, Indiana
Greenfield, Iowa
Greenfield, Massachusetts
Greenfield, Minnesota
Greenfield, Missouri
Greenfield, Ohio
Greenfield, Tennessee
Greenfield, Wisconsin
Greenhorn, Oregon
Greenlake, Wisconsin
Greenland, Arkansas
Greenleaf, Idaho
Greenleaf, Kansas
Greensboro, Alabama
Greensboro, Georgia
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensborough, South Carolina
Greensburg, Indiana
Greensburg, Kansas
Greensburg, Kentucky
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Greentop, Missouri
Greenup, Illinois
Greenup, Kentucky
Greenview, California
Greenville, Alabama
Greenville, Georgia
Greenville, Illinois
Greenville, Iowa
Greenville, Kentucky
Greenville, Michigan
Greenville, Mississippi
Greenville, Missouri
Greenville, North Carolina
Greenville, Ohio
Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, Texas
Greenwald, Minnesota
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwood Village, Colorado
Greenwood, Arkansas
Greenwood, Indiana
Greenwood, Minnesota
Greenwood, Mississippi
Greenwood, Missouri
Greenwood, South Carolina
Greenwood, Wisconsin
Matfield Green, Kansas
Mesa Verde, Colorado
Cities with Gold in Their Name
Gold Bar, WA - started as a prospectors camp in 1889, named by a miner who found traces of gold on a river gravel bar, Gold Bar became a construction camp for the Great Northern Railway and later the name for the city.
Gold Bar, Washington
Gold Beach, Oregon
Gold Hill, Oregon
Gold River, California
Golden, Colorado
Golden Eagle, Illinois
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Goldsby Oklahoma
Cities with Orange in Their Name
Orange Township, NJ which is also known as the Oranges (Orange, East Orange, South Orange and West Orange) was settled in 1780. Its name was derived from England's ruling house, the House of Orange.
City of Orange, California
Orange Township, New Jersey
Orange Beach, Alabama
Orange City, Florida
Orange City, Iowa
Orange Cove, California
Orange Grove, Texas
Orange, California
Orange, Connecticut
Orange, Massachusetts
Orange, Texas
Orange, Virginia
Orangeburg, South Carolina
Orangevale, California
Orangeville, Utah
Port Orange, Florida
West Orange, Texas
Cities with Pink in Their Name
How Pink Hill, NC got its name
The original town settler, Anthony Davis, owned a large farm on a hill in southern Lenoir County. Every spring, fields of pink flowers would bloom in the fields as far as the eye could see. Davis would name the community Pink Hill.
Glen Rose, Texas
Pink Oklahoma
Pink Hill, North Carolina
Rose City , Michigan
Rose Hill, Kansas
Rose Hill, Virginia
Rosebud, Missouri
Roseville, California
Cities with Purple in Their Name
Violet, Louisiana
Cities with Red in Their Name
How Red Lick, TX got its name
The red clay that is seen in much of the area is filled with salt. The deer would be seen licking the red clay for the salt content; therefore, we became known as Red Lick.
Auburn, Alabama
Auburn, California
Auburn, Massachusetts
Auburn, Washington
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Cherry Valley, California
Red Bank, New Jersey
Red Bank, Tennessee
Red Bay, Alabama
Red Bluff, California
Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee
Red Bud, Illinois
Red Cloud, Nebraska
Red Lake Falls, Minnesota
Red Lick, Texas
Red Lodge, Montana
Red Oak, Iowa
Red Oak, Texas
Red River, New Mexico
Red Run, Pennsylvania
Red Springs, Arkansas
Red Springs, North Carolina
Red Wing, Minnesota
Redding, California
Redding, Iowa
Redfield, Arkansas
Redfield, Iowa
Redfield, Kansas
Redfield, South Dakota
Redlands, California
Redmond, Oregon
Redmond, Washington
Redondo Beach, California
Redwater, Texas
Redwood City, California
Redwood Falls, Minnesota
Redwood Valley, California
Redwood, California
Redwood, Michigan
Vermillion, Ohio
Vermillion, South Dakota
Cities with Silver in Their Name
Silver City, Colorado
Silver Lake, Oregon
Silver Lake, Indiana
Silver Lake, Kansas
Silver Springs, Florida
Silver Spring, Maryland
Silverthorne, Colorado
Cities with White in Their Name
White Salmon, WA is named after the river of the same name. Lewis and Clark visited the area of what is now known as Bingen and White Salmon. Great numbers of white-fleshed salmon (a now-extinct species) were being caught and dried by the Indians at the mouth of a nearby river which sufficiently impressed Lewis and Clark to name the river White Salmon.
Alabaster, Alabama
Grand Blanc, Michigan
White, South Dakota
White Bear Lake, Minnesota
White Bird, Idaho
White Bluff town, Tennessee
White City, Kansas
White City, Oregon
White Cloud, Kansas
White Cloud, Michigan
White Earth, North Dakota
White Hall, Arkansas
White Hall, Illinois
White House, Tennessee
White Lake, South Dakota
White Mountain, Alaska
White Oak, Texas
White Plains, Georgia
White Plains, Kentucky
White Plains, New York
White River, South Dakota
White Salmon, Washington
White Settlement, Texas
White Sulphur Springs, Montana
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
White, Georgia
Whitefish, Montana
Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
Whitehall, Michigan
Whitehall, Montana
Whitehall, Ohio
Whitehall, Wisconsin
Whitehouse, New Jersey
Whitehouse, Ohio
Whitehouse, Texas
Whites Horse Beach, Massachusetts
Whitesboro, Alabama
Whitesboro, New Jersey
Whitesboro, New York
Whitesboro, Texas
Whitesburg, Georgia
Whitesburg, Kentucky
Whitesburg, Tennessee
Whitesville, Kentucky
Whitesville, Louisiana
Whiteville, North Carolina
Whitesville, Virginia
Whitewater, Kansas
Whitewater, Wisconsin
Whitewood, South Dakota
Whitewright,Texas
Whiting, Indiana
Whiting, Iowa
Cities with Yellow in Their Name
Yellow
Amarillo, Texas
Yellow Pine, Alabama
Yellow Pine, Idaho
Yellow Pine, Louisiana
Yellow Springs, Kentucky
Tell Me What You Know About Cities With Color Names
Are there any cities with color names that I've missed? Leave a comment and let me know so I can add it.
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Feature Credit Image: Chris Lawton
Such a fun list! Thanks for sharing! Here’s one to add: Red Springs, North Carolina (my father in law is from here!)
Thanks, Megan. Red Springs, North Carolina, is now on the list. I appreciate your excellent suggestion.
Black Earth, WI. Blue River, Blue Mound, Wi , Silverthorne, Co, Grey Bull, Wy
Thanks, Maureen. These are wonderful additions to our list.
Auburn and Mt. Auburn in Massachusetts
Thank you for the addional color related cities. I added Auburn, Massachusetts. I’m not seeing Mt. Auburn or Mount Auburn as cities.
Need states that have red in thier name
There are a few places called Violet in the US for purple, and Golden Eagle in Illinois, and a Rosebud in Missouri as well.
Thanks, Dee. I have added the cities you mentioned to the list. I am excited about discovering Violet, LA, since it is my first “purple” city. I couldn’t find it in other states, but let me know if I’ve missed it elsewhere. I appreciate your excellent additions to The Big List of Cites with Color Names.
Howdy. Maybe I missed it but Orange, Virginia.
No, I missed it. I don’t know how since I enjoy Orange, VA. It is a wonderful place in lovely Virginia. Good catch. I’ve updated the list. Thank you!
There’s another town named Gray, in Maine.
https://www.graymaine.org/
Thanks, Ben! I’ve added Gray, Maine, to my list.
White, SD and Vermillion, SD
Thanks, Rose! I’ve added White, SD and Vermillion, SD to my list.
Why isn’t there any purple?
Good question. I haven’t found any cities with purple in the name but if you know of any, let me know.
Vermilion, Ohio, named for the red clay found there
Thanks, Terri! I’ve added Vermilion, Ohio to my list.
Goldsby Oklahoma
Pink Oklahoma
Thanks for two good additions to my list! — Kate
Pink, Oklahoma
Thanks, Bob! Pink, Oklahoma, has been added to my list.
Orange, Massachusetts
I lived in MA years ago but didn’t recall this city until seeing you comment. It has been added, thank you for reminding me of another place with color as its name.
There is Auburn, Alabama in my football state 🙂
Roll Tide by the way!
Oh my gosh, how did I forget to add Auburn, Alabama!?! I’ve corrected that mistake, Amanda. Roll Tide!
there is also a city in Washington state called Auburn
Yes, Auburn, Washington is in the list. 🙂
Silver City, Colorado (old mining town, now with legalized gambling) And Whiting, Iowa
Thanks for those additions, Dee. I’ve added them to the list.
Whitewright,Texas
Added! Thanks for making me aware of another city with a colorful name.
Gray, Maine
Thanks, Xavier! Gray, Maine has been added to my list.
I live in Grand Blanc MI. Named by the French who settled here here in the winter
Thanks, Barb. I’ve added Grand Blanc, MI to my list.
you left one out
Which one? 🙂
Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
Thanks for adding another city name with color in its name, Maurice. It is now included in my list.
Whiting, Indiana
Thanks for letting me know about another colorful city. I have added Whiting, Indiana to the list. – Kate
Whiting, Maine
White Pigeon, Michigan
Whitewater, Wisconsin
More to add, thank you!
What about Amarillo or Mesa Verde? There are a number of cities missing because they’re not in English.
That said, I’m excited so many color names are on our cross country trip. An off-hand comment has become a goal and your map will be a great asset. Thank you.
I agree, Emily. There are many colorful city names based on color words from other languages that could be added. I’ll start with the two you mention but will have to spend some time researching since the few foreign language skills I have are pretty rusty. Enjoy your cross country trip!
You have Greenfield in Wisconsin, but not Green Bay? Seems a little silly to me!
Oops, never mind. I was looking at the map.
You had me momentarily feeling red in the face for having missed Green Bay. I was relieved to find out that it was already there.
and Green Bay is in Brown County
Oh, that is a double color location. I wonder if there are other counties with colors in their names?
Amarillo, TX
Good catch, thank you! I have added Amarillo to the list of yellow cities.
Thanks for letting me know about Hazel Green. I’ve added it to the list!
Auburn, California and Roseville California
Both good additions, thank you. I’ve added these cities to the list.
Coarsegold, Ca
Olivehurst – CA
Strawberry – CA
Grayson – CA
Gold Leaf – CA
Ivory – CA
Lemon Cove – CA
Lilac – CA
Oops, nevermind. I was looking at the map.
You had me momentarily feeling red in the face for having missed Green Bay. I was relieved to find out that it was already there.
Hazel Green, WI
Thanks for letting me know about Hazel Green. I’ve added it to the list!
Hi Becca,
I have added Vermillion, SD to the list. Thanks for bringing that city with the cool color name to my attention. I am always on the lookout for cities with lesser known color names but searching them out is much more time consuming than you might think so I am always happy to be tipped off by my wonderful readres like you.
Thanks,
Kate
There is a Vermillion South Dakota, I know Vermillion is not a mainstream color but it is still a color, there might be other cities that have lesser known color names too.
Hi Becca,
I have added Vermillion, SD to the list. Thanks for bringing that city with the cool color name to my attention. I am always on the lookout for cities with lesser-known color names but searching them out is much more time consuming than you might think so I am always happy to be tipped off by my wonderful readers like you.
Thanks,
Kate
I agree, Emily. There are many colorful city names based on color words from other languages that could be added. I’ll start with the two you mention but will have to spend some time researching since the few foreign language skills I have are pretty rusty. Enjoy your cross country trip!
Good catch! You’re not nitpicky, just correct. I’m from almost directly across the beltway in Alexandria, VA so should have caught that error myself.
This is really nitpicky, but I’m from Silver Spring Maryland and there isn’t an s at the end of Spring.
Good catch! You’re not nitpicky, just correct. I’m from almost directly across the beltway in Alexandria, VA so I should have caught that error myself.
I am not aware of any source that has this information, which is why I put it together. You can do what I did — search for an accurate list of city and town names by country and then just look through it for the names that include color. Good luck with your thesis.
Hello, I write my diploma thesis on colour in geographical names, can you help me with sources? I need the cities/monuments in Great Britain and the rest of the world except the USA. Thanks
I am not aware of any source that has this information, which is why I put it together. You can do what I did — search for an accurate list of city and town names by country and then just look through it for the names that include color. Good luck with your thesis.
OMG, Aimee. I never saw this and am quite sure there is not a city in TN named Red Weenie although I too would like it if there was one. I have removed it from the list.
I feel quite confident that this was a joke played on me by my intern who helped me gather this list. She joked that her hometown had a color name — Red Weenie! I can just see her giggling to herself knowing it was in the list and I never noticed.
Although I love the idea of a town in Tennessee named Red Weenie, I can’t seem to find any record of it anywhere but in your list. Can you verify where it is?
OMG, Aimee. I never saw this and am quite sure there is not a city in TN named Red Weenie although I too would like it if there was one. I have removed it from the list.
I feel quite confident that this was a joke played on me by my intern who helped me gather this list. She joked that her hometown had a color name — Red Weenie! I can just see her giggling to herself knowing it was in the list and I never noticed.