Old West Town Names: A List of Authentic and Imaginative Names

Looking for the perfect name for your Old West town? Whether you're writing a story, building a miniature town, or just indulging your love for the Wild West, this list of names is sure to spark your imagination and transport you to a time of cowboys, saloons, and frontier life. These names are a mix of authentic historical towns and imaginative creations, all capturing the spirit of the Old West.
1. **Abilene:** This Kansas town was a major cattle-shipping center in the 1800s, known for its wild and rowdy reputation. The name "Abilene" is of Hebrew origin, meaning "my father is joy."
2. **Alamo:** A historic mission and fort in San Antonio, Texas, known for its heroic defense during the Texas Revolution. The name "Alamo" is Spanish for "poplar tree."
3. **Albuquerque:** A city in New Mexico, founded by Spanish colonists in the 17th century. The name "Albuquerque" is derived from the name of the Duke of Albuquerque, a Spanish nobleman.
4. **Anaconda:** A mining town in Montana, named after the large snake found in the region. The name "Anaconda" is of South American origin, referring to the snake.
5. **Angel's Landing:** A dramatic cliff face in Zion National Park, Utah, known for its steep and challenging hike. The name "Angel's Landing" evokes a sense of beauty and danger.
6. **Apache Junction:** A town in Arizona, located near the historical lands of the Apache people. The name "Apache Junction" reflects the town's proximity to the Apache territory.
7. **Aspen:** A town in Colorado, known for its beautiful scenery and world-class skiing. The name "Aspen" refers to the trembling aspen tree, known for its leaves that tremble in the slightest breeze.
8. **Austin:** The capital of Texas, named after Stephen F. Austin, a pioneer who led the settlement of Texas. The name "Austin" is of English origin, meaning "noble" or "worthy."
9. **Badlands:** A desolate and rugged landscape in South Dakota, known for its distinctive rock formations. The name "Badlands" reflects the harsh and unforgiving nature of the land.
10. **Baker City:** A town in Oregon, named after Edward Dickinson Baker, a U.S. Senator who was a prominent figure in the Oregon Territory. The name "Baker City" reflects the town's historical significance.
11. **Bisbee:** A mining town in Arizona, known for its copper production and historic architecture. The name "Bisbee" is of English origin, possibly referring to the surname "Bisbee."
12. **Bodie:** A ghost town in California, known for its well-preserved buildings and its fascinating history. The name "Bodie" is of unknown origin, but it is thought to have been named after a local resident or a nearby landmark.
13. **Boise:** The capital of Idaho, named after the Boise River, which flows through the city. The name "Boise" is of French origin, meaning "wooded" or "forested."
14. **Brawley:** A town in California, known for its agriculture and its proximity to the Salton Sea. The name "Brawley" is of English origin, possibly referring to the surname "Brawley."
15. **Butte:** A mining city in Montana, known for its copper production and its unique landscape. The name "Butte" is French for "hill," reflecting the city's location on a hill.
16. **Carson City:** The capital of Nevada, named after Kit Carson, a famous frontiersman and explorer. The name "Carson City" reflects the city's connection to the history of the American West.
17. **Cheyenne:** The capital of Wyoming, named after the Cheyenne people, a Native American tribe who lived in the region. The name "Cheyenne" is of Native American origin.
18. **Chicago:** A major city in Illinois, known for its bustling economy and its rich history. The name "Chicago" is of Native American origin, meaning "wild onion."
19. **Cimarron:** A river in Oklahoma, known for its winding course and its historical significance. The name "Cimarron" is Spanish for "wild" or "untamed."
20. **Cody:** A town in Wyoming, named after Buffalo Bill Cody, a famous frontiersman and showman. The name "Cody" is of English origin, possibly referring to the surname "Cody."
21. **Colorado Springs:** A city in Colorado, known for its beautiful scenery and its proximity to Pikes Peak. The name "Colorado Springs" reflects the city's location near the Colorado Springs, a natural spring that was a source of water for early settlers.
22. **Deadwood:** A town in South Dakota, known for its wild and lawless reputation during the gold rush era. The name "Deadwood" refers to the dead trees found in the region, which were killed by a fire.
23. **Denver:** The capital of Colorado, named after James William Denver, a former governor of Kansas. The name "Denver" is of English origin, possibly referring to the surname "Denver."
24. **Dodge City:** A town in Kansas, known for its wild and lawless reputation during the cattle drives. The name "Dodge City" was given to the town in honor of the Dodge brothers, who were prominent businessmen in the region.
25. **El Paso:** A city in Texas, located on the border with Mexico. The name "El Paso" is Spanish for "the pass," referring to the pass through the Franklin Mountains.
26. **Eureka:** A town in Nevada, named after the Greek phrase "Eureka!", meaning "I have found it!" The name reflects the excitement of gold prospectors who discovered gold in the region.
27. **Flagstaff:** A city in Arizona, named after a flagpole that was erected by early settlers. The name "Flagstaff" reflects the town's early history and its connection to the American flag.
28. **Fort Worth:** A city in Texas, named after General William Jenkins Worth, a prominent figure in the Mexican-American War. The name "Fort Worth" reflects the city's military history.
29. **Gillette:** A town in Wyoming, named after Edward Gillette, a pioneer who settled in the region. The name "Gillette" is of English origin, possibly referring to the surname "Gillette."
30. **Gold Hill:** A ghost town in Nevada, known for its gold mining history. The name "Gold Hill" reflects the town's connection to the gold rush era.
31. **Grand Junction:** A city in Colorado, located at the junction of the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers. The name "Grand Junction" reflects the city's location at the meeting point of two important rivers.
32. **Great Falls:** A city in Montana, named after the Great Falls of the Missouri River. The name "Great Falls" reflects the city's proximity to the impressive waterfalls of the Missouri River.
33. **Helena:** The capital of Montana, named after Helena, the Greek goddess of light and beauty. The name "Helena" reflects the town's scenic beauty and its early history.
34. **Holbrook:** A town in Arizona, named after a nearby rock formation known as the "Holbrook" rock. The name "Holbrook" reflects the town's connection to the local landscape.
35. **Jackson:** A town in Wyoming, named after Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States. The name "Jackson" reflects the town's connection to American history.
36. **Junction City:** A town in Kansas, located at the junction of the Kansas and Smoky Hill Rivers. The name "Junction City" reflects the town's location at the meeting point of two important rivers.
37. **Leadville:** A mining town in Colorado, known for its silver production and its history as a boomtown. The name "Leadville" reflects the town's connection to the lead mining industry.
38. **Littleton:** A town in Colorado, named after William Littleton, a pioneer who settled in the region. The name "Littleton" is of English origin, possibly referring to the surname "Littleton."
39. **Los Alamos:** A town in New Mexico, known for its role in the development of the atomic bomb. The name "Los Alamos" is Spanish for "the poplars," referring to the poplar trees that grow in the region.
40. **Marfa:** A town in Texas, known for its unique art scene and its mysterious lights. The name "Marfa" is of Spanish origin, meaning "a kind of flower."
41. **Mesa:** A city in Arizona, named after the mesa, a flat-topped hill, that the city was built on. The name "Mesa" is Spanish for "table," reflecting the mesa's flat-topped shape.
42. **Miles City:** A town in Montana, named after Miles Plummer, a former sheriff of the Montana Territory. The name "Miles City" reflects the town's historical significance.
43. **Moab:** A city in Utah, named after the biblical city of Moab. The name "Moab" reflects the region's biblical history.
44. **Nome:** A city in Alaska, named after the local Yupik word "nomo", meaning "money" or "wealth". The name "Nome" reflects the city's connection to the gold rush era.
45. **Ogden:** A city in Utah, named after Peter Skene Ogden, a fur trader who explored the region in the early 19th century. The name "Ogden" reflects the city's connection to the history of the fur trade.
46. **Phoenix:** The capital of Arizona, named after the mythical bird that rises from its ashes. The name "Phoenix" reflects the city's growth and development after a period of hardship.
47. **Prescott:** A city in Arizona, named after William Prescott, a prominent figure in the Mexican-American War. The name "Prescott" reflects the city's military history.
48. **Rawlins:** A town in Wyoming, named after John A. Rawlins, a former Union general who played a role in the development of the West. The name "Rawlins" reflects the town's connection to the history of the American West.
49. **Reno:** A city in Nevada, known for its gambling and entertainment scene. The name "Reno" is of Italian origin, possibly referring to the surname "Reno."
50. **Rock Springs:** A town in Wyoming, named for the rock formations that were found in the region. The name "Rock Springs" reflects the town's connection to the local landscape.
51. **Roswell:** A city in New Mexico, known for its alleged UFO crash. The name "Roswell" is of English origin, possibly referring to the surname "Roswell."
52. **Sacramento:** The capital of California, named after the Sacramento River. The name "Sacramento" is Spanish for "sacrament," referring to the river's importance as a source of water for early settlers.
53. **Salina:** A city in Kansas, known for its agriculture and its proximity to the Smoky Hills. The name "Salina" is Latin for "salt," referring to the salt deposits that were found in the region.
54. **San Antonio:** A city in Texas, known for its rich history and its beautiful architecture. The name "San Antonio" is Spanish for "Saint Anthony," referring to Saint Anthony of Padua, a Catholic saint.
55. **Santa Fe:** The capital of New Mexico, known for its Spanish colonial architecture and its rich history. The name "Santa Fe" is Spanish for "Holy Faith," referring to the city's early history as a center of Spanish Catholicism.
56. **Scottsbluff:** A city in Nebraska, named after Hiram Scott, a pioneer who helped establish the Oregon Trail. The name "Scottsbluff" reflects the city's connection to the history of westward expansion.
57. **Seattle:** A major city in Washington, named after Chief Seattle, a leader of the Suquamish and Duwamish tribes. The name "Seattle" reflects the city's connection to the Native American heritage of the region.
58. **Sheridan:** A city in Wyoming, named after General Philip Sheridan, a prominent figure in the American Civil War. The name "Sheridan" reflects the city's connection to the history of the American West.
59. **Silver City:** A town in New Mexico, known for its silver mining history. The name "Silver City" reflects the town's connection to the silver rush era.
60. **South Pass City:** A ghost town in Wyoming, known for its gold mining history. The name "South Pass City" reflects the town's connection to the gold rush era and its location in South Pass, a historic route for westward expansion.
61. **Spokane:** A city in Washington, named after the Spokane Tribe of Indians. The name "Spokane" is of Native American origin.
62. **St. Louis:** A major city in Missouri, known for its rich history and its role in the westward expansion of the United States. The name "St. Louis" is French for "Saint Louis," referring to King Louis IX of France.
63. **Taos:** A town in New Mexico, known for its beautiful scenery and its art scene. The name "Taos" is of Native American origin.
64. **Tombstone:** A ghost town in Arizona, known for its wild and lawless reputation during the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. The name "Tombstone" refers to the tombstone-shaped rock formations that were found in the region.
65. **Tucson:** A city in Arizona, known for its rich history and its beautiful desert scenery. The name "Tucson" is of Native American origin, possibly referring to the word "Stuk Son," meaning "at the base of the black hill."
66. **Truckee:** A town in California, named after Truckee Meadows, a valley in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The name "Truckee" is of Native American origin.
67. **Tucumcari:** A town in New Mexico, located on Route 66, known for its historic Route 66 motels and its distinctive architecture. The name "Tucumcari" is of Native American origin.
68. **Virginia City:** A ghost town in Nevada, known for its gold mining history and its well-preserved buildings. The name "Virginia City" reflects the town's connection to the gold rush era.
69. **Walla Walla:** A city in Washington, named after the Walla Walla River. The name "Walla Walla" is of Native American origin.
70. **Wasatch:** A mountain range in Utah, known for its beautiful scenery and its challenging hikes. The name "Wasatch" is of Native American origin, possibly meaning "salt place."
71. **West Yellowstone:** A town in Montana, located on the western border of Yellowstone National Park. The name "West Yellowstone" reflects the town's proximity to the world-famous national park.
72. **Wichita:** A city in Kansas, named after the Wichita people, a Native American tribe who lived in the region. The name "Wichita" is of Native American origin.
73. **Williston:** A city in North Dakota, named after Samuel Williston, a pioneer who settled in the region. The name "Williston" is of English origin, possibly referring to the surname "Williston."
74. **Winnemucca:** A town in Nevada, named after Winnemucca, a leader of the Paiute people. The name "Winnemucca" is of Native American origin.
75. **Yellowstone:** A national park in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, known for its geysers, hot springs, and wildlife. The name "Yellowstone" refers to the yellow sandstone cliffs that were found in the region.
76. **Yuma:** A city in Arizona, located on the border with Mexico. The name "Yuma" is of Native American origin, possibly referring to the Yuma people who lived in the region.
77. **Zephyr:** A town in Texas, known for its peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. The name "Zephyr" is of Greek origin, meaning "west wind."
78. **Blackwater:** A town in Montana, known for its dark, mysterious allure. The name "Blackwater" evokes a sense of danger and intrigue.
79. **Red Rock:** A town in Arizona, known for its red rock formations. The name "Red Rock" captures the beauty and majesty of the local landscape.
80. **Silverton:** A town in Colorado, known for its silver mining history and its stunning mountain scenery. The name "Silverton" reflects the town's connection to the silver rush era and its beautiful surroundings.