Re: OT: Place name constituents

I know places like Portland Oregon, it seems to be depending on
if you are north or south of the river..

Not sure where the divide between east/west, but its is likely
from some old road or like that is likely still there.

Like Main Street or where first and 1st come together?

Worse problems is when you have two or more towns that sort of
come together..

Here in Fairbanks, we have Fairbanks, south of the river, while
you had Slaterville (now gone for all purposes) north of the
River, but then you have College which is the University of
Alaska Fairbanks and its support areas..

Let alone Ester, North Pole, Fox, Two Rivers and more, that are
outside of normal Fairbanks area. As well as Fort Wainwright and
Eielson AFB and Salcha/Moose Creek..

Some found based on their current and old reasons for existing,
or some natural feature near by.

Some are kept seperate from Fairbanks cause of the military
reservations, or a river or just distance.. Most are technically
part of the North Star Borough.. But not all..

Fairbanks got started cause of politics, river depth and luck..
Gold and like helped.. Also placing along the old Land Lease
route from the US to Russia (USSR), and then later cause of the
Pipeline and support of towns north and west of Fairbanks, a
transportation and logistical hub..

So technically Fairbanks is a PORT, but not a water port, but
the term Port is often used for "Port Authority" namely a place
where economics goes through and not just one with access to
water (ocean or big lake/river)..

Fairbanks named for a man named Fairanks. While Salcha I believe
comes form a local native athabaskan name, while Moose Creek
comes from the creek by that name, due to alot of moose in the
area, they are still there, dodging cars all the time, or the
cars dodging them.. Moose are not a good deer to run into, they
are often around 1000+ pounds..

Slaterville is from a mans name as well. Town gone, alot cause
of closer access of Fairbanks to river boats coming up the main
rivers. Yukon/Tanana and like..

So towns come up from various sources.

Name of the founder
Name in honor of someone, such as Forts and Air Force Bases
Function such as College
Native language = Salcha and like
Geographics = Circle Alaska on the Arctic Circle, or Two Rivers
Local Animals = Moose Creek, or Fox (I think this was its
origin)
Local store or like = McPeak part of North Pole technically, but
the store is called McPeaks, so the area is sort of called
McPeaks.
Mythical reasons = North Pole, for Santa Claus mythical lands or
a joke or for the North Pole (farther north).
Religious reasons = Saint Nicholas or like names. Named for the
saint, or for the monestary or like there? Or some old
god/goddess..
Business near by = such as DOT (department of transportation),
aka DOT Lake. Or for the local Mine or like.. Pogo or like?

What else?

Mike
Alaska