February in Town Name History
What happened in February, year after year, in the stories behind 37 American place names. Every line comes from the "Key dates" of one of our articles, and each article lists its sources. Dates are the ones the sources give.
February 2
- 1884Wayne, NE: Wayne becomes a village.
February 3
- 1821Little Rock, AR: A citizens' meeting adopts the name Arkopolis. It's dropped that fall.
- 1888Alliance, NE: The Burlington's station opens for business.
February 4
- 1851Vallejo, CA: The capital law is signed. In March the town is still known as Eden.
- 1925Grand Canyon: The U.S. Board on Geographic Names rules on the name.
February 5
- 1852Lehi, UT: The territorial act creating the "City of Lehi" is approved.
February 6
February 7
- 1824Lafayette, LA: The legislature says Jean Mouton's town by Bayou Vermilion "should be known as Vermilionville."
- 1873Bismarck, ND: The Edwinton post office is established; Linda W. Slaughter opens it in March.
- 1893Klamath Falls, OR: A new charter makes the town itself Klamath Falls.
February 8
- 1853Washington: Rep. Richard H. Stanton swaps "Columbia" for "Washington." The bill is signed March 2.
February 9
- 1809Illinois: An act sets off the territory of Illinois.
February 10
- 1870Lake Tahoe: A California law makes Lake Bigler the official name.
February 12
- 1821Jackson, MS: The legislature sends commissioners to find a capital near the center of the state.
February 13
- 1857Papillion, NE: The territorial legislature approves an act incorporating a town of Papillion.
February 14
February 15
- 1775Oregon: Rogers's plans are lent to Carver.
- 1836Janesville, WI: Henry F. Janes marks his claim. On May 19 he brings his family.
- 1851Lehi, UT: Bishop David Evans arrives, and his land west of the creek becomes Evansville.
- 1852Seattle, WA: Denny, Bell and Boren mark out claims on the east shore of the bay.
February 18
- 1857Normal, IL: The legislature passes a law to create a state school for teachers.
February 20
- 1797Augusta, ME: The legislature splits Hallowell and names the new town Harrington.
February 21
February 23
- 1822Jefferson City, MO: Niles' Weekly Register explains it honors Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase.
- 1950Show Low, AZ: The U.S. Board on Geographic Names decides on Show Low, two words.
February 24
- 1853Council Bluffs, IA: The act incorporating the city is passed.
February 25
- 1791Bangor, ME: The act incorporating Bangor passes, with Parson Noble's hymn tune as the name.
- 1876Rapid City, SD: The town is named for Rapid Creek. The USGS record credits John R. Brennan.
February 26
February 27
- 1871Huntington, WV: The legislature incorporates the City of Huntington, and building begins.
- 1883Auburn, NE: The Nemaha County seat moves to Auburn.
February 28
February 29
- 1828Pawtucket, RI: The Massachusetts side is carved out of Seekonk as a town named Pawtucket.