March in Town Name History
What happened in March, 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.
March 1
- 1803Ohio: The first state legislature meets.
- 1806Ohio: A back-pay law quietly settles March 1, 1803, as the start of statehood.
- 1849Waco, TX: Erath lays off the main street and sells lots at five dollars apiece.
- 1862Pawtucket, RI: The Massachusetts town of Pawtucket becomes part of Rhode Island.
- 1867Nebraska: President Andrew Johnson proclaims Nebraska's admission as a state complete.
March 2
- 1699Mississippi: Iberville enters the river, which the coast Indians call Malbouchia.
- 1819Arkansas: Congress creates the territory.
- 1861Nevada: Congress creates Nevada Territory out of western Utah, without the "Sierra."
- 1861North Dakota: Congress creates Dakota Territory, one territory for both of today's states.
- 1861South Dakota: Congress creates Dakota Territory, covering both of today's Dakotas.
March 3
March 4
- 1681Pennsylvania: The charter names the colony "Pensilvania." The next day Penn writes that the king gave it the name for his father.
- 1854Nebraska City, NE: The community changes its name from Table Creek to Nebraska City.
- 1870Ashland, NE: The town is organized, named by Mr. Argyle after Henry Clay's estate.
March 7
- 1887Gering, NE: The town comes into existence, according to a local historian quoted by the city.
March 8
- 1838Oshkosh, WI: A Green Bay wedding notice is dated "At Athens."
March 11
- 1854Visalia, CA: The board grants a petition that the county seat be called Visalia.
March 12
- 1785Spartanburg, SC: A new county is created "by the name of Spartanburgh." The h was dropped later.
March 13
- 1810Manchester, NH: The town meeting asks to rename Derryfield as Manchester. The legislature agrees in June.
March 14
- 1855Plattsmouth, NE: The territorial legislature approves the act incorporating Plattsmouth.
March 15
- 1820Maine: Maine becomes a state, no longer the District of Maine in Massachusetts.
- 1871Rehoboth Beach, DE: The Rehoboth Association is incorporated.
March 16
- 1847Lansing, MI: A law puts the capital in Lansing Township. The new town is named the Town of Michigan.
March 17
- 1699Baton Rouge, LA: Iberville's journal records a reddened pole hung with fish and bear heads on the riverbank.
March 22
- 1786Greenville, SC: An ordinance sets up a county "by the name of Greenville," with no reason given.
- 1837Chattanooga, TN: A post office opens at Ross' Landing, with John P. Long as postmaster.
March 23
- 1816Owensboro, KY: The first town plat is approved "with the name of Rossboro."
March 24
- 1658New London, CT: The colony names the place New London "in honor to that famous city."
- 1663South Carolina: Charles II grants the province of Carolina to eight of his supporters.
- 1871Revere, MA: A state law says North Chelsea shall take the name of Revere, if the voters agree.
March 25
- 1822Key West, FL: Lt. M. C. Perry raises the U.S. flag and names it Thompson's Island. The name doesn't stick.
March 27
- 1513Florida: Easter Sunday. The ships sight an island but don't stop.
- 1814Montgomery, AL: Maj. Lemuel P. Montgomery is killed at Horseshoe Bend.
March 30
- 1638New Haven, CT: The main company sails from Boston, and on April 18 holds its first Sabbath under an oak.
March 31
- 1836Kalamazoo, MI: After March 31, by law, the village of Bronson is called Kalamazoo, after the river.
- 1950Truth or Consequences, NM: Voters pick the quiz show's name, 1,294 to 295.