Here are the origins of a dozen strange Texas city names

For the most part, people never think twice about the name of our hometown — let alone its origin.

Most know the capital of Texas is named after Stephen F. Austin, who brought many of the first English-speaking settlers to Texas when it was part of Mexico. But what about those cities and towns with strange and obscure names?

Here are the stories of 12 of the most oddly named towns across the Lone Star State.

Bigfoot

Population: 480

Established: 1865

Origin: The unincorporated community, a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation, was established by Bob Connally and was originally called Connally's Store. When a post office was established in 1883, the name was changed in honor of William Alexander Anderson "Bigfoot" Wallace, a former resident of the community.

Chandler

Population: 3,275

Established: 1880

Origin: While there is a Ross, Texas, the rest of the cast from "Friends" do not have cities sharing their names. The area, originally inhabited by Caddo Native Americans, was settled in 1859 by Alphonso H. Chandler as a one-store town called Stillwater, 2 miles north of what is now Chandler. A post office was established in April 1873 and was named after Chandler seven years later.

Cut and Shoot

Population: 1,087

Established: 1912

Origin: Cut and Shoot was named after a 1912 community confrontation that almost led to violence. According to differing versions of the story, the dispute was over either the design of a new steeple for the town's church, the issue of who would be allowed to preach there or the conflicting land claims among church members. Regardless, it was reported a scared young boy said, "I'm going to cutaround the corner and shootthrough the bushes in a minute!" Fortunately, there was no reported violence, but his statement was adopted as the town's name.

Hawkins

Population: 1,274

Established: 1873

Origin: It is said that close to what is now Hawkins, a Mr. Hawkins carved his initials on a tree as construction crews were building road beds and clearing trees in the area. In 1873, a group of about 250 people applied to Washington for a post office and looked to the name on the tree for the designation. Though the town shares a name with the fictional town from "Stranger Things," no encounters with the "Upside Down" have been reported.

Industry

Population: 268

Established: 1831

Origin: German Friedrich Ernst, a recipient of a Mexican land grant, chose the site to establish a home. The Ernst family, along with fellow German Charles Fordtran, built homes a couple of miles apart and began their lives as Texans. An 1832 letter Ernst sent to Germany praised the value of Texas, which inspired more of his fellow countrymen to emigrate. The town got its name from area non-Germans who referred to the place as where the “industrious” Germans lived.

Italy

Population: 1,926

Established: 1879

Origin: The name was suggested by the postmaster who had visited Europe and said the sunny climate of Italy was comparable to that of Texas.

Miami

Population: 539

Established: 1879

Origin: The town supposedly derives its name from a Native American word meaning "sweetheart."

Paris

Population: 24,476

Established: 1844

Origin: The town was founded by merchant George W. Wright. It was named for Paris, France, by one of his employees, Thomas Poteet.

Roanoke

Population: 9,665

Established: 1847

Origin: First called the Medlin Settlement in honor of Louis and Charles Medlin, whose families were in the colony, the early community was later designated Garden Valley. In the early 1880s, most of the settlers began moving to the new town and one of the railroad surveyors named the town Roanoke, in honor of his hometown in Virginia.

Venus

Population: 4,361

Established: 1903

Origin: Originally known as Gossip, then Midway, it became incorporated under the name Venus in 1903. The town was named after the daughter of a local doctor.

White Settlement

Population: 18,269

Established: 1850s

Origin: Amid fighting between Native Americans and white settlers who arrived at the area in the 1850s, the newcomers settled in an area that was referred to as “the white settlement." The name eventually became the official town name, and in 1941 it became incorporated. In 2005, the mayor and the chamber of commerce tried to change the name to something that wasn’t based on race. However, the town, which was about 85% white at the time, voted against it.

Wink

Population: 915

Established: 1926

Origin: Wink was founded when oil was discovered in Hendrick oilfield in Winkler County. Wink was originally named Winkler after the county, which was named for Confederate Army Col. Clinton McKamy Winkler. The citizens shortened the name to Wink.

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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or Twitter @johnpoliva. 

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: These 12 Texas cities have strange names. Here's the story behind them