Bottom Line: These Montana Towns Stole Famous City Names

These Montana Towns Totally Copied Their Names

Imagine this: it's the 1800s, and you've just crisscrossed America in a covered wagon and finally reached your destination, Montana.

Now it's time to establish a town, and one of the first tasks you'll face is naming it. Cue the anxiety.

When Originality Failed, Montana Settlers Got “Inspired”

It was already challenging to come up with names for my kids; the thought of naming a town that would endure for generations is daunting.

Some people, however, seemed to name their towns in no time at all. Take Great Falls, for instance. I can't help but wonder if it took even two minutes, to be honest.

So while you can use landmarks to name your town, what happens if there aren't any and you aren't a narcissist wanting a town named after yourself?

Montana’s Town-naming Shortcuts: Laziness Or Genius?

Well, why spend all that time trying to be original when you can just steal a town name from one that's already established?

Plus, remember it's the 1800s; by the time news reaches the other town you stole the name from, you've already put up signs welcoming tourists to your town.

With that in mind, I looked up every single town name in Montana and found each and every example of a town that shares its name with a more famous city.