Claxton, Georgia - Named in honor of a Super Star!

Claxton, GA - Before radio, the movies, and television, there was actress Kate Claxton. Her real name was Kate Cone and she was born in 1848. Kate’s career began in Chicago in 1871. In 1873, she starred in a play by the name of “Led Astray” and immediately became a sensation. Her most notable role was Louise in “The Two Orphans”. Kate was a savvy business woman and purchased the rights to this play. She also started her own company and starred as the headline during the rest of her career. In 1876, while performing at the Brooklyn Theatre, a fire broke out and over 200 people perished. A few months later another fire broke out in her St. Louis hotel room. The press published articles about Kate being bad luck. Most careers would be devastated. However, Kate turned the negatives into positives. She became even more famous as people would come see her for the curiosity and intrigue. Kate continued to be successful and became wealthy. She lived happily till her death in 1924. This community was named in her honor.


Photo Courtesy of Library of Congress

How America got it's name

In 1497, Amerigo Vespucci discovered a new continent when he landed in present day South America. During this time, map makers were trying to decide on a new name for Vespucci’s continent. Famous German map maker, Martin Waldseemuller, created a map signifying this new continent as “America” in honor of Amerigo Vespucci. The map maker chose the Latin version of Amerigo because he wanted to have the new name of the continent end in an “a” similar to other continents like Africa and Asia. The name “America” and other derivatives of Amerigo caught on and became very popular in naming the “New World”. Names like Americus, Liberty and Independence followed and became synonymous with the spirit of freedoms being found in this new land.


Photo courtesy of Library of Congress

World's Largest!!!

Alligator - Christmas, Florida
Arch - St. Louis, Missouri
Artichoke - Castroville, California
Ball of Paint - Alexandria, Indiana
Ball of Twine - Cawker City, Kansas
Baseball Bat - Louisville, Kentucky
Basket - Dresden, Ohio
Binoculars - Venice, California
Buffalo - Jamestown, North Dakota
Bull - Audubon, Iowa
Bull Head (Fish) - Crystal Lake, Iowa
Catsup Bottle - Collinsville, Illinois
Chair - Fanning, Missouri
Coffee Pot & Cup - Stanton, Iowa
Cow - New Salem, North Dakota
Cow (Talking) - Neillsville, Ohio
Cross - Wickliffe, Kentucky
Eight Ball - Tipton, Missouri
Frying Pan - Long Beach, Washington
Gas Pump - King City, Missouri
Goose - Sumner, Missouri
Horse Shoe - Muleshoe, Texas
Jackalope - Douglas, Wyoming
Jack Rabbit - Odessa, Texas
Lutefisk - Madison, Wisconsin
Muskie - Hayward, Wisconsin
Praying Hands - Tulsa, Oklahoma
Pumpkin - Circleville, Ohio
Shuttlecock - Kansas City, Missouri
Six Pack of Beer - La Crosse, Wisconsin
Spinach Can - Alma, Arkansas
Strawberry - Strawberry Point, Iowa
Superman - Metropolis, Illinois
Teapot - Chester, West Virginia
Turkey - Frazee, Minnesota
Turtle - Dunseith, Bottineau, North Dakota
Walleye - Garrison, MN & Garrison, ND