BOISE, Idaho — At the intersection of Highway 54 and US Route 95 in North Idaho sits the tiny town with a rather derogatory designation.
The city of Athol has been a part of the Panhandle since the 1800s.
"Well you know the city's been the butt of many jokes because of its name," said former Mayor Bob Wachter.
According to the city, it was originally named Colton, but it became the unincorporated village of Athol in 1909, a kind of back door approach to becoming an actual city in 1967.
"As far as I know the name for this little city has two possibilities: it either came from the Duke of Athol, or it came from a pioneer or something when they settled here," Wachter said.
So are the city's residents tired of being the butt of jokes?
"Uh, you know it kind of rolls off me and I think most of the people in the town over the years, they tried to rename it several times," Wachter said. "They wanted to rename it Silver City at one time because of Silverwood theme park that's near us. But the people in the town have grown used to the name and used to the jokes, and they want it to stay Athol."
In case you're wondering, there are eight other states in America with towns named Athol.
Join 'The 208' conversation:
- Text us at (208) 321-5614
- E-mail us at the208@ktvb.com
- Join our The 208 Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/the208KTVB/
- Follow us on Twitter: @the208KTVB or tweet #the208 and #SoIdaho
- Follow us on Instagram: @the208KTVB
- Bookmark our landing page: /the-208
- And we also turn each episode into a podcast or Podbeam
- Still reading this list? We're on YouTube, too: