Buzz
Though the Amish are not typically linked to risqué humor, the suggestive names of towns in their region often spark amusement. What explains the prevalence of such cheeky monikers in Pennsylvania's Amish heartland?
In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, you'll encounter towns like Intercourse, Fertility, Blue Ball, Lititz, Paradise, Bareville, and Mount Joy. While Paradise may seem innocent, its humor becomes apparent in certain contexts, much like the playful implications of Mount Joy for someone named Joy.
What’s the source of this seemingly risqué naming trend?
The town of Intercourse, famous for its signposts often stolen by amused visitors, served as the backdrop for the 1985 Harrison Ford film Witness. Its humorous name stems from several unremarkable theories. One suggests it evolved from “Entercourse,” a term linked to a nearby racetrack entrance. Another theory ties it to the town’s location at the crossroads of the Old Kings Highway and a route connecting Wilmington, Delaware, to Erie, Pennsylvania, originally named Cross Keys.
Given its role as both a crossroads and a meeting point, and the fact that not everyone associates names with innuendo, the town’s renaming to Intercourse didn’t raise eyebrows. A third explanation highlights the community’s emphasis on friendly social interactions, or social intercourse, as the inspiration for the name.
Originally called Earl Town, Blue Ball got its current name from the Blue Ball Inn, an early 1700s establishment with a blue ball sign hung by landlord John Wallace. Over time, the entire town adopted the name.
Lititz derives its name from an ancient Bohemian castle; Mount Joy is named after the ship Mountjoy; Paradise reflects the area’s scenic beauty; Fertility likely symbolizes agricultural prosperity; and Bareville honors Andrew Bare, one of the region’s early pioneers.
These towns are conveniently close to one another. A 15-minute drive south from Blue Ball takes you to Intercourse, with Paradise just under 4 miles away from Intercourse, making it easy to explore multiple locations in a short time.
