Paris, Tightwad, Peculiar, Neosho, Gasconade, Hannibal, Diamond, Quarantine, Zif, and Zig. These are just a few of the names Margot Ford McMillen covers in her lively book on the history of place names in Missouri. The origins behind the names range from humorous to descriptive:

-Tightwad, Missouri, is said to have been named after a store owner who cheated a mailman out of his rightful watermelon to make an extra fifty cents. -Plad, Missouri, was supposed to be named "Glad," but the post office printed the name wrong, and it was too much trouble to get it changed. -Some place names describe a location, such as Big Spring or Flat River. -Other names show the influence of immigrants to the state, like Hermann, which is a German name, or the Maries River, which was derived from the French. -Many places are named for people or wildlife found nearby, while others are backed up by legend or simply picked out of thin air.