This book is Volume 1 of a two-volume set that focuses on the origin of American location names from early Native American names to early settlers, to colonists and explorers from France, Spain, England, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The book shows how current American location names represent an amalgam of location names based on geophysical, aspirations for a newly inhabited area, and oncoming political/economic growth of the American states and locations. Often current day names were integrated from one name in a native language and a culture, to adjusted or modified names. As the country grew, new name sources emerged from inventors, statesmen and war heroes, to railroads and the U.S. Postal Service. Sometimes names were even randomly selected. Knowing these name sources of an area or location will provide some interesting enlightenment, conversation and discovery. Volume 2 is more a compendium of name sources and their origin with a focus on some of the more unique name sources. This includes regions, rivers and national parks, and colleges and universities.
