I started this post thinking I’d give you some statistics about Thanksgiving Day in America. A surprising discovery led me down a different path. I had fun doing the research for this one. Enjoy this virtual Thanksgiving meal road trip.
The Statistics
The first Thanksgiving was in 1621.
50 pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag tribesmen attended the three-day feast.
Today, 28% of Americans will have more than 12 people at the dinner table.
The average time preparing Thanksgiving dinner is 7 hours.
The average time eating the meal is 16 minutes.
Not surprising, I couldn’t find an average time to clean up after the meal.
But in the middle of this rather dry research, I came across a bit of fun. These are the American towns or townships you could visit on a virtual Thanksgiving Meal road trip.
The Main Dish
Turkey Creek, Arizona
Turkey city, Texas
Turkey town, North Carolina
Turkey Creek Village, LA
There are Turkey townships in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
The Side Dishes
Two Cranberry townships in PA (two different counties)
Cranberry, West Va
Cranberry, MD
Cranberry, NC
Roll, Az
I must say someone forgot the stuffing. Or do you call it dressing? The closest I got was Bread Loaf, Vermont. Anyone know of a town named after stuffing?
The Vegetables
Spuds, Florida
Potato Creek, South Dakota
Bean Station, Tennessee
Pea Patch Island, Delaware
Corn, Oklahoma
(There’s a town called Burnt Corn in Alabama, but I don’t want to jinx anyone with burnt side dishes on Thanksgiving—unless you like it that way.)
Red Onion, Kansas
The Beverages
Soda Springs, Idaho
Hot Coffee Mississippi
Coffee Springs, Alabama
Tea South Dakota
Cream Wisconsin
Beer Bottle Crossing, Idaho
The Deserts
Pumpkin, Georgia
Pumpkin Town, South Carolina
Pie Town, New Mexico
Walnut Creek, California
Pecan Gap, Texas
The Leftovers
Sandwich, Massachusetts
Sandwich, Illinois
Gnaw Bone, Indiana
Alas, there is no Wishbone that I could find.
I’m certain I didn’t find all the towns named after the traditional foods of an American Thanksgiving. Do you know of any in your state?
This virtual Thanksgiving meal road trip won’t take you any farther than your computer (phone or tablet), but more than 50 million Americans will travel to visit family on this holiday. Safe travels to all and have a happy and (not too) healthy Thanksgiving!
I recently published a client’s book that tells more about what happened to the relationship between the Wampanoag and the settlers. There was so much more to the story than I thought, including a creepy murder mystery that may still never have been solved. The book is Praying Town. I think you’d like it. It focuses on the friendship between two women: one settler and one Wampanoag.
It has given me a rich perspective on the bits of lesser known history.
Praying Town sounds really interesting. I’ll have to check that one out. Thanks for telling us about it, Lisa!