In Delaware, you don’t need to travel far to find a place with a name that raises an eyebrow or piques curiosity.

While some states boast straightforward town or city names like Springfield or Washington, Delaware’s map reads more like an eclectic short story collection. According to WorldAtlas.com, these seven uniquely named communities in Delaware, spread across the state’s three counties, often catch visitors by surprise and spark curiosity about their origins.

From Slaughter Beach to Pot-Nets, Delaware’s quirky town names tell tales of the First State’s rich history, each one a window into the region’s colonial past, maritime heritage and rural traditions.

Slaughter Beach, a coastal sanctuary

Perhaps the most striking example of an unusual name on the map is Slaughter Beach, a tiny coastal community of about 220 residents, along the Delaware Bay. Founded in 1681, the town’s name origins remain unclear; however, there are several theories on the town’s website.

The most straightforward theory speculates the name is connected to “Slaughter Neck,” an area located just southwest of the town. In colonial Delaware, “neck” commonly referred to elevated terrain between two boundaries. Another explanation points to a former postmaster named Slaughter. A more dramatic account suggests that the name refers to the springtime spawning of horseshoe crabs. When these crabs are stranded upside down and dying in the sun, they are said to resemble a ”slaughter” of crabs. A darker local legend tells of settlers ambushing Native American leaders during peace talks by asking them to gather around a cannon they claimed was their “god.”

Today, the town offers a peaceful retreat along the Delaware Bay. Known for its environmental conservation efforts, it serves as a sanctuary for horseshoe crabs.

Broadkill Beach’s Dutch roots and natural beauty

Just north of Slaughter Beach lies Broadkill Beach, whose name nods to its Dutch origins. Nestled along the Delaware Bay, the town offers picturesque waterfront views and easy access to the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, a popular spot for birdwatching and kayaking. The town comes alive during its Fourth of July festivities, drawing locals and visitors alike with fireworks and family-friendly events.

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Corner Ketch is still a mystery

Tucked near the Pennsylvania-Delaware border, how Corner Ketch got its name is still a mystery. According to World Atlas, some believe the name comes from the French word cache, meaning “hiding place,” while others trace it to an old English term for a tavern. An unincorporated area of New Castle County, Corner Ketch offers few commercial attractions providing visitors a glimpse into the county’s quieter side.

Gumboro, formerly known for gum trees

Located near the Maryland border, Gumboro stays true to its agricultural roots. The town’s name may stem from the white gum trees once common in the area. History buffs can explore the West Woods Methodist Episcopal Church, which dates back to the 1800s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Gumboro Community Center, housed in a former school, serves as a hub for local events and gatherings.

Bacons: A slice of railroad history

Bacons, a small outpost in Sussex County, earned its name not from breakfast meat but from its founding family. The town, also known as Bacons Switch, honors the Bacon family, early settlers who built a sawmill and basket-making business. Its railroad heritage lives on through its name, referencing the “switch point” where trains once connected nearby towns Laurel and Delmar.

Wyoming: East not west

Despite its Western-sounding name, Wyoming is firmly rooted in the Mid-Atlantic. In 1856, “Camden Station” or “West Camden” was renamed Wyoming to honor the Rev. John J. Pierce, a pastor who helped plan and later led a church in the town. Pierce was originally from the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania.

Wyoming later grew into an agricultural center, notably for cultivating apples and peaches. Today, the town hosts an annual Peach Festival, held downtown on the aptly named Railroad Avenue.

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Pot-Nets: A nod to coastal traditions

Rounding out Delaware’s collection of distinctive place names is Pot-Nets. The unusual moniker comes from the pots and nets used to catch crabs and other shellfish in Indian River Bay. Today, the area is a waterfront community offering scenic views of the bay and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. Visitors can enjoy boating, crabbing, and scenic strolls along Pot-Nets Point, a popular local spot also known as Lingos Point.

You can contact Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.

A native Delawarean will try to climb Sunday night’s $100,000 Pyramid.

Henna Pryor is a 43-year-old woman born and raised in Newark who will be a contestant on “The $100,000 Pyramid” game show on ABC. She will be paired with comedian and former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Bobby Moynihan and “Family Matters” star Jaleel White.

Pryor’s day job is as a keynote speaker, and she has done numerous TEDx Talks in her career about communication and workplace performance. She also is the author of “Good Awkward,” a book about embracing cringe-worthy moments in your life and using them to your advantage. She said the skills in her book and speeches played into her hands while on a nationally televised game show. Instead of being nervous in front of a camera, she felt prepared by her career to take the stage.

“I think I had an advantage as a player that bright lights, big stages are something I’m used to,” she said.

The Newark High School graduate received an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles for the January filming. She said she had many practice sessions before taking the stage, which were more fun than procedural for her. She had watched the show when she was younger and made a connection at a convention. From there, she applied on social media and started interviewing and practicing.

She said because of the tight community found in a small state like Delaware, she has never been starstruck.

“I do think some of that small state stuff gives you a little perspective; it’s just like meeting people from all walks,” she said.

The only thing she wanted to avoid was fumbling her moment on television, but she said she was prepared for the entire experience.

“If you give a keynote speech, even if there’s 800 people in the audience, the only people who really see that are the people that were in the audience,” she said. “No matter how this goes, it’s going to be on national TV, like it’s there’s no way around that.”

See how Pryor did at 10 p.m. Sunday on ABC.

Two local restaurants are squaring off in the Delaware cheesesteak Munch Madness championship, and the contenders that made it to the final round may surprise you.  

The championship (or Round 5) begins Saturday, March 29.

Lettuce explain: This is about Delaware cheesesteak glory. Readers can vote for their favorite cheesesteak they want to see crowned as the best in the state. As you’ll soon notice, every vote is important. (Go to the poll below.) 

Final 4 recap: 1 Delaware cheesesteak match was close; the other not so much

Last week, before the championship round, we were halfway correct when we predicted the matches between the last four finalists would be close.

Casapulla & Sons in Elsmere cruised to victory against Ioannoni’s near New Castle, racking up 2,290 votes to 1,705. In our prediction, we gave the edge to Casapulla because the family business has six locations across the state, compared with Ioannoni’s one and only shop. But we didn’t expect Casapulla to win big. Ioannoni’s, however, didn’t shrink away from the fight. The restaurant went the distance and hung tough. Yet, Casapulla had too much fire power and eventually forced the stubborn Ioannoni’s to get out of the kitchen. 

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Owner shares what makes Little Vinnie’s Pizza & Pasta’s cheesesteak the best

Michael Degnars shares why Little Vinnie’s Pizza & Pasta’s cheesesteak is the best in Delaware as it advances to the Final 4 of the Munch Madness tourney.

The nail-biter match came when Little Vinnie’s Pizza & Pasta in Wilmington faced off against Nick’s Pizza Parlor & Bar in Brandywine Hundred. It was a battle of new school versus old school, and the more seasoned restaurant had the upper hand.

Little Vinnie’s squeaked by with 1,620 votes to 1,612 votes. Close cheesesteak battles like that can be hard to swallow, especially for the fans who poured blood, sweat and cheers into the voting ballots. Munch Sadness is real, but there could be only one winner from those two juggernaut restaurants. It was a heck of a match.  

Delaware cheesesteak championship: Munch Madness winner prediction

It’s easy to assume Casapulla is going to be the favorite to win the Delaware cheesesteak Munch Madness championship because the restaurant has used its brute strength to power through the last two rounds. They’re on a roll.

Then again, it was no tiny feat for Little Vinnie’s to get past Nick’s Pizza. The spirit of the late great George Foreman has followed Little Vinnie’s into the championship, where the restaurant steps in as the underdog. 

Can Little Vinnie’s take down Casapulla? Yes, but it’ll need its fans to vote like crazy to help the restaurant win. That could be too much to ask for a smaller shop like Vinnie’s to ask for, since Casapulla has great name recognition throughout the state, along with locations in every part of Delaware, except Kent County.

All in all, we predict Casapulla is going to be too hot for Little Vinnie’s to handle. But this is March Madness; surprises are always in play. 

Thousands of nominations for best Delaware cheesesteak 

Last month, you sandwich lovers cast 1,100 votes for your favorite go-to spot for cheesesteaks around the First State that you wanted included in our Munch Madness challenge.

We sliced that thick mountain down to a chewy bracket featuring 32 shops ready to unapologetically smack you in the mouth with a fresh cheesesteak.    

How does the Delaware cheesesteak tournament work?  

Each week, readers vote and determine which restaurant/shop has the top cheesesteak in each face-off. 

And each week, cheesesteak shops are sliced in half, based on your votes. 

The bracket began with 32 shops, then 16 and then eight and then four. Now we’re down to the final two competing in the championship, and after this week, a winner will be selected and that sandwich will receive a greasy and golden crown. 

To vote, simply click below on the cheesesteak you want to win. That’s it. 

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Schedule for Delaware cheesesteak March Madness 

Below is when new brackets will be announced for the tournament: 

• Round 5 with 2: Saturday, March 29 to Friday, April 4 
• Winner: Monday, April 7 

If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.