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Every Neighborhood Has One

By
Real Estate Agent with Integrity Real Estate Group

When you are out driving around showing houses do you ever get a question from a buyer that throws you for a bit of a loop? Not the usual ones about traffic or the ones that we can't answer about schools or crime but the one about who came up with that street name?

Usually we are so familiar with an area that we can come up with a story or explanation. Roads named after historic figures, unusual landmarks or the developers family, etc. Occasionally though there is one that catches their eye that even you can't come up with an explanation for. This weekend while showing some out of town buyers around the area we came upon such a road. Now as a native of the Northern Virginia area I often pass by roads and never give them a second thought. This is one of those roads. But when they asked the question I couldn't come up with an answer.

Devils Reach Road

So for anyone else in Northern Virginia knows the reason for this road name let me know.

For everyone else what strange road names in your community give your buyers pause? I'm sure there are some that are real doozie's that you can share with the rest of the AR world.

Posted by

                                   Real People*Real Lives*Real Estate

If you are interested in learning more about the Northern Virginia Real Estate market including Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William Counties give Cindy Jones and Integrity Real Estate Group a call at 703-346-2213.

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Integrity Real Estate Group
 
Real People*Real Life*Real Estate

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Comments(20)

Sean Allen
International Financing Solutions - Fort Myers, FL
International Financing Solutions

HHHmm, This will be an interesting blog to watch and see what the comments are.

Sean Allen

Oct 24, 2007 06:34 AM
Linda Futral
Newnan, GA
Soooo, what is the story behind this one?  The most I ever have to explain is the Peachtree on every other road.
Oct 24, 2007 06:39 AM
Daniel J. Brudnok, REALTOR
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach, REALTORS - Exton - PA License #RS-225179-L / Delaware License #RS-0025038 - Downingtown, PA
SRES, e-PRO,ABR,GREEN,CSP

Cindy,

I too look to see how many the Active Rain family find like yours.....

As for yours......Devil's Reach Rd.....the name says enough....I would avoid and stay OUT of reach!.

Oct 24, 2007 06:42 AM
Rob Arnold
Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. - Altamonte Springs, FL
Metro Orlando Full Service - Investor Friendly & F

Pretty interesting.  Where I am at we have a different issue.  Many of the major roads do not have names.  They are all numbered.  State Road 434, 436, 419, 427, 408, 429, 415, 435, 417, 414, 535, 528, etc.  In fact the counties have gotten rid of a few road names in favor of the numbers.

My office is at the northeast corner of State Road 436 & State Road 434.  Try giving out those directions all the time.

Oct 24, 2007 06:46 AM
Daniel Smith
First Priority Financial - Spanaway, WA
PROUDGAY
Wow...I wonder who may live in that neighborhood. We have a road here called "Tibbles" named after an elderly gentleman whose family has lived there for over 100 years. I'll let you know if I see any more. Have a great day! Dan
Oct 24, 2007 06:53 AM
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida
Cindy, now you've got me wondering if our "Alligator Alley" is an official name or just a nickname.
Oct 24, 2007 09:25 AM
Dale Campbell
Virginia Real Estate - Mechanicsville, VA
Hey:  Here's one in our area - Lickinghole Road.
Oct 24, 2007 10:49 AM
KC Coonc
Windermere Real Estate/Whatcom, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Commercial Real Estate
How about Fat Dog Lane or Yellow Brick Road? Two roads in Whatcom County, Washington State that usually turn heads.
Oct 24, 2007 10:58 AM
n d
Naoma Doriguzzi - Virginia Beach, VA
Here in Virginia Beach we have Great Neck, Little Neck, Birdneck, Westneck and Dam Neck.  Don't know where they got these ones from..
Oct 24, 2007 10:58 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Dale-Lickinghole Road-OUCH that beats Backlick another one here.  A LICK is a small stream so I know the reason behind the name of our road-yours is a question?

Naoma-I think all of the NECKS have an explanation that goes back to American Indian times

Oct 25, 2007 12:37 AM
Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist
Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC
Hi Cindy,
I've never gotten that question but I do get plenty I cannot answer and some are because I just do not know the answer.  Street names are intersesting, aren't they?
Oct 25, 2007 01:00 AM
Mary Strang
Viroqua, WI

This post made me recall a day several years ago when all the names in one county were I was showing a listing were changed without notice. It cause quite a lot of problems for me that day, when trying to find a particular property. It turned out the county hired a company to generate a list of new road names.  Names like Johnny Cake Valley Road, which was so quaint, was changed to something like Lobster Road, we have no Lobster in Wisconsin. Names like Endicott Road, a road named after a family was changed to Oreo Avenue, it was just stupid.  I spend along time driving around in circles that day trying to fine the property. It took a year or so before any maps were republished with the right street names. The names were generated mostly in alphabetical order, to replace all the original named roads so that in case of emergency the fire department, or police could locate the property area easier. Across the county, which would be around 36 miles, all have names starting with L's, N's or R's etc. in each section, which is about 1 miles square, of the mostly rural township, so that each area is easy to locate. The renaming cause quite a stir of emotions with quaint names being replace by names of food items and names like Meed, Mica, Midas, and Midge Roads.

Oct 25, 2007 01:39 AM
Stella Barbour
NoVa Brokers LLC - Vienna, VA
Principal Broker, Serving Virginia and Maryland
I show homes in Virginia too and have not come across that street.  I would be curious to see the answer to this one.
Oct 25, 2007 01:52 AM
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida
Here's two from the homestead:  Eyeball Avenue and Sentimental Journey   
Oct 25, 2007 04:25 AM
Chelle Gassan
RE/MAX Regency and Staged Homes VA - Bristow, VA
NOVA Realtor and Stager

I use to live on Wishing Well Way off of Shortbread Ct...felt like Disney World in VA.

I think there is some sadistic person in the county planning who just wants to have fun with their job.

Oct 25, 2007 11:35 AM
Mike Klijanowicz
Cummings & Co. Realtors - Perry Hall, MD
Associate Broker @ Cummings & Co. Realtors
I have enjoyed reading everyones remarks!  Thanks for this post, when I think of a crazy one around here, I'll add it to the list!
Oct 25, 2007 10:56 PM
Anonymous
Sharon
My parents live at the end of Oregon Trail in Florida -
Feb 02, 2008 12:50 AM
#17
Ray Nellum
Envision Real Estate Group, LLC. - Fort Smith, AR
Fort Smith Real Estate
Cindy, I've often wondered the same thing in my area.  "What were they thinking when they named this one Lovers Lane!!"  It must have been a great location, lol.
Feb 02, 2008 01:01 AM
Jonathan Hall
William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty - Danbury, CT
Realtor - Danbury,CT Area Real Estate~203-417-0523
We have weird names just my my city and devolpment: Advocate, Flirtation Drive, Whiporwhill Drive, Bullet Hill, Chambers and Old Neversink.
Feb 02, 2008 01:12 AM
Anonymous
Claudia

I just drove past that road today. It was dark and scary and I am curious why it was named that.

Jan 31, 2009 11:46 AM
#20