Customer Reviews

1500 California Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, A Revised version of 1000 California Place Names by Erwin G. Gudde, Third edition

5 star:		(3)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is not for the serious researcher, but is tremendously interesting for those curious about the sometimes zany history of California's place names. Most entries include an interesting tangle of history and culture and the usual mispronunciation of Native American names by early white settlers. Its a fun book that would make a great stocking stuffer and should brought along on any California road trip. Two thumbs on this one.

I am using this book as a source of information for some railroad travel guides I am putting together, and it is very helpful, in that it is not merely a "list of place names," like so many other similar books I have seen are. This book actually has historical information and useful material which I can incorporate into my guides, which will make train travel passing through the places listed in the book much more enjoyable and interesting. It is an excellent resource!!!

I ordered this book as well as the book on NM place names, "The Place Names of New Mexico" by Robert Julyan, and they arrived same day. If you want to see what a great book on place names looks like, get the NM place name book above. The CA place names book is tiny in physical size and has 170 pages. Compare with the NM book which is massive and has 385 pages. The reviews in the CA book are tiny...most are three lines that tell how the town got its name with little passion. The NM book has large reviews on most town and place names, 6 to 12 lines that are told with some passion and interest. Take an example from the CA book for the town name Dulzura- Spanish for sweetness, from dulce "sweet". that's it! Not much passion or interest in the descriptions!
One would think with the physical size of California, compared to the smaller physical size of New Mexico that California would have made a better showing. I noticed many CA towns were NOT included in the book, French Gulch being one.
Save your money on this one folks.

If you are touring in California and have the least bit of curiosity about the areas that you ride or drive through, you need this book! Fits nicely in glove box, tail trunk or pocket and is mighty nice to have. California's rich history leaves a legacy in its place names and their stories range from the fascinating to ho-hum, but it's a start if you are interested. I don't drive in the Sierras without a copy and it's a fun companion if you need something to read for a few minutes in Saint's Rest!
The descriptions are usually brief, though some are several paragraphs long; there is a reference companion volume available here at Amazon.com: California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names, 40th Anniversary Edition. This work is available in both Hardbound and Softbound format.