gannett.] PLACE NAMES IN THE UNITED STATES. 23 
Altoona; city in Wilson County, Kansas, named from the city in Pennsylvania. 
Alto Pass; village in Union County,- Illinois, situated at a notch or pass in the main 
ridge of the Ozark uplift; hence the name, "high pass." 
Alturas; town in Modoc County, California, so named from its mountains. A 
Spanish word meaning "summits of mountains."" 
Alum; creek in Yellowstone Park. A characteristic name, as the water is a strong 
solution of alum. 
Alvarado; town in Alameda County, California, named for Juan V. Alvarado, 
Mexican governor of California. 
Alvarado; city in Johnson County, Texas, named from the town in Mexico. 
Alviso; township in Santa Clara County, California, named for an old Spanish 
family. 
Alvord; lake in Oregon, named for Gen. Benjamin Franklin Alvord, who was sta- 
tioned there at one time. 
{Amador; county and valley in California; 
Amador City; city in Amador County, California. Named for Joseph M. Ama< 1< >r, 
formerly manager of the property of the mission of San Jose. 
Amakalli; tributary of Flint River, Mississippi. A Cherokee word meaning "tum- 
bling water." 
Amalthea; village in Franklin County, Ohio, named for the nurse of Jupiter. 
Amargosa; river in Inyo County, California, running through deposits of soda, 
borax, and salt. From the Spanish meaning "bitter water." 
Ambajeejus; lake, and falls in the Penobscot River, in Maine. An Indian word, 
referring to the two large, round rocks in the lake, one on top of the other. 
Ambajemackomas; fall in the Penobscot River, Maine. An Indian word, mean- 
ing "little cross pond." 
Ambler; borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, named for the Ambler 
family, of which Joseph Ambler, who settled there in 1723, was a member. 
Amboy; towns in Lee County, Illinois, and Miami County, Indiana, and many 
other places. An Indian word, meaning "hollow inside," "like a bowl." 
Ambrose; creek in Ravalli County, Montana, named for an early settler. 
Amelia; county, and town in same county, in Virginia, named for the Princess 
Amelia, youngest daughter of George II of England. 
Amenia; town in Dutchess County, New York, named by an early scholar of the 
State, who also named the State of Vermont. A Latin word, meaning "pleas- 
ant," "delightful," "lovely." Prof. Jules Marcow attributes the name to the 
Amerriques tribe of Indians in eastern Nicaragua. 
America; the Western Hemisphere, named for Amerigo Vespucci, sometimes spelled 
Americus Vespucius, who touched the South American coast somewhere near 
Surinam in 1499. The name was first used in 1509, and first appeared on a map 
made in Frankfort, Germany, in 1520. 
American; river in California, so called by the Spanish, Rio de los Americanos, 
because most of the Americans entering California at the time the Spaniards 
ruled there, came down that river. 
Ames; city in Story County, Iowa, named for Oakes Ames. 
Ames; post-office in Montgomery County, New York, named tor Fisher Ames. 
Amesbury; town in Essex County, Massachusetts, named from the English town. 
Amethyst; mountain in Yellowstone Park, Wyoming, so named by the United States 
Geological Survey, from the crystalline amethysts formerly abundant on its 
broad summit. 
Amethyst; creek in Yellowstone Park, Wyoming, so named by the United States 
Geological Survey because it flows from Amethyst Mountain. 
Amherst; town in Hancock County, Maine, named from the town in New Hamp- 
shire. 
