250 PLACE NAMES IN THE UNITED STATES. [bull. 258. 
Porno; town in Mendocino County, California, named from its location in the fruit- 
growing region. A Spanish word denoting fruit in general, but applied particu- 
larly to the apple. 
Pomona; cities in Los Angeles County, California, and Franklin County, Kansas, 
named for the Roman goddess of fruit. From the Latin pomum, "fruit." 
Pomperaug; river in Connecticut. An Indian word probably meaning "place of 
offering." 
Pompey; town in Onondaga County, New York, named for Pompey the Great. 
Ponca; township, and city in Dixon County, in Nebraska, and town in Kay County, 
Oklahoma, named for the Ponca tribe of Indians. The word is supposed to 
mean "medicine." 
Ponchartrain; lake in Louisiana, named for a French count who was an early 
explorer of the Mississippi Valley. 
Ponkapog; town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. An Indian word meaning 
"sweet w r ater." 
Pontiac; city in Oakland County, Michigan, named for a chief of the Ottawa 
Indians. 
Pontiac; township and city in Livingston County, Illinois, named from Pontiac, 
Michigan, whence many of the early settlers came. 
Pontoosuc; hill in Glastonbury, Connecticut, village in Hancock County, Illinois, 
and village, and lake in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. An Indian word 
meaning "falls on the brook." 
Pontotoc; town in Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, and county, and town in 
same county, in Mississippi, named for a Chickasaw Indian chief. The word 
means "weed prairie." 
Pope; county in Arkansas, named for John Pope, a former governor. 
Pope; county in Illinois, named for Nathaniel Pope, a former Congressional delegate. 
Pope; county in Minnesota, named for Gen. John Pope, who conducted the Minne- 
sota exploring expedition to the Red River. 
Popham; fort at the mouth of the Kennebec River, Maine, named for Capt. George 
Popham, its builder, when governor of the first English colony in New England. 
Poplar Bluff; township and city in Butler County, Missouri, so named because of 
the belt of poplar trees in that section, and the location of the city on a bluff at 
the foot of the Ozark range of mountains. 
Poplarville; town in Pearl River County, Mississippi, named for "Popular" Jim 
Smith, owner of the store in which the iirst railroad depot at this point was located. 
Poponoming; lake in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. A Delaware Indian name 
meaning "where we are gazing." 
Poquessing; stream in Pennsylvania. A Delaware Indian word meaning "where 
there are mice." 
Poquetanuck; stream and town in New London County, Connecticut. An Indian 
word meaning "land open" or "broken up." 
Poquonoc; river and hill in Connecticut. An Indian word meaning "cleared land." 
Porcupine; islands of Mount Desert, Maine, so called because at a distance they 
resemble a porcupine. 
Portage; town in Livingston County, New York, and counties in Ohio and Wiscon- 
sin, so named because of their location between water courses. 
Portage; city in Columbia County, Wisconsin. A French word meaning "carry- 
ing-place," boats having been carried from the Fox to the Wisconsin river. 
Portage des Sioux; town in St. Charles County, Missouri, so named because at this 
point on the Mississippi River the Indians carried their canoes across the penin- 
sula to the Missouri. 
Port Angeles; town in Clallam County, Washington, named by Don Francisco 
Elisa, a Mexican. 
