California Place Names

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Absco, a Southern Pacific station, derives its name from the American Beet Sugar Company, which had a factory in Oxnard. Pochea refers to an Indian village site in Riverside County, meaning "where the rabbit went in." Siskiyou comes from the Chinook term for 'bobtailed horse,' originally from Cree. From Abadi Creek to Zzyzyx Spring, countless discoveries await readers. This extensively revised fourth edition of a classic work offers a wealth of description and history in California's place names, as diverse as the state's landscape. It focuses on the origins of names for cities, towns, mountains, and streams, providing engrossing accounts of their historical usage. Updated with the latest research and new names added since 1969, this edition is a valuable resource for both curious travelers and serious students. It also includes phonetic transcriptions for local pronunciations of unusual spellings, aiding those interested in how to say La Jolla or Weitchpec. Special attention is given to California place names of American Indian origin, such as Yreka, Shasta, and Yosemite. The dictionary features a Glossary and a Bibliography, enhancing its utility for readers.