How in the world did Hell, Michigan get a name like that? Let’s take a little etymological journey to find out.
Look up any list of the strangest city names in the United States, and you’re sure to find Hell, Michigan somewhere on there.
And for good reason; it’s hard not to do a double take when you see a town named after the place of eternal suffering. Though that’s exactly what living in America is like, depending on who you ask on any given day.
While no one knows exactly how Hell, which is 20 miles northwest of Ann Arbor, got its name, there are a number of theories that try to explain the origins.
The Origins of Hell, Michigan
One theory maintains that in the 1830s, a couple of German travelers stepped outside their stagecoach on a bright Michigan day, exclaiming, “So schön hell!” Hell, in German, translates to “bright,” so that would certainly track, and apparently the name stuck for this small, unincorporated community that doesn’t have any defined boundaries or population numbers.
A second theory is much more literal. To some, Hell’s name refers back to the “hell-like” conditions endured by early settlers, who had to contend with mosquitos, thick forest, and extensive wetlands. That does, in fact, sound like hell.
The official Hell, Michigan site also offers its own plausible explanation (along with the ability to do everything from own a square inch of Hell to become Hell’s mayor for the day). According to the lore on the site, Hell was settled in 1838 by George Reeves, who ran a grist mill and general store in the town. Reeves was known for paying local farmers for their grain with home-distilled whiskey, which would prompt local wives to remark about their husbands, “He’s gone to hell again.” Hell became an official town in October of 1841, so it’s conceivable this name stuck as a nickname at just the right time.
Reeves is involved in another town theory as well. When Michigan became a state in 1837, Reeves was allegedly asked what the town he helped found should be called, to which Reeves responded, “I don’t care. You can name it Hell for all I care.”
We might never know exactly how Hell, Michigan got its name, but it seems likely George Reeves had something to do with it; everything else feels like a pretty tenuous stab. Still, it’s fun to wonder how a town could settle on a name like that, especially during a time of intense religious and puritanical fervor.
And it’s especially fun to see the town lean into the name with so many fun promotions and businesses, along with an official website that literally tells you to go to Hell.
Things to Do in Hell, Michigan
You might be living in or visiting Hell, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun in the process. Here’s a look at just a few of the fun things you can do in Hell:
- Experience Screams From Hell, a shop with fun Hell-themed souvenirs, apparel, and ice cream at the Creamatory. And speaking of the Creamatory, be sure to take a stab at the Grave Digger challenge, which offers an honorary death certificate (presented in a miniature coffin) to anyone who can finish an entire pound of ice cream.
- Get married in Hell (after a quick trip to the Locks of Love Bridge), “because a marriage that begins in Hell has no place to go but up.”
- Send some mail from the Hell Post Office, which will singe souvenir postcards (and, apparently, other types of mail) before sending them out. Who wouldn’t want to get some mail from Hell?
- You won’t be spared from hunger and thirst while in Hell, so why not stop at the Hell Hole Diner to satisfy that burning desire to eat, or the Hell Saloon to cool off during a scorching trip to Hell itself?
- Get a degree from Damnation University, though one wonders if paying student loans now isn’t already hellacious enough.
- Spread a loved one’s ashes in the Scattering Yard.
- Go on a bus tour of Hell, rent a canoe or kayak to traverse Hell’s waters (like the Hell Creek River), or play some miniature golf (yep, they even have putt-putt in Hell).
(Image credit: Sswonk)
