Truth or Consequences…New Mexico

Courtesy of kxlly on Flickr

The name conjures up images of Wild West showdowns, but you might be surprised to know that Truth or Consequences, New Mexico did not get its name from the days of cowboys and Indians.  As a matter of fact, the area wasn’t settled until 1912, and for the early part of its history, the town was called Hot Springs (I’ll let you guess why).  Until 1950, Hot Springs was a sleepy resort town where tourists would come to the town for the springs’ healing properties.  Then, in 1950, radio and television producer Ralph Edwards of NBC wanted to find a town that liked his radio program so much that the residents were willing to change the name of their town to match the title of the radio show; Truth or Consequences.  Since this name change, the city has become widely recognized throughout the U.S. despite having a population of less than 7500 (as of the 2000 census).  So there you have it, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico; a boring town with an awesome name.

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