While most towns have their strange traditions and unusual quirks, there are certain places that really are ‘one-offs’ and truly have to be seen to be believed. Whether it’s the locations they were built on, the bizarre design of their streets or the people that choose to live there, the following are 15 of the strangest towns in the world. If you ever thought your hometown was a little strange, just imagine living in one of these places!
Miyake-Jima Island, Japan. Gas Masks at the Ready
The fact that the Japanese government actually have to pay people to live on Miyake-Jima Island should immediately get the alarm bells ringing. The town is located at the bottom of an active volcano and residents are constantly at risk of being poisoned by the unnaturally high levels of sulphur in the air. The risks are that high that residents are told to carry a gas mask with them at all times and sirens are sounded when the sulphur levels get dangerously high.
Manshiyat Naser, Egypt. A Rubbish Town
While some people might describe their own town as ‘a bit of a dump,’ the residents of Manshiyat Naser in Egypt actually have a point. The town is used as a dumping site for rubbish and waste from the Egyptian capital of Cairo. Huge amounts of waste are dropped onto the streets on a daily basis. While this would understandably upset most townsfolk, the residents of Manshiyat Nasser are more than happy to accept the rubbish, as they actually make their living by recycling the waste, with an impressive 90% success rate.
Colma, California, USA. The Dead Outnumber the Living
San Francisco passed a law in 1900 that ended up having a huge effect on the town of Colma, California. The new law stated that no more cemeteries could be constructed within the city limits of San Francisco. This left the city with a problem of where to bury their dead and led to Colma becoming a necropolis in 1924. A 2010 census showed Colma being home to a living population of around 1,800 and a deceased population of 1.5 million! This has earned Colma the nickname ‘The City of the Silent.’
Thames Town, China. A British Town in the Middle of Asia
There are a number of picturesque British towns in the UK and Thames Town fits into this category perfectly, but for one little difference: It’s located in the middle of China! Thames Town is a suburb on the edge of the city of Shanghai and boasts authentic English cobbled streets, red phone booths, a pub and even a fish and chips shop. The town was deliberately modelled on an English market town and reportedly cost around £500m to build. Thames Town has so far remained eerily unpopulated though, but it has become a popular destination for couples to have their wedding photos.
Coober Pedy, Australia. An Underground Town
One of the major problems with living in the Australian outback is the intense sun and high temperatures that beat down in the summer months, but residents of Coober Pedy came up with a novel idea to beat the heat: Live underground! The town was established in 1915 when opal was discovered in the area and a mining community was quickly set up. The caves keep a naturally cool temperature and the underground town now includes a church, stores, a gallery, a hotel and a number of homes.
Elista, Russia. Chess City
Chess is one of the most popular board games in the world and people from all over the planet have a great passion for the ancient pastime. Few could match the fanaticism of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov though. The former president of Kalmykia (a republic of Russia) loved the ‘game of kings’ so much that he decided to design a whole town around the game. Elista, or ‘Chess City’ as it is more widely known, features a number of chess themed sculptures dotted across the city and even has a large chess board, complete with giant pieces, in its town square.
Noiva Do Cordeiro, Brazil. Girl Power!
There are undoubtedly many women who dream of living in a male-free town and that wish can now become a reality thanks to the town of Noiva Do Cordeiro in Brazil. The 600-strong community is almost entirely made up of the fairer sex. It was first established in 1891 when a woman called Senhorinha de Lima was pushed out of her community due to adultery. Even today, only a handful of the women are married and only see their husbands at the weekend due to them working 100km away in the city of Belo Horizonte. The female community have no problem in tending to the rich farmlands that surround Noiva Do Cordeiro and apparently the only downside to living in the unique town is a lack of romance.
San Zhi Resort, Taiwan. Paradise Lost
In 1978 the construction of a vacation resort on the outskirts of New Taipei City began. The resort was designed as a state-of-the-art holiday home for US military officers, who had been posted to East Asia; by 1980 the project had been mysteriously abandoned. The official reason for the abandonment was due to investment losses but a far more sinister power was behind the closure. During construction a number of deaths and suicides occurred, which led to many people believing the site was cursed. The explanations for the curse ranged, from the site being a former burial ground, to the bisecting of a Chinese dragon sculpture during construction. The pod homes were left to rust and decay and the holiday town is still believed to be haunted.
Monowi, Nebraska, USA. A One Woman Town
Calling Monowi in Nebraska a ‘town’ might be stretching the truth a little, as the community has a residency of exactly…. one! This wasn’t always the case though and in the 1930’s the town had a thriving population of 150. The numbers have slowly declined since then though and as of 2000, the only residents left were a couple named Elsie and Rudy Eiler. When Rudy sadly passed away in 2004 Elsie was left as the sole resident of Monowi. While some people might have let these circumstances get them down, Elsie did the exact opposite; she runs the Minowi Tavern and even turned her late husband’s 5,000-strong book collection into a library!
Gibsonton, Florida, USA. The Circus Town
If you’ve ever wondered where circus folk go when they retire, then Gibsonton, Florida is your answer. This small town on the outskirts of Tampa has been a popular destination for carnival and circus workers for years. The neighbourhoods have many bars and restaurants that pay homage to the colourful residents. There is even a large boot in the town centre in remembrance of a former circus giant who had size 27 feet! Circus and festival performers still regularly travel to Gibsonton and many front lawns are often used to park trailers and even the odd elephant.
Setenil de las Bodegas, Spain. The Cave Town
If you’re looking for a picturesque town with a bit of a difference, then Setenil de las Bodegas in Spain should fit the bill nicely. This quaint village has a rather unique feature: Half of its houses are built into the side of a cliff! The incredible architecture is a firm favourite with visitors and the town makes much of its income from tourism. Setenil de las Bodegas is famous for more than just its architecture though as it has some of the finest bars and restaurants in the region, with its chorizo sausage a particular favourite.
The Villages, Florida, USA. One OAP in Every Household
The Villages in Florida describes itself as ‘America’s friendliest hometown’ and is one of the largest retirement communities in the world. The town is home to over 100,000 residents over the age of 55 and anyone under the age of 19 is not allowed to stay. The Villages also boasts an incredible 34 golf course and golf buggies actually outnumber cars, in terms of vehicles. Although the town portrays a sweet and innocent exterior it seems a darker side to the community has crept in recently, with a large rise in STD’s being reported. This could be explained by the fact that women outnumber men 10:1 in the town and there is reportedly a black market for viagra.
Hell, Michigan, USA. Hell on Earth
Any visitors driving through Michigan would be forgiven for turning their cars around when they arrive at this particular town, especially when the greeting signpost reads: ‘Welcome to Hell!’ Thankfully this isn’t actually the fiery home of the devil, but a small town in Livingston County. The locals certainly make the most of the name though and a number of bars and restaurants have a spooky theme to attract tourists. Halloween is also, unsurprisingly, a rather big deal in Hell.
Dwarf Village, China. The Name Says It All
Opinions over the creation of a ‘theme park’ village in China that contains only people suffering from dwarfism have been split. While some people have argued that the village is poking fun at small people and trying to turn dwarfism into a humorous condition, the supporters of the theme park argue that the village allows its residents to earn a living, when they would struggle to get employment in other lines of work. Whichever view you agree with, it seems that Dwarf Village is here to stay as it currently employs more than 100 people, with the cut-off height of residents being 130cm (4ft 3in).
Centralia, Pennsylvania, USA. The Inspiration for Silent Hill
If you’ve ever played the popular video horror game Silent Hill, then the town of Centralia, Pennsylvania, may already sound familiar to you. The town was the inspiration for the game and has a history to match any horror film. The spooky occurrences began all the way back in 1962 when a fire broke out in the town’s mine that forced many residents to leave and, incredibly, still continues to burn to this day! By the 1980s a number of concerns had been raised over the safety of the area and when a boy fell into a sinkhole in his backyard in 1981, the vast majority of Centralia’s residents (over 1,000) were relocated. As of 2013, just 7 people remain living in the town.
