Bucks County communities currently sport several unique names: Kintnersville, Applebachsville, Eddington. But at least these have stuck. A deep dive into the area’s past, led by Carl LaVO in the Bucks County Courier Times, reveals some area labels that, for better or worse, faded into history.

In the 18th Century, for example, a segment of Northampton Township was called Smoketown. The name came from a nearby population of Holland Dutch settlers who brought long-stemmed pipes with them for enjoyment. It eventually became Churchville.

Richboro was originally Addisville, a name taken from the family of its earliest settlers. Several other monikers followed until, in 1883, the U.S. Postal System designated the area as Richboro, after the borough’s first postmaster, Richard (Rich) Thomas.

Today’s Lahaska — home to the popular Peddler’s Village — was once Clayton, named for Sen. Henry Clay, a Civil War–era politician. The change had twin causes: simplifying mail delivery and acknowledge the presence of a railroad stop.

More on the evolution of Bucks County place names is at the Bucks County Courier Times.