The weirdest small towns in the United States are weird for many different reasons. And of the top 20 on the list, it should come as no surprise that 3 of them are right here in Florida.
In a list compiled by Ranker, the top 20 towns were compiled as a bit of a travel guide to the weirdest small towns in America. Number one is Centralia, Pennsylvania. Not many people live there anymore because an abandoned coal mine is on fire underneath the town, and has been since 1962. The town’s main road is hot to the touch and there’s no end in sight. Experts say the fire could last another 250 years.
The Weirdest Small Towns In Florida.
For starters, Florida has a lot of unusual town names. From Yeehaw Junction, to Fluffy Landing, and even a town named Two Egg, there’s a lot of oddities to go around. But those towns aren’t really that unusual, even though their names are.
Since Florida is pretty much the capitol of weird in the United States, let’s take a look at the 3 weirdest small towns you can visit. Or maybe avoid, depending on your level of adventure.
Miracle Village, Florida
Just learning about Miracle Village a place in Florida in the middle of sugarcane fields where hundreds of sex offenders live. It's a Christian Ministry run by a man who is also a sex offender. pic.twitter.com/Gs7HbOdpjd
— Billy Tractor ? (@tractor_owner) September 7, 2023
Miracle Village is the largest community of registered sex offenders in the United States. The community, located on the southeast corner of Lake Okeechobee was founded by a Christian ministry that seeks to help individuals reintegrate into society. Around 200 registered sex offenders live here.
Gibsonton, Florida
So much magic and mystery to explore at The International Independent Showmens Museum in Gibsonton Florida! Perfect backdrop for Tampa a Werewolf Feature #TheBeastComesAtMidnight! #ShowtownAmericanPictures #WelcomeToTheShow #TampaWerewolf #FilmFlorida #FilmTampaBay #FloridaFilm pic.twitter.com/LbfZq3OAqq
— ShowtownAmericanPictures (@ShowtownFilms) March 13, 2023
A town just south of Tampa where carnival workers and sideshow human attractions spend the off-season in a warm, welcoming climate. Atlasobscura states “Gibsonton was once home to Percilla the Monkey girl, the Anatomical Wonder, and Grady Stiles Lobster Boy. Siamese twin sisters ran a fruit stand in the town and, at one point, Gibsonton was home to the only post office in the country with a counter short enough for dwarves to use.” There’s a lot of carnival history in this town.
The Villages, Florida
Ya know what keeps me up at night? How about the fact that outside of Orlando there is a retirement community called the Villages and they use Loofa codes to jump each other’s bones pic.twitter.com/7sepIhZCQA
— Jason | Freelance Digital Storyteller (@dark_mt_visuals) December 9, 2020
“Florida’s Friendliest Retirement Hometown.” We’ve all heard the stories about the promiscuous behavior of the residents of this retirement town. According to the New York Post, the STD rates in this small town are some of the highest in Florida. The Villages even have a loofa code that lets others know what you’re in to. I guess this is what’s known as an active retirement lifestyle.