3 Of The Weirdest Small Towns In The United States Are In Florida (2024)

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 complied 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

Miracle Village is the largest community ofregistered sex offendersin 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

A town just south of Tampa where carnival workers andsideshow 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

“Florida’s Friendliest Retirement Hometown.” We’ve all heard the stories about the promiscuous behavior of the residents of this retirement town. According to theNew 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.

Weirdest Small Towns

Florida is absolutely full of weirdness, we even have our namesake “Florida Man” to help document it. Even Taylor Swift sings about us with her song “Florida!!!”. In an interview with the Today show, Taylor explained the meaning behind the song “Is there a place you could go?” she asked before laughing. “I’m always watching, like, ‘Dateline.’ People have these crimes that they commit. Where do they immediately skip town and go to? They go to Florida.”

Power Ranking The 14 Wild Animals In Florida That Can Kill You

• 1. The Box Jellyfish

  Animals that I can’t see because they’re under the water freak me out more than most. Enter the box jellyfish. Although only a small percentage of stings are fatal, when they are – they kill quickly. Fun fact: each jellyfish carries enough venom to kill 60 humans and the sting is incredibly painful. To alleviate the pain you can pour vinegar on the sting, but don’t pee on it. I have no idea how that myth got started, but peeing on someone who just got stung won’t help. Actually, I’m kind of against peeing on anyone, anytime – but I understand that is a “thing” for some.

  

  Box Jellyfish

• 2. The Brown Recluse

  Brown recluse spider bites are not usually fatal, but these little things rank at number 2 because of the way they attack. Bites happen when the spider gets trapped against the skin. This includes bedsheets or in clothing and shoes. Remember, if you’ve had your shoes off outside, always shake ’em and tap them on the ground to make sure nothing crawled in there.

  The venom from the bite causes the skin around the bite to die. It can take months to heal and may scar. Ask Sheila what it’s like to get bit.

  

  A macro shot of a Brown recluse spider

• 3. The Black Widow

  Yes, spiders take the number 2 and number 3 spot. I’ve run across several of these things in Southwest Florida, but have so far stayed on their good side. A black widow bite can produce painful swelling, cramps, muscle spasms, and nausea. The symptoms usually go away after about 12 hours. Unless the bite is on a child or the elderly. It can kill them.

  

  A Black Widow Spider spinning a web in an oak tree.

• 4. The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

  This is the largest and most dangerous snake in Florida. Yes, there’s more. If you walk up on one, it will raise up and began to rattle its tail to look larger and more intimidating. That’s your clue to slowly back away. In most instances the snake will avoid confrontation and leave, but if it strikes, well, that’s no fun. If you get bit, get to the hospital for the anti venom. These things can kill you. And they are all over Florida.

  

  Eastern diamondback rattlesnake from Big Cypress National Preserve (adjacent to Everglades National Park), Florida

• 5. The Bull Shark

  Florida has sharks, and lots of them. Volusia County is actually the ‘Shark Bite Capital Of The World.” If you’re in the water, be it the Atlantic, or the Gulf – there are sharks nearby. I got to witness that first hand when I was in a seaplane over the Gulf Of Mexico. We were flying low and slow and you could see all the little black dots in the water. Some were pretty close to swimmers. Those were sharks.

  I think we’ve all seen enough movies to know what happens when a shark attacks a human. Ever seen a shark attack a boat?

  https://www.instagram.com/p/CvFTwg8LCgo/?hl=en

  See Also

  Publix Ad & Coupons Week Of 5/9 to 5/15 (5/8 to 5/14 For Some) - iHeartPublixWhere to Find Crab Legs on Sale: The Best Places for Budget-Friendly Crustacean LegsBounty awaits those planning Feb. feastsMy son’s fifth grade year: 97,737 miles, 40 flights, 6 continents and 16 countries - FlyerTalk Forums

• 6. The Alligator

  It’s April as I write this, and we are in mating season for the alligators here in Florida. You’ll see something on social media just about every day of someone having an encounter with an alligator. As more and more houses are built, there are fewer places for the alligators to go. And that’s why the encounters are rising. Now, normally alligators mind their own business around people, but that seems to be changing. This one charged a golf cart.

  https://www.instagram.com/p/C36s33rKmrZ/

• 7. The Southern Copperhead Snake

  This snake ranks lower, mainly because it’s not all over Florida. It’s only found in the panhandle section of Florida. Getting bit by the Southern Copperhead is rarely fatal, due to it’s short fangs and low amount of venom. But left untreated, you can die. If you get bit, keep the bite area below your heart and get to the hospital.

  

  Southern Copperhead Snake

• 8. The Great White Shark

  Great White Sharks like to feed on seals or sea lions. So if you’re out there swimming, try not to look like one of those. Although the Great White Shark leads all the others in deadly attacks, this predator is only here for the winter before heading back up north as the waters get warmer. Here’s a helpful tip. If you see a bunch of fish jumping out of the water, that’s probably a sign that a shark is nearby. It’s best not to swim in that area. Even though it’s not coming after you, you can get bit if you’re in the way.

  

  Great White Shark

• 9. The Kissing Bug

  Yes, bugs are animals. And this one is nasty. And it’s not the bite that’ll mess you up, it’s the deadly Chagas disease that’s carried by parasites within the bug. You see, the kissing bug bites you to suck your blood. The bug’s fecal matter contains the parasite. If the parasite laden fecal matter gets into the wound, well, that’s how you get sick. So not only does the Kissing Bug bite you and suck your blood, it sh*ts in the wound to make you sick.

  pic.twitter.com/zFzECFo9vv

  — Norman Beatty (@NormanBeattyMD) July 21, 2021

• 10. Fire Ants

  I have been attacked by fire ants so many times that I don’t even get concerned anymore. But if you get enough, it can cause an allergic reaction that makes you swell up to the point where you can’t breathe. I think the most I’ve had was 20 or so on my ankle and foot. Gotta watch wear you stand.

  

  “Fire Ants” instructions

• 11. Oooooooh Barracuda

  The Barracuda is a scavenger with nasty, sharp teeth made to tear and shred. Be careful when you dive, it can mistake something shiny as a meal.

  

  Happy fisherman holding a giant barracuda

• 12. The Wild Boar

  These things are NOT as playful as the ones you see on Lion King. Generally, they just want to root around destroying your landscaping, but can attack if provoked. And you don’t want to get cut buy one of those tusks. Wild boars are full of diseases. I used to see a lot of these when I lived down Corkscrew Road in Estero.

  

  Wild Boar

• 13. Florida Panther

  Although there have been no reported attacks on humans from Florida Panthers, they do pose another problem. They tend to wander out into traffic. 239 Florida Panthers have died in vehicle strikes in the past 10 years. It’s more of an indirect attack. These big cats are endangered, killing a Florida panther is a third-degree felony.

  

  Walking through palmetto trees in Charlotte County, Florida.

• 14. Black Bear

  Last up on the Power ranking is the Florida Black Bear. Sure, if provoked they can attack, but killing a person is super rare. Usually when we hear black bear stories in Florida it’s because they’ve interacted with humans while looking for food. In trash cans, coming into your garage, etc.

• Bonus: Florida Man

  Trust. You are much, much, much more likely to be injured by the antics of one of the locals. Florida Man stories are known across the world. We have a whole section of this website dedicated to them. Be safe out there!

Joe Winner spends his days combing through memes and off beat stories to bring you the side of Florida not always seen.