At the junction of State Routes 85 and 86 in southwestern Arizona sits the tiny town of Why. The 160 people who live in Why are still getting used to the name. That’s because they’re used to calling the city by its original name: “Y”. The town was named Y because of the y-shaped junction of Routes 85 and 86. When the community grew big enough to warrant a post office, the federal government required a name change. That’s because the law requires that all towns have a name consisting of at least three letters. So, residents came up with the name Why……problem solved. While most residents have adjusted, travelers and tourists alike still scratch their heads when seeing the sign announcing Why, Arizona, and wonder……..you guessed it…….why?
