So I had this package to send to an ebay bidder. I print out the mailing label and notice it's going to a place called White Settlement, Texas. Say what? So I figure I better do a little research on White Settlement to see if I needed to put anything in the package that would, say, render the population sterile.
Turns out the town got it's name to distinguish itself from the plethora of Indian (Native American) settlements in the area. Still, it's 2006 and this isn't the most welcoming name for a town. I don't imagine tourism is their major industry unless maybe the Klan holds their summer retreat there or something.
There was a vote to change the name to West Settlement. Seems big business wasn't too keen on having a White Settlement address on their annual reports. Wal-Mart pulled out and so did another large chain. The citizens were all attached to White Settlement so the name stayed the same.
And it's a lot to write on a return address label. And you must get tired of having to explain it every time you call QVC or go out of town.
"So, where do you hail from?"
"White Settlement, Texas."
"What was that?"
"White Settlement. In Texas."
"It's all white people that live there? Are you a member of the KKK?"
"No, it's an old name. When there were a lot of Indian tribes in the area."
"Ya'll don't like Indians?"
"It's from a long time ago. When it was dangerous for white people in Texas. So they knew which settlement to go to."
"Well, it might be dangerous today for you to go around telling people you live in White Settlement."
"Yeah, you'd be surprised."
I'm thinking of moving there and opening a yarn shop called SkeinHeads.
