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How did Gobbler's Knob get its name? Internet says groundhog Punxsutawney Phil's hometown 'sounds SO wrong'

Punxsutawney Phil's accuracy rate has only been around 40% during the last decade, but he is still as popular as ever

PUNXSUTAWNEY, PENNSYLVANIA: Thousands of early risers tuned in or bundled up for Groundhog Day on Thursday morning, February 2 to see Punxsutawney Phil emerge from a tree stump and predict the weather. The groundhog, arguably the most famous member of his species and the most recognizable of all the country's animal pundits, did what he has done for the past 137 years. 

Tradition holds that if Phil sees his shadow, North America will have six more weeks of winter, and early spring if he does not. However, several statistics showed that Phil's accuracy rate has only been around 40% during the last decade, according to CNN. Now, one of the burning questions on social media is how the town of Gobbler's Knob got its name. Let us see what people are talking about. 

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As the country celebrates Groundhog Day, many wondered how the hometown of Punxsutawney Phil is named Gobbler’s Knob. One user wrote on Twitter, “Can we please talk about how the hometown of Punxsutawney Phil is named ‘Gobbler’s Knob?’ Who named it that? Ron Jeremy?!?” “My daughter is married to a man who has an uncle and cousin's there it is a very pretty town, and Phil is a treasure,” another added. Someone noted, “Right?  It just sounds SO wrong!” “Heh...just imagine working at the Gobbler Liquor Store...No way I could greet customers with a straight face…” another added. 

Meanwhile, someone offered an explanation, saying, “You'll find Knobs all over Pennsylvania...The City of Knob is located in Beaver County in the State of Pennsylvania.” “Just look over a Pennsylvania map. Some malcontent drunk was probably employed in the PA government back in the 1800s and had revenge on the residents by naming towns,” another quipped. 

How did Gobbler's Knob get its name?

The name Gobbler's Knob has two possible origins, according to Olioiniowa.com. The first is that the area historically housed vast groups of turkeys, known as rafters. The second possibility is that it refers to the act of "gobbling" up wild creatures after a hunt.

When visitors come to Punxsutawney to see where Phil the Groundhog makes his annual weather prediction, they frequently spend their time downtown because that's where it was in the movie ‘Groundhog Day.’ However, in reality, Hollywood made that up as the movie wasn't even shot in Punxsutawney. The true location is a few miles outside of town, in a little clearing at the top of a wooded hill. On the hill, visitors can find an enormous Punxsutawney Phil sign and Phil's artificial tree stump, all left in place for off-season visitors.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.