#RaccoonCity #ResidentEvil #sillycitynames
Raccoon City is just a really silly name for a city 🦝. It just makes me think of like Raccoons in business suits hustling around a city scape, holding briefcases and reading the newspaper. It sticks out for a horror game, and as a city name in general. It just doesn’t sound like a US name for a city. It kind of comes off like it was named by people that don’t know the language or culture extremely well. It would be like Americans coming up with a fictional metropolis in Africa called “Lion City”.
But regardless of how silly the name may sound, Raccoon City has become iconic in the world of gaming and pop culture. Let’s dive deeper into the origins and significance of this strangely named city.
## A Not-So-Ordinary City Name
When you hear the name “Raccoon City”, what comes to mind? Probably not your typical city name, right? It’s quirky, memorable, and definitely sets the tone for the dark and dangerous world of the Resident Evil series.
### Fictional Beginnings
Raccoon City was first introduced in the original Resident Evil game released in 1996. It served as the setting for the outbreak of the T-virus, a deadly bioweapon that caused chaos and destruction throughout the city. As players navigated through the streets of Raccoon City, they encountered hordes of zombies, mutated creatures, and all sorts of nightmarish horrors.
### Cultural Influence
The naming of Raccoon City may seem odd to some, but it actually reflects a common trend in Japanese pop culture. In Japan, raccoons (or “tanuki”) are often portrayed as mischievous, shape-shifting creatures with supernatural abilities. This playful and slightly sinister image aligns perfectly with the dark and eerie atmosphere of the Resident Evil games.
### Fan Reactions
Despite its unconventional name, Raccoon City has become a beloved and iconic location in the Resident Evil franchise. Fans have embraced the quirky name and its association with the terrifying events that unfolded within its boundaries. Some may find it humorous or outlandish, but for many, Raccoon City holds a special place in their hearts.
## The Legacy of Raccoon City
While Raccoon City may have met a tragic fate in the Resident Evil series, its impact on gaming and popular culture lives on.
### Cultural Phenomenon
Raccoon City has transcended its fictional origins to become a cultural touchstone for gamers and horror enthusiasts alike. Its name evokes memories of tense encounters, desperate battles, and the constant fear of the unknown. The city’s legacy continues to inspire new stories, games, and adaptations within the Resident Evil universe.
### Merchandise and Memorabilia
The popularity of Raccoon City has led to a wide array of merchandise and memorabilia dedicated to the iconic location. From t-shirts and posters to action figures and collectibles, fans can show off their love for Raccoon City in style. The city may have fallen to ruin, but its spirit lives on through these tangible reminders of its enduring legacy.
## Conclusion: Raccoon City – A Name to Remember
In the end, Raccoon City may be just a really silly name for a city, but it has left a lasting impression on the gaming world and beyond. Whether you find it comical, bizarre, or downright absurd, there’s no denying the impact that Raccoon City has had on popular culture.
So next time you hear someone mention Raccoon City, don’t be quick to dismiss it as just another weird city name. Embrace the quirkiness, the creativity, and the sheer audacity of a name that dares to be different. After all, in a world filled with ordinary names and mundane places, isn’t it refreshing to encounter a city that’s truly one-of-a-kind?
Well the raccoon will break in to your house tonight and eat your snacks and leave a mess for what you have said about their city!! And they will hiss at your pets, if you have any!
The early RE “lore” is hilarious. In the mid 90s they had a website for the game with weird fan fictiony back info about the game world. They originally said “Raccoon City” was in the Rocky Mountains. Then I think they said Colorado, then finally the “Midwest” location in the game dialogue. They clearly did not bother to look up a US map or where raccoons even live.
I feel like a lot of names seem odd when you isolate them and think about it. Americas has a place named Colon. I’d rather the Raccoon.
Singapore literally means “Lion City”.
Funnily enough, there *is* a “Lion City” IRL. The name of the country Singapore was derived from the Malay words for “Lion City”.
I think it was just Japanese devs in the 90s that had never been to the US trying to come up with a name that “sounded” American.
I mean even in real life there’s a lot of places with strange name, no? 2nd biggest city in Indonesia literally means shark & crocodile in english lol
Well, at least they didn’t call it Morningwood or something lol 😂
There is Boca Raton, Florida (Rat Mouth).
>It just doesn’t sound like a US name for a city.
Have you seen some city names in the US? Intercourse (technically an unincorporated township, not a city) in PA, in my state we have both Humansville and Cooter. Raccoon City is bland by some comparisons.
Have you ever heard of Amarillo, Texas? “Amarillo” is Spanish for “yellow”.
I agree OP. They should have set the game in Intercourse, PA, USA or Middlefart, Denmark.
Wasn’t RE meant to initially be a take on B-grade horror movies? In that sense, a name like Raccoon City fits the bill perfectly.
There is a city not to far from me named Lizard Lick so Raccoon City is fine.
Dinosaur Colorado
Angelfire New Mexico
Bay City Texas
Racoon City doesn’t seem that unrealistic.
The closest American city to me right now is Buffalo, New York. I never really thought Raccoon City was that unusual of a name.
Hell, we’ve got places like Moose Jaw and Salmon Arm up here. Raccoon City would fit right in.
Climax, Minnesota
Butte, Montana
Ding Dong, Texas
Hooker, Oklahoma
Dickinson, North Dakota
Raccoon City doesn’t even seem weird to me.
An old podcast I used to listen to, Hollywood Babble On, has a segment called “Your Town Has a Fucked Up Name” with places like Clitheroe, Shitterton, or…Grandpa’s Knob *cringe*
Meanwhile, in Diver City we shredding on a roof
YOU’RE A SILLY NAME FOR A CITY.
Agreed. Silent Hill way more believable.
I mean I have in my country villages that would literally translate to “fucking” the verb so racoon City doesn’t seem too bad
The US has a ton of city names that are even more ridiculous than “Raccoon”. They aren’t well known but they exist.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raccoon,_Kentucky
Dodge city in Kansas, spearfish city in south Dakota , bullhead city in Arizona , sandwich in Massachusetts. There are plenty of names like that
Considering I live next to a town called Beaverton, Raccoon City does not sound that weird
In my state we have places called Cockburn and Innaloo.
Raccoon City is probably pretty good in comparison.
Beaver Utah
Buffalo New York
Chicken Alaska
Dinosaur Colorado
Phoenix Arizona
White Salmon Washington
Duck North Carolina
All would like a word.
https://lisaswritopia.com/towns-with-animal-names/
doesn’t sound like a us city name? oh boy you havnt been around much have you? Can start off with Gaylord, Climax, and Moorhead in the Minnesota area, a town called Boring in Oregon, hell there’s a town called *Santa Claus* even lmao.
I like to think it’s because Raccoons are known carriers of rabies. And likely that a variant of that causes Zombies.
Toronto reporting in. Why do you slander the trash panda so? 😐
Do… Do you know what some REAL ridiculous and IRL cities are called?
Given that there are real places named Chicken (AK), Dinosaur (CO), Monkey’s Eyebrow (KY), and Porcupine (SD) in the US I’d say Raccoon is not a weird choice.
Obviously you’ve never been to Monkey’s Eyebrow, Kentucky.