Zzyzx, California
|
|
Zzyzx.jpg
Zzyzx is a location in San Bernardino County, California. Zzyzx Road is the road leading to it. Both the location and the road are often believed to be the lexicographically greatest (alphabetically last, at least in English alphabetical order) exemplars of their respective classes, recognised locations and recognised street names in the world. However, a Zzz street exists in Bangs, Texas, ZIP code 76823, and a Zzzz street exists in Kearney, Nebraska, in Zip code 68847.
The name Zzyzx, pronounced "ZYE-zix," was given to the area in 1944 by Curtis Howe Springer, claiming it to be the last word in the English language. He also claimed to be a Methodist minister and physician, but in fact was neither. Zzyzx Road is a 4.5 mile/7.2 km-long road—part paved, part dirt—in the Mojave Desert. It connects Interstate 15 eastward to the now-defunct Zzyzx Springs Spa, now used as the Desert Studies Center of the California State University system.
Word Ways magazine verified the source of the lexicography as an undated San Bernardino County map published by the Automobile Club of Southern California. The magazine characterized Zzyzx Springs as "a hydrologic feature and a privately owned spa catering to the senior citizen, about 8.5 mi. (13.7 km) south of Baker on the western edge of Soda Dry Lake, off the abandoned right-of-way of the old Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad."
Springer settled, without any real claim, on 12,800 acres/51.8 km² in the desert, claiming a tract about 8 miles/13 km long and 3 miles/4.8 km wide. Springer erected a sixty-room hotel, a church, a cross-shaped health spa with mineral baths, a radio broadcast studio, a private airstrip dubbed "Zyport" and several other buildings which included a castle. The "Boulevard of Dreams" was a divided parkway leading to an oasis later identified as the habitat of the endangered Mohave chub.
Springer broadcast a syndicated radio program via 221 stations in the US and 102 more abroad combining his mix of folksy religion and health philosophy. He urged his listeners to send him donations for miraculous cures via "magic potions" which were actually little more than a blend of celery, carrot and parsley juices. People gladly sent their hard-earned savings to Springer for brief stays in the compound.
Federal marshals arrested Springer in 1974 for alleged violations of food and drug laws and unauthorized use of federal land. The complex was confiscated by the Bureau of Land Management. Springer died in Las Vegas in 1986 at age 90.
Zzyzx was approved as a place name by the United States Board on Geographic Names on June 14, 1984. As is the case with the road, Zzyzx, California is the USBGN's lexicographically greatest place name.
Zzyzx: locality, between Soda Mountains and Soda Lake 12.1 km (7.5 mi) NE of Crucero; San Bernardino Co., Calif.; sec. 11, T 12 N, R 8 E, San Bernardino Mer.; Template:Coor dms.
Zzyzx Spring: spring, between Soda Mountains and Soda Lake 11.9 km (7.4 mi) NE of Crucero; San Bernardino Co., Calif.; sec. 11, T 12 N, R 8 E, San Bernardino Mer.; Template:Coor dms.
The word "Zzyzx" has been adopted as a tradename or logo by a variety of individuals and organizations, most notably a manufacturer of computer peripherals. Norwegian band Zeromancer have also used "Zzyzx" as the title of one of their albums.
External links and references
- Official website of Zeromancer (http://www.zeromancer.com/)
- Word Ways article and the main source of information for this article (http://www.wordways.com/zzyzx.htm)
- Ecological sites along U.S. Interstate 15 (http://www.schweich.com/usi15A.html) Small photo of road sign
- The Metamorphosis of Zzyzx (http://campusapps.fullerton.edu/news/Titan/zzyzx/) History and present use
- Zzyzx (http://www.michaelconnelly.com/Photo_Gallery/Zzyzx/zzyzx.html) Large photo of sign accompanied by extract from mystery novelist Michael Connelly's novel, The Narrows
- Website of Zzyzx Peripherals Inc. (http://www.zzyzx.com)