How popular is the baby name Salida in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Salida.

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Popularity of the baby name Salida


Posts that mention the name Salida

Baby born in Iowa town of Nira, named Nira

While doing research for the post about NIRA, I discovered that there used to be a town in Washington County, Iowa, called Nira.

The town wasn’t named after the legislation, though. It had been named decades earlier by Col. William B. Bell, an early Washington County postmaster. He named the town after his wife, Nira.

And here’s an interesting fact: the town of Nira — just like the town of Salida, Colorado — held a baby name contest in its early days:

Col. Bell watched the growth of the village named for his wife, Nira, and offered a gold dollar to the first baby girl born in the town who was named Nira.

The gold dollar eventually was awarded Nira Moffitt, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Moffitt. Her present location is unknown.

(According to the U.S. Census of 1900, Nira Moffitt was born in June of 1880.)

There was a surge of interest in the town in August of 1933, when Nira became one of the first places in the nation to sell NIRA-emblem postage stamps. By that point, though, the town had dwindled to just 20 residents.

After those last residents left, the down of Nira became (and remains) a ghost town.

Sources:

  • “Nira Enjoys New Boom.” Telegraph-Herald 17 Aug. 1933: 1+.
  • “Nira, Iowa, Enjoys Boom Because of New Stamp.” Reading Eagle 17 Aug. 1933: 11.

Baby born in Colorado town of Salida, named Salida

Map of Salida, Colorado, from 1882

The Colorado mountain town of Salida (pronounced sah-LIE-dah) was founded in 1880. It’s name was based on the Spanish word for “exit” or “way out,” salida (pronounced sah-LEE-dah), because it’s located close to where the Arkansas River flows out of the Upper Arkansas Valley and into Bighorn Sheep Canyon.

Not long after Salida was established, the town fathers announced that a free plot of land would be given to the first baby girl named after the community.

In May of 1881, Stephen and Esther Hunt of Salida welcomed a baby girl, and — taking the town up on its offer — named her Salida Gertrude.

But when Salida Gertrude tried to collect her prize upon turning 21, she was denied. The offer had apparently never been entered into the town record and made official.

Nearly 80 years later, on Salida Gertrude’s 100th birthday, Salida town mayor Ed Touber tried to make things right by presenting Salida with a plaque “bearing her name and the town symbol.”

Something is better than nothing, I suppose.

Sources:

Image: Adapted from Bird’s eye view of Salida, Chaffee County, Colorado. 188 (LOC)