Prescott, AZ Residents Outraged Over Attempt to Rename Thumb Butte

Locals reject the new “Thumbs-up Butte” proposal

NATIONAL

JD Hoss

2/15/2025

Prescott, AZ — Local residents have been left shocked and dismayed upon discovering that a proposal to change the name of Thumb Butte to "Thumbs-Up Butte" has made it all the way to the state government. The suggestion, which has been met with widespread derision, has ignited a fierce debate among the community.

Community Outcry

Many locals have voiced their frustration and disbelief over the proposed name change. "Thumb Butte is a part of our history and heritage," said longtime resident Martha Jenkins. "Who are these people to come in and change our landmarks?"

Another resident, Joe Miller, echoed similar sentiments. "I can't believe this has gotten so far. It feels like an assault on our town's identity. It's not just a name; it's a piece of Prescott's soul."

The Proposal

The controversial proposal was put forth by the People for the Modernization of Geographical Names (PMGN). According to the group's spokesperson, the goal is to "infuse a sense of positivity and modernity into the town's landmarks."

Local Resistance

The backlash has been swift and fierce. "Thumbs Up Butte? Seriously?" scoffed resident Tom O'Reilly. "What next, changing the statue of Bucky O'Neill to a statue of some historically insignificant person like 'Yardley Whifflebat,' the unknown tiddlywinks champion of 1893?"

Public Reactions

Many residents have voiced their concerns at town meetings and on social media. One local, Alice Green, commented, "This kind of change should never be made without consulting the people who live here. It's our history, our heritage, and our landmarks."

What's Next?

As the proposal makes its way through the approval process, Prescott residents are gearing up for a fierce battle to preserve their town's history. The outrage sparked by the potential renaming of Thumb Butte has cast doubt on the likelihood of other proposals ever passing. For example, the suggestion to replace Bucky O'Neill's statue with a solid platinum statue of Taylor Swift is now highly unlikely to succeed given the newfound community vigilance.