How the most “boring” town in America teamed up with Dull and Bland to become world famous

Boring, Oregon

A Civil War veteran named William Boring never could have guessed his Oregon farm would spawn one of the world’s oddest town partnerships.

In 2012, a Scottish cyclist spotted the Boring town sign and sparked a global alliance with Dull, Scotland, later joined by Bland, Australia in 2013.

Here’s how three places turned their dull names into pure marketing gold.

The Civil War Veteran Who Gave Boring Its Name

William Boring fought with the 33rd Illinois Infantry at the Siege of Vicksburg in 1863. This battle helped Union forces take control of the Mississippi River, cutting the Confederate states in half.

Boring got hurt badly in his face and throat during the fighting. Army doctors sent him home after treating his wounds, ending his time as a soldier.

From Illinois to Oregon Territory

William and Sarah Boring left Illinois in the early 1870s when President Grant offered free land to settlers. They went to San Francisco first, then headed north to Portland.

Boring’s half-brother Joseph had moved to Oregon twenty years earlier in 1853, traveling on the Oregon Trail. The couple joined Joseph at his home twelve miles east of Portland in 1874, claiming 160 acres of land.

How a School Put Boring on the Map

William Boring gave some of his land for a school in 1883. This gift led to the settlement taking his name, as often happened when early settlers donated land for public use.

The town became official in 1903 when the Portland Railway built an electric train line through the area. This rail line connected Boring to Portland, turning a six-hour buggy trip into a one-hour ride.

A Scottish Cyclist’s Brilliant Idea

Elizabeth Leighton from Scotland rode her bike through Boring during a vacation in 2011. When she saw the town’s name, she thought of a tiny village near her home called Dull.

She saw the humor in connecting these oddly named places. Elizabeth called her friends in Scotland right away to suggest pairing the towns with funny, plain names.

“A Pair for the Ages” is Born

In June 2012, Boring’s community council voted to partner with Dull, Scotland. They created an official statement calling the towns “a pair for the ages.”

Both places saw how their unusual names could bring in tourists. The small village of Dull has only 84 people, while Boring has about 8,000 residents. Despite this size difference, they formed a perfect match based on their amusing names.

Making Boring and Dull Day Official

The local county board made August 9th the annual Boring and Dull Day in 2012. A year later, the Oregon State Legislature passed a law making this day official across the whole state.

Governor John Kitzhaber signed the bill into law. What started as a local joke became a real state holiday, bringing attention and visitors to the small town.

The First Boring and Dull Day Celebration

The first Boring and Dull Day happened on August 9, 2013. Locals gathered for a community party with bagpipes playing to honor their Scottish friends and a barbershop quartet singing.

Everyone enjoyed free ice cream in Boring Station Trailhead Park, built where the old train station once stood. The celebration brought the community together while attracting curious visitors.

Bland Joins the Fun

Bland Shire in Australia contacted Boring and Dull in 2013 after hearing about their partnership. Located west of Sydney, Bland has about 6,000 people and was named after William Bland, an early settler.

The town’s officials wanted to join the publicity fun. Unlike the other cities, Bland had been named for a person whose life was far from boring—William Bland came to Australia after killing a man in a duel in India.

The League of Extraordinary Communities Forms

Instead of a simple three-way partnership, the towns created the “League of Extraordinary Communities” in 2013. They took the name idea from a popular movie, adding humor to their alliance.

Boring kept its direct pairing with Dull while bringing Bland into this new group. This created the world’s only international partnership based just on funny place names.

Tourism and Economic Impact

Visitors increased in all three towns after they formed their partnership. Local shops sold t-shirts and mugs with the slogan “Boring & Dull: a pair for the ages.”

The Not So Boring Bar & Grill saw more out-of-town customers. The partnership brought in about $5,000 from merchandise sales for Boring community projects.

Visiting Boring, Oregon

You’ll find Boring along Oregon Route 212, about 12 miles southeast of Portland.

The main attraction is the Boring Station Trailhead Park at 28008 Keller Road, where the annual August 9th Boring and Dull Day celebration takes place.

Take photos with the town signs and the “League of Extraordinary Communities” marker. Try the Springwater Corridor trail that starts in Boring and runs all the way to Portland—perfect for biking or hiking.

The Not So Boring Bar & Grill offers themed meals for hungry visitors.

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