American small-town charm is fostered by small businesses. Mom-and-pop shops and corner stores, along with a post office and maybe even a stoplight, are a piece of Americana some might call priceless. But the small towns of Halfway, Oregon; Clark, Texas; and Hot Springs, New Mexico sold out to some big business charm of their own--corporate sponsorship.

It all began in 1950 when Hot Springs, New Mexico was permanently renamed Truth or Consequences after a popular radio show. Apparently, the town lacked a single shrewd business mind because Hot Springs received no monetary compensation for the name change.

More recently, small towns have upped the bargaining ante considerably. In 2000, the name Halfway, Oregon was changed for one year to Half.com. In exchange for the name change, the city received $75,000 and a new computer lab for its school. In 2005, the town of Clark, Texas agreed to change its name to DISH for one decade. Every household was given free satellite TV compliments of DISH Network.

Clearly, some companies decided the investment required to persuade small communities to change their town name was small compared to the reach of such a unique advertising campaign. When reporters got word that Halfway, Oregon would become the first dot-com city in the world, CNN, Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, and TIME were just a few of the national media outlets that became billboards for Half.com. It cost DISH Network about $4,500 per household to change Clark, Texas to DISH. With a current population of about 125 people, DISH Network penetrated newspapers nationwide, and magazines like brass, for less than a million dollars.

Not all companies hoping to advertise at city limits have been handed the key to the city. In 2003, a proposal to change the name of Biggs, California to Got Milk was soundly rejected. Next time, the Milk Board may want to bring their checkbooks rather than an offer to build a milk museum.

All towns with elected officials and a charter from their state are considered incorporated, and an actual corporate name changes little. For instance, in DISH people still vote periodically for their mayor, and the satellite network does not run the town. In fact, the only noticeable difference between DISH, Texas and any other small town is that in DISH, the screen is only fuzzy when you need glasses.

Now, it is relatively easy to purchase the name of a city, if such a wanton use of money is appealing. Apparently, free satellite TV is one way. But don't be fooled; there are no palaces, no maids, and no cooks that come with the product placement. Simply put, "buying" a city is just a ridiculous way to waste money or advertise a company. Just ask Mr. L.E. Clark, who worked to have the town of Clark, Texas incorporated in 2000. Within 5 years, Clark was out of favor, both as mayor and as the name of the newly coined DISH, Texas.

Sources: sfgate.com; abcnews.com; sdhc.net; hersheypa.com; truthorconsequencesnm.net; halfwayoregon.com