Smartville may get its 's' back

For nearly 100 years, the people of Smartville, a tiny community in the Yuba County foothills, have lived without an "s" in their town's name. Come next month, that could all change.

The U.S. Board on Geographical Names' California region will consider the issue at its July meeting, 99 years after the same board removed the letter and sparked so much debate.

Lou Yost, executive secretary of the board, said returning the "s" is a possibility because the entire matter seems like a misunderstanding.

"It shouldn't be too much of a problem," he said. "We want to be on the same page as local people and government."

Researcher Kathy Smith of Sacramento and Smartville resident Kit Burton are looking to local officials and statewide historic groups to submit letters and material to the national board that support the name change.

"We have ample evidence that include the 's' in documents establishing the town's boundaries in 1878," Burton said. "It's signed by the president and all the records in Yuba County hall of records say 'Smartsville.'"

The exact reason the letter was removed in 1909 is unknown. Some say it was removed by the post office because it was grammatically incorrect, others attribute it to convenience.

An attempt to get the "s" back was unsuccessful in 1947, but Yost said he doesn't know why.

"There's no indication other than the person that reviewed it didn't see the need," Yost said.

The debate, which has been one of disagreement with townspeople since the letter was removed, was revisited several months ago when Smith, author of "Smartsville and Timbuctoo: Images of America," contacted the geographical name board to see if it was possible to switch back.

"Amazingly, they said they would consider it," she said. "It was easier than I thought."

Smith said whenever she spoke with anyone in the town, the "s" debate always made its way into conversation.

"It was like a test," she said. "They would ask first if it was 'Smartsville' or 'Smartville'."

Smith said it would be good for the town if the "s" was returned on the 100th anniversary date it was taken away.

Yost said, if approved, it could take eight months to make the change official.

"It could be good timing," he said.

Burton said having the "s" back by the 100th anniversary would be nice but it is not as important as the community pride associated with the name.

"People make fun and think we're retarded hillbillies," he said. "But the name has historic significance and community pride. Someone using the wrong name is insulting."