TRIVIAL PURSUITS: Why are mobile homes so-named?

Mobile homes did not get their name from their mobility, but from Mobile, Alabama, where manufacturing of the houses first took off.

The homes were invented by James and Laura Sweet to solve housing problems after World War II, so they were initially called Sweet homes. But, in the 1950s, many manufacturers of the homes set up in Mobile, Alabama, to take advantage of cheap labor. Since that is where they were mass produced, they became known as Mobile homes.

As such, you probably say the term mobile home incorrectly as the town is pronounced ‘moh-BEEL.’