Folklore often holds, with no basis in fact, that certain towns or countries are thought to be home to large numbers of simpletons.
The ancient Greeks told tales of stupid populations in Abdera and other cities; in Germany, burgher of Schilda are conspicuous in these stories; in Spain hundreds of jokes exist about the supposed foolishness of the people from Lepe; and in the United Kingdom, the village of Gotham in England is reputed to be populated by simpletons.
In Sri Lanka whole districts in the central, southern, and western provinces are credited with being the abode of foolish people.
In the United Kingdom, the famous Joe Miller's Jests is highly inclusive of simpleton jokes.
Books of simpleton tales exist in Persia, Ireland, Turkey, Iceland, Japan, Sicily, and India.