Help me out - what does the "podunk town"-Vegas thing mean?

I have read Starkvegas for a decade here on the message board. Just read "Jax-vegas" on another thread.
I saw highlights on sportscenter this week and they used the term Spoke-vegas. (Spokane, I think.)

I don't get it.

 

Moddy's correct.

I recall Starkvegas dating back to the early 2000s. I don't know if a fellow named Jim Mashek coined it, but he frequently used it in reference to Starkville, Mississippi.

 

Yes, thanks, I know what towns they are referring to, I just don't get why.

So any town with the -vegas just means it is the furthest thing from vegas.

Okay.

 

The correct mockery of Spokane is Spocompton, according to an Idaho friend.

 

Tahoe is right next door to all of them.

 

Very true, although coming from Chicago, I'm not too scared of the "mean streets" of Spokane.

The only thing Spokane and Las Vegas have in common is cheap buffets. The ones in eastern Washington come with a chocolate wonderfall ...

 

My grandparents lived on the outskirts of Spokane. When they wanted to go out to a really nice dinner they would drive just across the Idaho border to "Mr. Steak."

 

I think the “Vegas” thing was supposed to be only for towns that ended in “ville.” Not sure why I think this...

 

I first remember hearing it was in the late 90s in reference to Greenville, N.C.

At that time people called it G-Vegas, and I always understood that to be because it was the party town in an otherwise vast expanse of no nightlife down east.

Somewhere along the way it seemed to morph to add the Vegas to any sleepy town with a "ville" in its name as a bit of irony.

 

I've heard people refer Gainesville, Fla., as "Gaines-Vegas." I don't understand why any would name swampland that.

 

Jacksonville, Fla., if that is what is being referenced, doesn't even deserve a nickname akin to Las Vegas.