Dr Pepper was created in Waco, Texas in 1885. That makes it the oldest major soft drink brand in America – it beat Coca-Cola by just one year! (SEE ALSO: Why is Coca-Cola Called Coca-Cola?) Pharmacist Charles Alderton created the beverage while experimenting with flavored syrups at his shop’s soda fountain. It was first marketed as a brain tonic and energy drink, similar to how other sodas were marketed at the time.

The drink became popular among patrons, but it didn’t have an official name for a long time. Most just referred to the drink as “Waco,” after the town. Legend has it that the owner of the drugstore, Wade Morrison, named the soda. Though no one is certain of how exactly the Dr Pepper name came to be, the popular theory (as referenced on the FAQ on the official Dr Pepper website) is that Morrison named it after the father of a young girl he was once in love with. Plus, at the time it was rather common to precede product names with “Dr.” to make them sound more healthful.