Your American History Reference Guide! - List of city nicknames
List of city nicknames
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Venice of the East )
This partial list of city nicknames compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities are sometimes known by, officially and unofficially, to locals, outsiders or their tourism boards.
Patterns
There are some common types of city nicknames.
Agricultural or Industrial Capitals
Many cities have nicknames which claim that the international or, less commonly, the national or regional capital of a particular industry , hobby or other phenomenon, especially the agricultural production of a certain plant. These include:
Almond Capital of the World - Sacramento, California , Chico, California , both in the USA
Apple Capital of the World - Wenatchee, Washington , USA
Apricot Capital of the World - Patterson, California , USA
Artichoke Center of the World - Castroville, California , USA
Avocado Capital of the World - Fallbrook, California , USA
Blueberry Capital of the World - Oxford Nova Scotia , Canada
Bluebird Capital of the World - Bickleton, Washington , USA
Broccoli Capital of the World - Greenfield, California , USA
Carrot Capital of the World - Holtville, California , USA
Carrot Capital of the World - Ohakune, New Zealand
Cherry Capital of the World - Traverse City, Michigan , USA
Cow Chip Throwing Capital of the World - Beaver, Oklahoma , USA
Cowboy Capital of the World - Oakdale, California , USA
Curtain Rod Capital of the World - Sturgis, Michigan , USA
Date Capital of the World - Indio, California , USA
Diamond Capital of the World - Antwerp, Belgium
Drunk-Driving Capital of the World - Gallup, New Mexico , USA
Extreme Sports Capital of the World - Queenstown, New Zealand
The Flour City (formerly) - Rochester, New York , USA
Flower Capital of the World - Aalsmeer , the Netherlands
The Flower City (currently) - Rochester, New York , USA
Garlic Capital of the World - Gilroy, California , USA
Entertainment Capital of the World - Las Vegas, Nevada , USA
Grape Capital of the World - Lodi, California , USA
Hog Butcher to the World - Chicago, Illinois , USA
Horseradish Capital of the World - Tulelake, California , USA
Hubcap Capital of the World - Pearsonville, California , USA
Indoor Foliage Capital of the World - Apopka, Florida , USA
Jackalope Capital of the World - Douglas, Wyoming , USA
Iris Capital of the World - Keizer, Oregon , USA
Lake Trout Capital of the World - Geneva, New York , USA
Loader /Backhoe Capital of the World - Burlington, Iowa , USA
News Capital of the World - Washington D.C. , USA
Oil Capital of the World - Houston, Texas
Pear Capital of the World - Kelseyville, California
Pottery Capital of the World - Marshall, Texas
Raisin Capital of the World - Selma, California , Fresno, California , USA
Rodeo Capital of the World - Cody, Wyoming , USA
Rose Capital of the World - Tyler, Texas , USA
Scuba -Diving Capital of New Mexico - Santa Rosa, New Mexico , USA
Silver Capital of the World - Taxco, Mexico
Slaughterhouse to the World - Chicago, Illinois , USA
Snowmobile Capital of Colorado - Graby, Colorado , USA
Strawberry Capital of the World - Oxnard, California , USA
Streaking Capital of the World - Knoxville, Tennessee , USA
Taconite Capital of the World - Mountain Iron, Minnesota , USA
Television Capital of the World - Tijuana, Mexico
Windsurfing Capital of the World - Hood River, Oregon , USA
Wine Capital of the World - Bordeaux, France
Winter Strawberry Capital of the World - Plant City, Florida , USA
Self-proclaimed Capitals of the World
Many cities and towns (particularly in North America ) claim to be a "Capital of the World" of a certain subject or other item. These nicknames are usually based on the city's cultural heritage or history. Here is an incomplete list of those cities.
Cozad, Nebraska : Alfalfa capital of the world.
Chico, California : Almond capital of the world.
Sacramento, California : Almond capital of the world.
Wichita, Kansas : Air capital of the world
Allen, Michigan : Antique capital of the world.
Lebanon, Tennessee : Appalachian Square Dance capital of the world.
Wenatchee, Washington : Apple capital of the world.
Patterson, California : Apricot capital of the world.
Castroville, California : Artichoke capital of the world.
Isleton, California : Asparagus capital of the world.
Stockton, California : Asparagus capital of the world.
Fallbrook, California : Avocado capital of the world.
Mattoon, Illinois : Bagel capital of the world; rice and duck capital of the world.
La Crosse, Kansas : Barbed wire capital of the world.
Palatka, Florida : Bass capital of the world.
Fort Walton Beach, Florida : Billfish capital of the world.
Athens, Texas : Black-eyed pea capital of the world.
Sparta, Wisconsin : Bicycling capital of the world.
Waynesboro, Georgia : Bird Dog capital of the world.
McCloud, California : Blackberry capital of the world.
Hammonton, New Jersey : Blueberry capital of the world.
South Haven, Michigan : Blueberry capital of the world.
Bickleton, Washington : Bluebird capital of the world.
Bardstown, Kentucky : Bourbon capital of the world.
western Kansas : breadbasket capital of the world.
Malvern, Arkansas : Brick capital of the world.
Greenfield, California : Broccoli capital of the world.
Holton, Kansas : Brome Grass capital of the world.
Coconut Creek, Florida : Butterfly capital of the world.
Binghamton, New York : Carousel capital of the world.
Dalton, Georgia : Carpet capital of the world.
Holtville, California : Carrot capital of the world.
Alliance, Nebraska : Cattle capital of the world.
Branford, Florida : Cave diving capital of the world.
Alpena, Michigan : Cement capital of the world.
Battle Creek, Michigan : Cereal capital of the world.
Wilmington, Delaware : Chemical capital of the world.
Traverse City, Michigan : Cherry capital of the world.
Linden, California : Cherry capital of the world.
Eau Claire, Michigan : Cherry Pit Spitting capital of the world.
Hatch, New Mexico : Chile capital of the world.
Berrien Springs, Michigan : Christmas pickle capital of the world.
Indiana County, Pennsylvania : Christmas tree capital of the world.
Pismo Beach, California : Clam capital of the world.
Cordova, Alaska : Razor Clam capital of the world.
Chadwick, Missouri : Copperhead capital of the world.
Washington, Missouri : Corn Cob Pipe capital of the world.
Greenwood, Mississippi : Cotton capital of the world.
Russell Springs : cow chip capital of the world.
Beaver, Oklahoma : Cow Chip Throwing capital of the world.
Oakdale, California : Cowboy capital of the world.
Dodge City : cowboy capital of the world; buffalo capital of the world till early 1870s
Olathe, Kansas : Cowboy Boot capital of the world.
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana : Crawfish capital of the world.
Sturgis, Michigan : Curtain Rod capital of the world.
Whyalla, South Australia : Cuttlefish capital of the world.
Johnston, South Carolina : Peach capital of the world.
Ashburn, Georgia : Peanut capital of the world.
Blakely, Georgia : Peanut capital of the world.
Dothan, Alabama : Peanut capital of the world.
Rogue River Valley, Oregon : Pear capital of the world.
Kelseyville, California : Pear capital of the world.
Dove Creek, Colorado : Pinto bean capital of the world.
Moline, Illinois : Plow capital of the world.
Churchill, Manitoba : Polar bear capital of the world.
North Loup, Nebraska : Popcorn capital of the world.
Marion, Ohio : Popcorn capital of the world.
Blackfoot, Idaho : Potato capital of the world.
Marshall, Texas : Pottery capital of the world.
Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California : Porn capital of the world.
Gainesville, Georgia : Poultry capital of the world.
Cassoday, Kansas : Prairie Chicken capital of the world.
Yuba City, California : Prune capital of the world.
Half Moon Bay, California : Pumpkin capital of the world.
Parsons, Kansas : Purple Martin capital of the world.
Fresno, California : Raisin capital of the world.
Selma, California : Raisin capital of the world.
Tifton, Georgia : Reading capital of the world.
Kaufman, Texas : Red-tailed Hawk capital of the world.
Honaker, Virginia : Redbud capital of the world.
Sumner, Washington : Rhubarb Pie capital of the world.
Cody, Wyoming : Rodeo capital of the world.
Elliston, Newfoundland : Root cellar capital of the world.
Wasco, California : Rose Growing capital of the world.
Noble, Oklahoma : Rose Rock capital of the world.
Park Falls, Wisconsin : Ruffed Grouse capital of the world.
Elkhart, Indiana : RV capital of the world.
Mexico, Missouri : Saddlehorse capital of the world and Fire brick capital of the world.
Campbell River, British Columbia : Salmon capital of the world.
Stuart, Florida : Sailfish capital of the world.
Digby, Nova Scotia : Scallop capital of the world
Venice, Florida : Shark Tooth capital of the world.
Glasgow , United Kingdom : Shipbuilding capital of the world.
Port Isabel, Texas : Shrimp capital of the world.
Wallace, Idaho : Silver capital of the world.
Taxco, Mexico : Silver capital of the world.
Granville, New York : Slate capital of the world.
Hanover, Pennsylvania : Snack capital of the world.
Alma, Arkansas : Spinach capital of the world.
Crystal City, Texas : Spinach capital of the world.
Tarpon Springs, Florida : Sponge capital of the world.
Bandon, Oregon : Storm capital of the world.
Oxnard, California : Strawberry capital of the world.
Ponchatoula, Louisiana : Strawberry capital of the world.
Watsonville, California : Strawberry capital of the world.
Plant City, Florida : Winter Strawberry capital of the world.
Knoxville, Tennessee : Streaking capital of the world (so proclaimed by Walter Cronkite ).
Mannford, Oklahoma : Striped bass capital of the world.
Hearne, Texas : Sunflower capital of the world.
Goodland, Kansas : Sunflower capital of the world.
Former Maryland businessman Bill Rau has authored a guidebook (America's Capitals: U.S. and Canadian Towns with World Class Names, published by Side Roads Publishing Company of Takoma Park , Md.) which catalogs North America's "world capitals."
Birthplace
Some cities take nicknames based on an industry, invention or other phenomenon which allegedly arose there. These include:
Comparative nicknames
Some cities have nicknames which refer to other cities with established reputations. For example, a city might bill itself as the "Athens of the North" to establish a link with the major cultural contributions of Athens, Greece .
Athens
Athens of the North - Edinburgh, Scotland
Athens of the North - Vilnius, Lithuania
Athens of the South - Nashville, Tennessee
Athens of the South - Atlanta, Georgia
Athens of the East - Madurai , India
Athens of the West - Columbus, Indiana
Athens of the West - Lexington, Kentucky
Athens of Iran - Shiraz , Iran
Athens of America - Boston, Massachusetts
Athens of South America - Bogotá, Colombia
Athens of Florida - DeLand, Florida
Athens of Indiana - Crawfordsville, Indiana
Athens of Texas - Marshall, Texas
Athens of the Ozarks - Fayetteville, Arkansas
Baghdad
Birmingham of America - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Chicago of Argentina - Rosario, Argentina
Edinburgh of the South - Dunedin, New Zealand
Gibraltar
Hollywood North - Vancouver, British Columbia
Hong Kong of the North - Dalian , China
Manchester of the North - Tampere , Finland
Mendocino of the East - Rockport, Massachusetts
Monte Carlo of the East - Macao
Moscow
Nashville of the North - Edmonton, Alberta
New York
Paris
Paris of Africa - Abidjan , Ivory Coast ; Dakar , Senegal
Paris of Arabia - Jeddah , Saudi Arabia
Paris of the Caribbean - Havana , Cuba
Paris of the East - Riga , Latvia
Paris of Iran - Shiraz , Iran
Paris of Latin America - Buenos Aires , Argentina
Paris of the Middle East - Beirut , Lebanon
Paris of the Midwest - Detroit, Michigan , USA
Paris of the North - Tromsø , Norway
Paris of the Orient - Saigon , Vietnam (less common today); Shanghai , China
Paris of the Pacific - Sitka, Alaska , USA; Nouméa , New Caledonia ; San Francisco, California , USA
Paris of the South - Asheville, North Carolina , USA
Little Paris - Kristianstad , Vänersborg , Sweden
People's Republic
Pittsburgh of the South - Birmingham, Alabama
Plymouth of the West - San Diego, California
Tijuana North - Windsor, Ontario
Silicon Valley
'Venice of the ...'
Many places have been described as the Venice of the North , Venice of the South , Venice of the East or Venice of the West , after Venice in Italy :
North
South
East
West
Brazil
China
Hong Kong
Mali
Middle East
By Specific River
Also, the country name of Venezuela means "little Venice".
There is Venice of America in Los Angeles , which is modeled on Venice, Italy, and includes a canal district. There is also Venise-en-Québec, Quebec .
Fort Lauderdale, Florida is also identified as "Venice of America", with more than 300 miles of inland, navigable waterways, and one of the highest per capita boat ownership rates in the US.
Folk heroes
The American folk hero Paul Bunyan , and his blue ox Babe , have at least three towns vying for being considered his homeland. These include Bemidji, Minnesota , Brainerd, Minnesota and Westwood, California .
Complete list
Brampton, Ontario
Bramatown
Browntown
Flowertown (former)
Calgary, Alberta
Cowtown
Gateway to the Rockies
The Stampede City
The Heart of the New West
Canada's Oil Capital
Brandon, Manitoba
Burnaby, British Columbia
Cambridge, Ontario (see Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario below)
Cité de l'Or, Quebec
Desboro, Ontario
Edmonton, Alberta
The City of Champions
River City
Nashville of the North
Redmonton
Deadmonton
Gateway to the North
Canada's Festival City
Fox Creek, Alberta
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Greater Sudbury, Ontario
The Nickel Capital of the World
Nickel Belt
The Nickel City
Sludgebury
Guelph, Ontario (also see Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario below)
Hamilton, Ontario
Hinton, Alberta
Kapuskasing, Ontario
Kitchener -Waterloo, Ontario
London, Ontario
Moncton, New Brunswick
Montreal, Quebec
Orillia, Ontario
Ottawa, Ontario
Silicon Valley of the North
Bytown
Quebec City, Quebec
The Gibraltar of North America
Le grand village
La vieille capitale
Owen Sound, Ontario
Regina, Saskatchewan
Richmond, British Columbia
Ditchmond
AsiaWest
HongKong City
Saint John, New Brunswick
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
City of Bridges
Saskabush
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Shediac, New Brunswick
The Lobster Capital of the World
Surrey, British Columbia
Slurry
The Gaza Strip
The Car Theft Capital of North America
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Timmins, Ontario
The City With a Heart of Gold
Toronto, Ontario
Hogtown
Muddy York
Queen City
T.O.
Toronto the Good
T-Dot
Trawna , Tronno, or Trahna -- based upon the local pronunciation of Toronto
Centre of the Universe
The Big Smoke
Hollywood North (also used for Vancouver)
The Most Multicultural City in the World
for Scarborough, Ontario , a former city in Toronto: Scarberia, Scarlem
for Agincourt, Ontario , a neighbourhood of Toronto: AsianCourt
Vancouver, British Columbia
Hollywood North (also used for Toronto)
Hongcouver
Rainy City
The Village at the End of the Rainforest
Brollywood
Raincouver
Terminal City
VanCity
Vansterdam
The City
The 'couver
Victoria, British Columbia
A Little Bit of England
The Garden City
Windsor, Ontario
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Valleyview, Alberta
Prague [1]
The Golden City
The City of One Hundred Spires
The Heart of Europe
The Rome of the North
Ostrava
The Steel Heart of the Republic (historically)
Berlin
Spree-Athens (Spree river)
Dresden
Elbflorence (because of the Elbe river)
Frankfurt
Mainhattan (because of the Main river and the skyline)
Bankfurt
Hamburg
Gateway to the World (das Tor zur Welt )
Munich (München )
Village of a million inhabitants (Millionendorf )
Cosmopolitan City with Heart (Weltstadt mit Herz )
Benares
Bangalore
Calcutta, India
City of Palaces
City of Love
City of Joy (after the book by Dominique Lapierre on a slum in Calcutta)
Jaipur, India
Jodhpur, India
Cities in Iran
Cities in Peru
Note: in Polish it's mostly the inhabitants who are nicknamed rather than the cities
(note: almost every city in Puerto Rico has a nickname)
Aibonito, Puerto Rico
The cold city
City of flowers
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Caguas, Puerto Rico
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Cayey, Puerto Rico
Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Humacao, Puerto Rico
Guayama, Puerto Rico
Lares, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Ponce, Puerto Rico
City of the lions
The senior city
Quebradillas, Puerto Rico
Cities in Serbia
Cities in South Africa
Cities in Spain
Aberdeen , Scotland
The Granite City
The Silver City
Birmingham , England
Brum
Brummagem
The City of a Thousand Trades
Bradford , England
Brighton & Hove , England
Cambridge , England
City of Perspiring Dreams (cf. Oxford )
Coventry , England
Edinburgh , Scotland
The Athens of the North
Auld Reekie
Glasgow , Scotland
City of Love
Shipbuilding capital of the world
Dear Green Place
Leamington Spa , England
Letchworth , England
The First Garden City of the World
London , England
The (Big) Smoke
The Great Wen
The City of London , England
Londonderry (or Derry), Northern Ireland
The Maiden City
Stroke City (jocular, from Derry/Londonderry )
Macclesfield , Cheshire , England
Manchester , England
Madchester, and other variations derived from current events (i.e., "Gunchester" during an epidemic of gang violence, "Gaychester" following the explosion of a gay club scene)
Newcastle upon Tyne , England
The Toon (local pronunciation of town)
Geordieland (the Tyneside conurbation as a whole, wider than just Newcastle)
Oxford , England
Plymouth , England
Portsmouth , England
Sheffield , England
The Steel City
The Socialist Republic of South Yorkshire
See List of city nicknames in the United States
Last updated: 08-14-2005 20:38:33