List of city nicknames in Alaska explained

This partial list of city nicknames in Alaska compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities and towns in Alaska are known by (or have been known by historically), officially and unofficially, to municipal governments, local people, outsiders or their tourism boards or chambers of commerce.

City nicknames can help establish a civic identity, help outsiders recognize a community, attract people to a community because of its nickname, promote civic pride, and build community unity.^[1]

Nicknames and slogans that successfully create a new community "ideology or myth" are also believed to have economic value. This value is difficult to measure, but there are anecdotal reports of cities that have achieved substantial economic benefits by "branding" themselves with new slogans.^[2]

Some unofficial nicknames are positive, while others are derisive. The unofficial nicknames listed here have been in use for a long time or have gained wide currency.

• Anchorage
  • Air Crossroads of the World^[3]
  • Anchortown^[4]
  • The City of Lights and Flowers (or City of Lights)^{[3] [4] [5]}
  • Hanging Basket Capital of the World^[6]
  • Los Anchorage^[7]
  • Rage City (in reference to roller derby and punk culture)^{[8] [9]}
• Cordova
  • Clam Town^[10]
• Fairbanks – The Golden Heart City^{[11] [12]}
  • Scarebanks
• Haines – Eagle Capital of America^[13]
  • • Homer Halibut Capital of the World; Halibut Fishing Capital of the World^[14]
  • Cosmic Hamlet by the Sea
• Kenai – The Village With a Past, the City With a Future^[15]
• Ketchikan – King Salmon Capital of the World^{[16] [17] [18]}
• Knik – Dog-Mushing Center of the World^{[4] [19]}
• Kodiak – King Crab Capital^[20]
• Sitka
  • First City of Alaska^[21]
  • The Natural Place to Visit^{[22] [23]}

See also

• List of city nicknames in the United States
• List of places in Alaska

Notes and References

1. Web site: Muench . David . Wisconsin Community Slogans: Their Use and Local Impacts . University of Wisconsin Extension . December 1993 . April 10, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130309175857/http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cced/economies/communityindicators/communityslogans.pdf . March 9, 2013 .
2. Alfredo Andia, Branding the Generic City :), MU.DOT magazine, September 10, 2007
3. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4724/is_200604/ai_n17287751 Air Crossroads of the World
4. http://www.taglineguru.com/monikerlist.html U.S. City Monikers
5. http://208.109.242.142/archives/archives-2006/featurevol15ed19.html Make me feel brand new
6. News: 'Winter camp' keeps Anchorage's fuchsias fresh for summer season . San Francisco Chronicle . Horn . Yvonne . 2005-06-08 . 2009-03-06.
7. Web site: Alaska Cultural Connections: Los Anchorage - Alaska Public Media . Alaskapublic.org . 2013-04-29 . 2022-05-04.
8. Web site: Ragecityrollergirls.org . Ragecityrollergirls.org . 2022-05-04.
9. Web site: Rage City Rockers | PJ Franco and the BurnOuts . Pjfatbo.bandcamp.com . 2022-05-04.
10. http://www.usacitiesonline.com/akcountycordova.htm Cordova, Alaska profile
11. http://www.kttc.com/News/index.php?ID=13513 Shakespeare Marathon
12. Rebecca George, The Golden Heart City celebrates its golden past, Fairbanks Daily News Miner, August 6, 2009.
13. http://www.epodunk.com/slogans/birds.html Claims to Fame - Birds
14. http://www.alaska.com/places/cities/other_cities/story/4565654p-4699620c.html Homer, Alaska
15. http://www.ci.kenai.ak.us/ Kenai, Alaska website
16. "A Fleet of Ferry Ships to Offer Motorists a 'Marine' Highway to Skagway, Alaska; Enthusiasm Shown Summer Side Trip", The New York Times, March 8, 1963. "The Ferry Ships put in along The route at Ketchikan, 'The king salmon capital of The world'..."
17. Web site: The World Capital of Whatever. The New York Times. Harold . Faber. 1993-09-12. 2018-11-15.
18. http://www.epodunk.com/slogans/fish.html Claims to Fame - Fish
19. http://www.alaskatravel.com/alaska/knik-fairview.html Knik - Fairview Alaska
20. http://www.epodunk.com/slogans/food.html Claims to Fame - Food
21. http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/features/photos/extras/2006/08/cruise/11.html A Prairie Home Companion at Sea: Alaska 2006
22. http://www.sitka.org/ Sitka Convention & Visitors Bureau
23. http://www.taglineguru.com/citymottosmonikers.html Tagline Guru City Branding Survey