List of city nicknames in Arizona explained

This partial list of city nicknames in Arizona compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities in Arizona 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 in establishing a civic identity, helping outsiders recognize a community or attracting 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. Their economic value is difficult to measure, but there are anecdotal reports of cities that have achieved substantial economic benefits by "branding" themselves by adopting 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.

• Apache Junction
  • Home of the Superstition Mountains^[3]
  • Gateway to Legends, Lakes, Leisure, and Lost Treasure^[4]
• Ash Fork – Flagstone Capital of the United States^[5]
• Chandler – High-Tech Oasis of the Silicon Desert^[6]
• Flagstaff
  • City in the Pines^[7]
  • City of Seven Wonders^[7]
  • The Staff^[7]
  • Flag^[7]
  • Flag Town (C. W. McCall)^[8]
• Jerome – America's Most Vertical City^[6]
• Kingman – Heart of Route 66^[9]
• Phoenix – Arizona's Urban Heart^[10]
• Phoenix metropolitan area
  • The Big Saguaro
  • Silicon Desert^{[11] [12]}
  • Valley of the Sun^[13]
• Prescott – Everybody's Home Town^[14]
• Scottsdale – The West's Most Western Town^[15]
• Sedona – Red Rock Country^[16]
• Show Low – Named for the Turn of a Card^[13]
• Sierra Vista – Hummingbird Capital of the United States^[17]
• Tombstone – The Town Too Tough To Die^{[13] [18] [19]}
• Tucson
  • The Old Pueblo
  • Dirty T.^{[13] [20]}
  • Optics Valley^[21]
  • The Sunshine Factory^[22]
• Wickenburg – The Dude Ranch Capital of the World^[23]
• Yuma – Experience Our Sense of Yuma^[13]

See also

• List of city nicknames in the United States

Notes and References

1. Muench, David "Wisconsin Community Slogans: Their Use and Local Impacts", December 1993, accessed April 10, 2007.
2. Alfredo Andia, Branding the Generic City :), MU.DOT magazine, September 10, 2007
3. http://www.ajcity.net/AJRideShare/AJRideShare_eligible.cfm Apache Junction Ride Choice
4. http://www.maricopaworkforceconnection.com/careerseeker/Resources/government.asp Arizona Government Web Sites
5. http://www.epodunk.com/slogans/rocks.html Claims to Fame - Rocks
6. http://www.taglineguru.com/monikerlist.html U.S. City Monikers
7. http://www.flagstaff-arizona.us/ Flagstaff Arizona
8. http://www.cw-mccall.com/news/2002/20020121.shtml Song A' Th' Week
9. http://www.kingmanchamber.org/ Kingman Area Chamber of Commerce
10. Jahna Berry, Downtown Phoenix donning a new label to lure locals, tourists, The Arizona Republic, March 2, 2009
11. News: Soper . Taylor . February 11, 2015 . Silicon Desert: How Phoenix is quickly — and quietly — becoming a hub for innovation . . June 30, 2015 .
12. News: Brown . Eliot . March 3, 2015 . Silicon Desert? Developer Bets on Scottsdale as a Tech Hub . . June 30, 2015 .
13. http://www.taglineguru.com/citymottosmonikers.html Tagline Guru City Branding Survey
14. http://www.cityofprescott.net/business/ Quick Facts about Prescott
15. http://www.usacitiesonline.com/azcountyscottsdale.htm Scottsdale Arizona profile
16. http://redrockcountry.org/ Red Rock Country
17. http://www.epodunk.com/slogans/birds.html Claims to Fame - Birds
18. http://www.cityoftombstone.com/ The City of Tombstone's Official Web Site
19. http://www.epodunk.com/slogans/braggadocio.html Claims to Fame - Braggadocio
20. http://www.flightcontrolacademy.com/tucson.htm A Look at the "Old Pueblo"--Tucson
21. Web site: AOIA.org – Arizona Optics Industry Association . October 8, 2012.
22. http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/columnists/173980 My opinion Debbie Kornmiller : TV listings' headaches fixed today
23. http://www.wickenburgchamber.com/about/wickenburg-history/ History