List of city nicknames in Massachusetts explained

This partial list of city nicknames in Massachusetts compiles the aliases, sobriquets, and slogans that cities and towns in Massachusetts 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.

For navigational purposes, this list is organized by county.

Barnstable County

Berkshire County

Bristol County

Essex County

Franklin County

Hampden County

Hampshire County

Middlesex County

Norfolk County

Plymouth County

Suffolk County

Worcester County

See also

External links

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 . 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://www.capecodtoday.com/blogs/index.php/Warrior "The slogan for Provincetown says it well, 'Like No Where Else'"
  4. Web site: August 22, 2005 . Visitor Services Board Meeting Minutes . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150607110349/http://provincetown-ma.gov/archives/462/vs050822.pdf . 7 June 2015 . 5 March 2012 . Town of Provincetown . Some members felt that although a slogan ("Like nowhere else") has been chosen, there needs to be more community input and consensus . dmy-all.
  5. Used in "Rich Gay, Poor Gay", by David Colman, The New York Times, September 4, 2005, and in the title of the book Ptown: Art, Sex, and Money on the Outer Cape By Peter Manso (2002; Simon and Schuster;
  6. Web site: Williamstown Massachusetts. The "Village Beautiful." . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110828210057/http://www.berkshireview.com/Williamstown.html . 2011-08-28 . 2011-05-29.
  7. http://www.attleboroschools.com/apssite/documents/AttleboroTechplan2007-2011.pdf Technology Plan 2007-2011, Attleboro Public Schools
  8. http://www.guyotbrothers.com/jewelry-findings-factory1.htm Attleboro Massachusetts- The Jewelry Capital of the World
  9. Reynolds, Mark. "Mayor's plans for city include schools for gifted pupils", The Providence Journal, February 2, 2005. Accessed June 28, 2009. "Meanwhile, the graduation rate for students in Fall River -- the self-proclaimed 'Scholarship City' -- is 97 percent."
  10. http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/2009/6/2009_6_10_dept.shtml Tom Huntington
  11. http://www.ci.taunton.ma.us/mayor.htm A Message From The Mayor
  12. https://web.archive.org/web/20080502225346/http://icity.net/massachusetts/taunton-massachusetts/ City of Taunton, Massachusetts
  13. Lopes, Ashley. "Watching the history of Taunton", Taunton Daily Gazette, April 15, 2007, accessed April 23, 2007. "TAUNTON – Mayor Charles Crowley, producer of cable access program Olde Tyme Taunton, kept the history of the Silver City alive as he celebrated his 250th show Wednesday."
  14. Web site: About the City Lawrence, MA . 2023-08-11 . www.cityoflawrence.com.
  15. Web site: Rhyme & Reason: The Story Behind Lynn's Notorious Song . 2023-08-11 . NBC Boston . en-US.
  16. http://www.merrimackvalley.info/communities/newburyport.html Focus on Newburyport
  17. https://archive.today/20130210001502/http://www.wickedlocal.com/northandover/town_info/government/x751580102%23axzz1meM58b5Y, North Andover Citizen Newspaper
  18. http://www.epodunk.com/slogans/products.html Claims to Fame - Products
  19. https://www.nytimes.com/1926/03/06/archives/quits-post-in-dispute-on-salems-birth-date-author-of-city-history.html "QUITS POST IN DISPUTE ON SALEM'S BIRTH DATE; Author of City History Gives Up Place With the Essex Institute."
  20. Matarazzo Jr., Bruno. "Historic buildings getting plundered for copper", The Salem News, April 23, 2007, accessed April 23, 2007. "SALEM – Think of a thief snatching a gold necklace from around a woman's neck as she walks down the street. Now think of the victim as a historic building, and you get an idea of one of the crime trends haunting the Witch City."
  21. Trausch, Susan (1990), "There is Life Beyond Boston--Really," The Boston Globe, June 6, 1990, p. 17: "[Springfield] has Chicopee, "Kielbasa Capital of the World," right next door."
  22. O'Brien, George (2001), "Stretching the Imagination in Chicopee," BusinessWest, October 1, 2001: p. 14: "The city once known merely as the kielbasa capital of the universe now has much more on its plate."
  23. Web site: Faber . Harold . 1993-09-12 . The World Capital of Whatever . 2018-11-15 . The New York Times.
  24. http://gonewengland.about.com/library/weekly/aa010699.htm New England for Visitors
  25. Federal Reserve System and Brookings Institution (2008), Springfield, Massachusetts: Old Hill, Six Corners, and the South End neighborhoods, in The Enduring Challenge of Poverty in America: Case Studies from Communities Across the U.S. Retrieved from Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco website, November 19, 2011. "Springfield was once known as the 'City of Firsts'. It was the first to develop interchangeable parts..."
  26. http://www.westernmassedc.com/whychoosewesternmass/choosespringfield/ Springfield
  27. http://www.choosespringfieldmass.com/ Choose Springfield, Massachusetts
  28. http://www.cardcow.com/12517/city-progress-new-library-merrick-park-state-street-springfield-massachusetts/ The City of Progress New City Library, Merrick Park, State Street Springfield, MA
  29. http://www.cardcow.com/129088/city-progress-winchester-square-springfield-massachusetts/ The City Of Progress, Winchester Square Springfield, MA
  30. http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/george-storrs-graves/progressive-springfield-massachusetts-var/1-progressive-springfield-massachusetts-var.shtml Read the ebook Progressive Springfield, Massachusetts by George Storrs] [Graves]
  31. "Full text of "The picturesque city, Springfield, Massachusetts; a series of forty views showing the picturesque side of this "city of homes" Archive.org. 1913-07-05. Retrieved 2018-08-12.
  32. Web site: Amenities Choose Springfield, Massachusetts . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120324173910/http://www.choosespringfieldmass.com/amenities.html . 2012-03-24 . 2018-08-12 . choosespringfieldmass.com . en.
  33. Web site: 1913 . Progressive Springfield, Massachusetts . [Springfield, Mass., G. S. Graves].
  34. Web site: 1912 . Picturesque Springfield and West Springfield, Massachusetts . Springfield, Mass., Hotel Worthy.
  35. http://www.holyokemass.com/pichampden/p153.html WESTFIELD, THE "WHIP CITY"
  36. News: Vallette . David A. . 2009-05-01 . 'Hamp override draws foes, backers . 2009-06-22 . The Republican . Springfield, Mass..
  37. News: Gordon . Ronni . 2007-07-27 . Theater benefit at Noho academy . 2009-06-22 . The Republican . Springfield, Mass..
  38. [Steven Otfinoski]
  39. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,311908,00.html Cambridge Officials Put a Stop to Boy Scout Drive to Aid Troops in Iraq
  40. Examples of the use of this name include the book title Lexington, the Birthplace of American Liberty: A Handbook by Fred Smith Piper (first published in 1902, formerly available from the Lexington Historical Society http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/GEN-MAT-15/1999-04/0925337353, and currently available through Google Books), the Lexington Visitor Center website, and the City of Lexington website (all websites accessed January 6, 2008).
  41. Numerous local businesses, including Mill City Grows, Mill City Glass Works, and Mill City Ballroom . Accessed December 9, 2015
  42. News: Drake . John . 2006-12-27 . Natick to be designated "Home of Champions" . 15 November 2011 . Boston Globe.
  43. http://www.ci.newton.ma.us/parks/discover/Discover%20Newton,%20MA%20%20The%20Garden%20City.htm, Official website of the City of Newton
  44. http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/other_stories/documents/03789085.asp Affordable towns near Boston for would-be home buyers
  45. https://web.archive.org/web/20180117070218/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7727966.html Makeover Proposed for 'Tewks-Vegas'", The Boston Globe (Boston, MA), August 15, 2002, Erica Noonan, Globe Staff
  46. Siek, Stephanie V. Waltham: Room to grow at museum", Boston Globe, April 12, 2007, accessed April 23, 2007. "You can see it at the new home of the Waltham Museum, which finally has enough room for its many windows into the past lives of the Watch City."
  47. Web site: Quincy, MA - 404 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090717012136/http://www.quincyma.gov/Visiting/aboutQuincy.cfm . 2009-07-17 . 2013-07-16.
  48. Web site: Home . brockton.ma.us.
  49. http://www.plymouth-ma.gov America's Hometown
  50. News: Sweeney . Emily . January 9, 2011 . How the South Shore became the Irish Riviera . Boston Globe.
  51. https://discover-wareham.com/ Discover Wareham
  52. http://www.britannica.com/ebi/article-197793 Boston: "The Athens of America" - Britannica Student Encyclopaedia
  53. Barry Popik, Smoky City, barrypopik.com website, March 27, 2005
  54. http://www.taglineguru.com/monikerlist.html U.S. City Monikers
  55. http://ask.yahoo.com/20010905.html Why do they call Boston "Beantown"?
  56. http://www.boston-online.com/faq.html#beantown Why do they call Boston "Beantown"?
  57. Norman Dalager, "What's in a nickname?", Boston.com website, accessed June 18, 2008
  58. The Hub of the Universe, from Oliver Wendell Holmes' reference to the Massachusetts State House as the "hub of the solar system"
  59. https://web.archive.org/web/20080216221351/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,737166,00.html Queen City
  60. Book: Mike Richard . Glory to Gardner: 100 years of football in the Chair City . 1993.
  61. Book: Bruce Gellerman, Erik Sherman . Massachusetts Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff . . 2008 . 978-0762746804.

    "By 1837 they were turning out so many chairs that residents immodestly dubbed the place "Chair City of the World."

  62. Book: Constance Riley . Chair City of the World . . 2008 . 978-1436358453.
  63. Used in numerous local business and organization names, e.g. Chair City Supply Company, Chair City Oil, Chair City Family Medicine, Chair City Pale Ale, Chair City Pipers, etc.
  64. http://www.gardner-ma.gov/ City of Gardner official website
  65. Used in city promotional materials including the city of Leominster's official website
  66. http://www.townofwinchendon.com/Pages/index Town of Winchendon official website
  67. Web site: Home . worcestermass.org.
  68. Laura Crimaldi, Reaching high in City of Seven Hills; ‘Second tier’ Worcester thrives, Boston Herald, March 1, 2009; archived July 6, 2009
  69. http://www.worcestermass.com/wormtown.shtml Worcester, Mass - Origins of the Phrase Wormtown
  70. https://parisofthe80s.com/paris-of-the-80s-an-introduction-107b08bb6155>
  71. http://www.worcestermass.org/arts-culture-entertainment/woo-card Worcester, Mass - Origins of the Phrase The Woo

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