List of city nicknames in Nevada explained

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

In 2005 the consultancy Tagline Guru conducted a small survey of professionals in the fields of branding, marketing, and advertising aimed at identifying the "best" U.S. city slogans and nicknames. Participants evaluated about 800 nicknames and 400 slogans on the criteria of whether the nickname or slogan expresses the "brand character, affinity, style, and personality" of the city, whether it "tells a story in a clever, fun, and memorable way," uniqueness and originality, and whether it "inspires you to visit there, live there, or learn more."^[3] The second-ranked nickname in the survey was the Las Vegas nickname "Sin City", behind only New York City's "The Big Apple." Las Vegas also had the top-rated slogan: "What Happens Here, Stays Here."^[3]

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.

• Beatty – Gateway to Death Valley^[4]
• Boulder City – Home of Hoover Dam^[5]
• Caliente – City of Roses^[6]
• Eureka – The Friendliest Town on The Loneliest Road^[7]
• Fallon – The Oasis of Nevada^[8]
• Genoa – Home of the Candy Dance^[9]
• Las Vegas
  • Gambling Capital of the World^[10]
  • Entertainment Capital of the World^[11]
  • Sin City^{[9] [12]}
  • City of Lost Wages
• Reno
  • The Biggest Little City in the World^{[9] [13]}
  • The Neon Babylon^[9]
• Sparks – The Rail City^[14]
• Tonopah – Queen of the Silver Camps^[15]
• Virginia City – The Richest Place on Earth^[16]
• West Wendover – Where the West Begins^[17]
• Winnemucca – City of Paved Streets^{[9] [18]}
• Yerington – The Onion Capital of the West^[19]

See also

• List of cities in Nevada
• 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. https://web.archive.org/web/20080623231050/http://www.taglineguru.com/citybrandingPR.html TaglineGuru Releases List of Top U.S. City Mottos and Monikers
4. News: Waite . Mark . Death Valley may choose Hafen Commercial Center for offices . Pahrump Valley Times . November 7, 2007 . February 25, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071108181429/http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2007/Nov-07-Wed-2007/news/17725240.html . November 8, 2007.
5. Web site: Boulder City, NV – Official Website .
6. Web site: Caliente Restaurants - Caliente NV Hotels . Travel Nevada . 2022-05-04 . 2022-08-27.
7. Web site: The Loneliest Road In America Comes Of Age – Nevada Magazine . Nevada Magazine – . 2016-01-11 . 2022-08-27.
8. http://www.fallontourism.com/ Fallon Convention and Tourism Authority
9. http://www.taglineguru.com/monikerlist.html U.S. City Monikers
10. http://www.bartleby.com/69/61/W03761.html Las Vegas
11. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/may/15/evolution-worlds-entertainment-capital/ Las Vegas Sun
12. http://www.curvemag.com/Detailed/561.html Las Vegas: Sin City Finally Gets Its Reputation Back
13. http://www.reno.gov/vis/ City of Reno Visitors page
14. Web site: TMCC Students Help Sparks Museum Raise Funds - News . Truckee Meadows Community College . 2016-07-05 . 2022-08-27.
15. Web site: Tonopah..."Queen of the Silver Camps", few places tell the story of Nevada's mining past better!. tonopahnevada.com. 11 July 2017.
16. Web site: O'Halloran . Brian . The Richest Place on Earth: Moycullen People in the Virginia City Silver Rush, the Comstock Lode . Moycullen Heritage . 2018-10-29 . 2022-08-27.
17. Web site: Wendover Will History Page . West Wendover, NV . 2011-09-20 . 2022-08-27.
18. http://www.bartleby.com/69/61/W03761.html Winnemucca
19. https://www.rgj.com/story/news/local/mason-valley/2016/03/14/wright-yearning-fest-onion-capital-west/81767672/ Reno Gazette Journal