List of city nicknames in New Hampshire explained

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

• Berlin – The City That Trees Built.^[3]
• Concord
  • The Capital City.^[4]
  • New Hampshire's Main Street™.
• Derry – Space Town.^[5]
• Dover – The Garrison City.^[6]
• Keene – Elm City.^[7]
• Manchester
  • ManchVegas.^[8]
  • Queen City.^[8]
• Meredith – Latchkey to the White Mountains.^[9]
• Milford – Granite Town.^[10]
• Nashua – The Gate City.^[11]
• Peterborough – Our Town, named for the Thornton Wilder play written in and inspired by the village.^[12]
• Rochester – Lilac City.^[13]
• Rumney – Crutch Capital of the World.^[14]
• Salem – Gateway to New Hampshire.^[15]

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.ci.berlin.nh.us/history.html Berlin History
4. Nevers' 2nd Regiment Band "is the Capital City's professional community band, dedicated to bringing an annual series of summer concerts to the greater Concord area.", Nevers' 2nd Regiment Band, May 21, 2007. Accessed September 29, 2007.
5. http://www.newhampshire.com/nh-towns/derry.aspx NH Towns - Derry, NH - NewHampshire.com
6. Web site: Dover, New Hampshire – The Garrison City. City of Dover official website. July 20, 2015.
7. Higy, Alison. "The struggle to plant elms in Keene's Central Square", Keene Sentinel, March 14, 2004. Accessed July 10, 2007. "Ever wonder why Keene is called the “Elm City?” We were given this name because of the towering elms that used to stand in the center of Keene."
8. Brooks, Scott. "ManchVegas: Love it or hate it, the Queen City's other name has stuck" New Hampshire Union Leader, September 26, 2005.
9. http://www.lwhs.us/meredith/latchkeytowhitemountains.htm Meredith - 'The Latchkey to the White Mountains'
10. http://www.epodunk.com/slogans/rocks.html Claims to Fame - Rocks
11. http://www.gonashua.com/ City of Nashua, New Hampshire - Home Page
12. Web site: Welcome to Our Town's Web Site!. Town of Peterborough. January 20, 2017.
13. http://www.rochesternh.org/comproIntro.asp?pid=3&cid=1 Community Profile - Rochester NH, the Lilac City
14. Web site: The World Capital of Whatever. The New York Times. Harold . Faber. 1993-09-12. 2018-11-15.
15. http://www.ci.salem.nh.us/salem-at-a-glance.asp Salem At a Glance