This partial list of city nicknames in the United States compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities 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 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 were asked to evaluate about 800 nicknames and 400 slogans, considering several criteria in their assessments. The assigned criteria were: 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 top-ranked nickname in the survey was New York City's "The Big Apple," followed by "Sin City" (Las Vegas), "The Big Easy" (New Orleans), "Motor City" (Detroit), and "The Windy City" (Chicago). In addition to the number-two nickname, Las Vegas had the top-rated slogan: "What Happens Here, Stays Here." The second- through fifth-place slogans were "So Very Virginia" (Charlottesville, Virginia), "Always Turned On" (Atlantic City, New Jersey), "Cleveland Rocks!" (Cleveland, Ohio), and "The Sweetest Place on Earth" (Hershey, Pennsylvania).[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.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Alabama.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Alaska.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Arizona.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Arkansas.
See main article: List of city nicknames in California.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Colorado.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Connecticut.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Delaware.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Florida.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Georgia (U.S. state).
See main article: List of city nicknames in Hawaii.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Idaho.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Illinois.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Indiana.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Iowa.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Kansas.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Kentucky.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Louisiana.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Maine.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Maryland.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Massachusetts.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Michigan.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Minnesota.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Mississippi.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Missouri.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Montana.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Nebraska.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Nevada.
See main article: List of city nicknames in New Hampshire.
See main article: List of city nicknames in New Jersey.
See main article: List of city nicknames in New Mexico.
See main article: List of city nicknames in New York State.
See main article: List of city nicknames in North Carolina.
See main article: List of city nicknames in North Dakota.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Ohio.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Oklahoma.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Oregon.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Pennsylvania.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Rhode Island.
See main article: List of city nicknames in South Carolina.
See main article: List of city nicknames in South Dakota.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Tennessee.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Texas.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Utah.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Vermont.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Virginia.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Washington.
See main article: List of city nicknames in West Virginia.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Wisconsin.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Wyoming.
See main article: List of city nicknames in Puerto Rico.
General: