List of city nicknames in Alabama
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This partial list of city nicknames in Alabama compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities in Alabama are known by (or have been known by historically), officially and unofficially, to locals, outsiders or their tourism boards. 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] They are also believed to have economic value, but that economic value is difficult to measure.[1]
Some of the nicknames are positive, while others are derisive. The unofficial nicknames listed here are those that have been used for such a long time or have gained so wide a currency that they have become well-known in their own right.
- Alabaster - The City for Families.[2]
- Albertville - The Fire Hydrant Capital of the World.[3][4]
- Anniston - The Model City.[5]
- Auburn - The Loveliest Village on the Plains.[6]
- Bayou La Batre - Seafood Capital of Alabama.[7]
- Bessemer - The Marvel City.[8]
- Birmingham
- The Magic City.[9]
- The Pittsburgh of the South.[10][11]
- Cedar Bluff - Crappie Capital of the World.[12]
- Decatur
- Dothan - The Peanut Capital of the World.[17][18]
- Douglas - City of Eagles.[19]
- Eufaula - Bass Capital of the World.[12]
- Fort Payne - Sock Capital of the World.[4]
- Greenville - The Camellia City.[20][21]
- Haleyville - Home of 911.[22]
- Hartselle - The City of Southern Hospitality.[23]
- Hueytown - Home of the Alabama Gang.[24]
- Huntsville
- Jacksonville - Gem of the Hill.[28]
- Lincoln - The Motorsports City.[29]
- Madison
- Where Progress Meets Preservation.[30]
- Mobile
- Montgomery
- Prattville
- Slocomb- The Tomato Capital of the South.[37]
- Summerdale - The Sunshine City.[38]
- Sylacauga - The Marble City.[39]
- Tuscaloosa
- The Druid City.[40]
- T-Town.
- Tuskegee - The Pride of the Swift-Growing South.[41]
- Wetumpka - Rumbling Waters.[42]
- Winfield - City on the Move.[43]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Muench, David "Wisconsin Community Slogans: Their Use and Local Impacts", December 1993, accessed April 10, 2007.
- ^ Alabaster, Alabama, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ Greetings From America's Secret Capitals, Time (magazine), July 13, 1998.
- ^ a b Claims to Fame - Products, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
- ^ The Model City of the New South: Anniston, Alabama, 1872-1900, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ “Loveliest Village” Inspiration Award, accessed March 27, 2007.
- ^ The World Capital of Whatever, The New York Times by Harold Faber, September 12, 1993.
- ^ Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ Birmingham: The Magic City, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ Birmingham: Introduction, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ U.S. City Monikers website, accessed January 5, 2008
- ^ a b Claims to Fame - Fish, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
- ^ Decatur - The River City Review, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ Railroad keyed Decatur's growth, The Decatur Daily, February 27, 2007.
- ^ Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ Decatur History, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ City of Dothan, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ Claims to Fame - Agriculture, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
- ^ Douglas, Alabama profile, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ Greenville, Alabama city profile, Epodunk, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ Claims to Fame - Plants, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
- ^ CONGRATULATING THE CITY OF HALEYVILLE, ALABAMA AS THE HOME OF 911, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ City of Hartselle, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ The Alabama Gang, Alabama Live, accessed March 29, 2007. "The Alabama Gang was especially forceful during the formative years of NASCAR as brothers Bobby and Donnie Allison and Red Farmer set up shop in Hueytown, Ala., putting that town on the sports map."
- ^ Huntsville: Rocket City, About.com, accessed March 29, 2007.
- ^ A Brief History of Huntsville, Marshall Space Flight Center, accessed March 29, 2007. "During these years Huntsville was famed as the "Watercress Capital of the World," and Madison County was Alabama's leader in cotton production."
- ^ 'Viva Huntsvegas', The Houstonian, October 7, 2004.
- ^ Jacksonville, Alabama profile, accessed March 29, 2007.
- ^ Talladega County: Quality of Life, accessed March 29, 2007. "The City adopted the nickname "Motorsports City" due to its proximity next to the Talladega Superspeedway. "
- ^ Madison, Alabama city profile, accessed March 29, 2007.
- ^ Public Television Features Mobile's Azalea Trail, University of Alabama Center for Public Television & Radio press release. Accessed May 17, 2007. "MOBILE--This town is known as The Azalea City, and the evergreen azaleas for which it is famous are an indispensable part of the city’s character."
- ^ Sheboygan Press, The Sheboygan Press May 20, 1932. "Q. What city is called The city Of Six Flags? MN a Mobile, Alabama. It has been under French, Spanish, British, American, Alabama, and Confederate Flags."
- ^ The Mother of All Mardi Gras, accessed March 29, 2007.
- ^ "Today, we are more than just the Capital of Alabama--we are the Capital of the South!", accessed September, 16, 2007.
- ^ Newfield, Jack. "Marching to Montgomery: The Cradle Did Rock", The Village Voice, April 1, 1965. Accessed May 17, 2007. "It was the Ecumenical Council, a hootenanny, a happening, and a revolution all rolled into one. And it happened in Montgomery, 'Cradle of the Confederacy.'"
- ^ a b Visiting or Staying?, Prattville, Alabama. Accessed May 17, 2007. "Long before Prattville became "The Preferred Community," it was known as "The Fountain City" because of its numerous artesian wells."
- ^ Slocomb Tomato Festival at WTVY.com, accessed August 9, 2007
- ^ South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, accessed March 29, 2007. "Just north of Foley lies Summerdale, which offers a picturesque view of rural farm life and lives up to its slogan, 'The Sunshine City.'"
- ^ Claims to Fame - Rocks, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
- ^ Frequently Asked Questions, accessed March 29, 2007. "In the late 1800s, the city fathers of Tuscaloosa planted oak trees along downtown streets. Just as the City of Birmingham was known as the Magic City because of its amazing growth, the City of Tuscaloosa became known as the Oak City, or, in recognition of the ancient British tribe that worshipped oaks, the Druid City."
- ^ Welcome to Tuskegee University, accessed March 29, 2007.
- ^ About Wetumpka, accessed March 29, 2007. "Abundant in lore and legend, Wetumpka (an Indian term meaning rumbling waters) is rich in aboriginal history. "
- ^ Motto ought to be boffo, Irvine World News, February 22, 2004.
[edit] External links
- a list of American and a few Canadian nicknames
- U.S. cities list