List of city nicknames in California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This partial list of city nicknames in California compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities in California 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.
![People's Park in Berkeley was a center of 1960s counterculture activity remembered in the sobriquet "The People's Republic of Berkeley."](../../../../images/local/thumb/1/11/People's-Park.jpg/180px-People's-Park.jpg)
- Alameda - The Island City.[2]
- Antioch - Gateway to the Delta.[3]
- Auburn - Endurance Capital of The World.[4]
- Bakersfield - California's Country Music Capital.[5]
- Berkeley
- Bishop - Mule Packer Capital of the World [9]
- Buena Park - Center of the Southland.[10]
- Campbell - The Orchard City.[11]
![Castroville's nickname celebrates its status as a producer of artichokes.](../../../../images/shared/thumb/2/21/Artichokes.jpg/180px-Artichokes.jpg)
- Castroville - Artichoke Center of the World.[12][11]
- Chatsworth - San Pornando.[13]
- Chico
- Chino - Where Everything Grows.[16]
- Chula Vista - Beautiful View.[17]
- Clovis - Gateway to the Sierra.[18]
- Coachella
- Compton - The Hub City.[20]
- Corning - Olive City.[11]
![Dinuba, Fallbrook, and Selma have nicknames that celebrate the production of raisins.](../../../../images/shared/thumb/7/7d/Raisins_01.jpg/180px-Raisins_01.jpg)
- Corona - The Circle City.[21]
- Daly City
- Davis - People's Republic of Davis.[24]
- Dinuba - Raisinland, USA.[11]
- Fallbrook - Avocado Capital of the World.[15][11]
- Forestville - Poison Oak Capital of the World[6]
![Garlic ice cream is given away at the annual Garlic Festival in Gilroy, nicknamed Garlic Capital of the World.](../../../../images/shared/thumb/c/c3/Garlicicecream.jpg/200px-Garlicicecream.jpg)
- Garden Grove - Big Strawberry [26]
- Gilroy - Garlic Capital of the World.[27][11]
- Glendale - The Jewel City.[28]
- Greenfield - Broccoli Capital of the World.[15]
- Gridley - Kiwi Fruit Capital of the World.[11]
- Half Moon Bay - Pumpkin Capital.[11]
- Holtville - The Carrot Capital of the World.[11]
- Huntington Beach - Surf City, USA[6]
- Indio - Date Capital of the World.[15][11]
- Isleton - Asparagus Capital of the World.[15][11]
- La Puente
- Linden - Cherry Capital of the World.[11]
- Lodi - Tokay Grape Capital of the World.[11]
- Lompoc - Flower Seed Capital of the World.[29]
- Long_Beach,_California
- Los Angeles
- L.A.[citation needed]
- City of Angels.[31][6]
- The Entertainment Capital of the World
- City of Flowers and Sunshine.[12]
- La-La Land [6]
- Tinseltown [32] (specifically applies to Hollywood[6])
- The Big Orange [6]
- Marysville - Gateway to the Gold Fields.[33]
- McCloud - Blackberry Capital of the World.[15][11]
- Merced - Gateway to Yosemite.[34]
- Modesto - Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health.[35]
- Monterey - The Cradle of History.[36]
- Norco - Horse Town USA.[37]
- Oakdale - Cowboy Capital of the World.[38]
- Oakland
- Oroville - City of Gold (literal translation)
- Oxnard - Lima Bean Capital of the World.[15]
- Pacifica
- Fog Capital of California.[43]
- Pasyphillis
- Palmdale - The Aerospace Capital of America
- Palm Springs - Golf Capital of the World.[15]
![Close-up view of one of the flower-bedecked floats in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, which calls itself the City of Roses.](../../../../images/shared/thumb/9/9a/Roseparade1.jpg/180px-Roseparade1.jpg)
- Pasadena - City of Roses[6]
- Pearsonville - Hubcap Capital of the World.[44]
- Placerville - Hangtown [6]
- Reedley - The World's Fruit Basket.[11]
- Redwood City - Climate Best By Government Test[45]
- Sacramento
- Salinas - Lettuce Capital of the World.[11][15]
- Santa Ana
- San Diego
- San Fernando Valley
- San Francisco
- San Jose - The Capital of Silicon Valley [6]
- San Luis Obispo - SLO (as in, Experience the SLO Life)[55]
- Sanger - Christmas Tree City.[11]
- Santa Cruz
- Surf City [6]
- Santa Monica
- Santa Paula - Citrus Capital of the World.[11]
- Selma - Raisin Capital of the World.[15][11]
- Smith River - Lily Growing Capital of the World.[29]
- Solvang
- Stockton - Asparagus Capital of the World.[11]
- Tulelake - Horseradish Capital of the World.[15]
- Wasco - Rose Growing Capital of the World.[29]
- Watsonville - Strawberry Capital of the World.[15][11]
- West Hollywood
- The Creative City[citation needed]
- WeHo[citation needed]
- Boys Town[citation needed]
- Willits - Solar Energy Capital of the World.[59]
- Willow Creek - Bigfoot Capital of the World.[44]
- Yuba City - Prune Capital.[11]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Muench, David "Wisconsin Community Slogans: Their Use and Local Impacts", December 1993, accessed April 10, 2007.
- ^ Alameda, here we come - California island town, Sunset (magazine), August 2001. "Much of what makes Alameda, an island with a picturesque perch off Oakland's flank in San Francisco Bay, so unusual is the way it balances connection with isolation. It lies within easy reach of major urban hubs--the bay, the San Francisco skyline, and the East Bay hills are all in view. Even so, the "Island City" seems a world apart."
- ^ Antioch - A Total Community, accessed April 5, 2007. "The waters in the Antioch area are some of the prime striped bass and sturgeon fishing waters. As the "Gateway to the Delta", Antioch will continue as a refuge for boaters."
- ^ Welcome to the Auburn Endurance Capital Web Site!, accessed April 5, 2007. "2003, the Auburn City Council passed an official measure proclaiming Auburn as the Endurance Capital of the World. Auburn is home to some of the most challenging and historic endurance events on the planet."
- ^ Relocating to Bakersfield, Green Country. Accessed June 2, 2007. "Bakersfield has become known as "California's Country Music Capital" with the emergence of musicians like Merle Haggard and Buck Owens."
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u U.S. City Monikers website, accessed January 5, 2008
- ^ Foldvary, Fred E. "The People's Republic of Berkeley", The Progress Report. Accessed May 17, 2007.
- ^ Cockrell, Cathy. "The ‘Athens of the West’ - Latest Chronicle of UC edition highlights history of campus arts and culture", UCBerkeley News, October 20, 2004.
- ^ Yosemite Wrangler Wins Mule Days World Championships, Business Wire, June 30, 2000
- ^ ABout Buena Park, Buena Park, California. Accessed May 17, 2007. "Known as the "Center of the Southland," Buena Park is a City with a distinct heritage undergoing an exciting revitalization in business, residential, and commercial projects."
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Claims to Fame - Agriculture, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
- ^ a b Motto ought to be boffo, Irvine World News, February 22, 2004.
- ^ "San Fernando's Open Secret: Porn Biz Has Migrated To What Some Call 'San Pornando Valley'", CBS News, November 25, 2002. Accessed June 2, 2007.
- ^ a b " City of Roses City of Trees - Chico, California", CaliforniaBeautiful.com, March 17, 2007. Accessed May 17, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n The World Capital of Whatever, The New York Times by Harold Faber, September 12, 1993.
- ^ Welcome to the Official Website for the City of Chino: About the City, Chino, California. Accessed May 17, 2007. "The City’s motto, “Where Everything Grows” originally referred to this agricultural beginning."
- ^ Brief History of Chula Vista, City of Chula Vista. Accessed June 2, 2007. "A resident, James D. Schulyer, suggested the name Chula Vista for the town and the San Diego Land and Town Company adopted it. Chula Vista can be roughly translated in Spanish as 'beautiful view.'"
- ^ A Brief History of Clovis, City of Clovis]. Accessed June 2, 2007. "Located in the northeast quadrant of the Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area, Clovis is situated in the midst of the agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley. Since its incorporation in 1912, Clovis has been the 'Gateway to the Sierra.'"
- ^ a b Your City: Coachella, The Desert Sun. Accessed June 2, 2007. "The "City of Eternal Sunshine - Gateway to the Salton Sea" is largely a young, rural and family oriented area of the desert."
- ^ History, City of Compton. Accessed June 2, 2007. "The City of Compton is known as the “Hub City” because of its unique position in almost the exact geographical canter of Los Angeles County."
- ^ Welcome to Corona - The Circle City, City of Corona. Accessed June 2, 2007.
- ^ Gateway to the Peninsula: History of Daly City, California. Accessed June 2, 2007.
- ^ " The melting pot boils over.", The Economist, October 13, 1990. Accessed June 2, 2007. "Daly City outside San Francisco, once a mostly white, blue-collar town, is now called "Little Manila" because of its large Filipino population."
- ^ Fitch, Mike. "Growing Pains: Thirty Years in the History of Davis" Chapter Ten: The Political Culture of Davis, Davis, California. "Another of the city's critics was a railroad executive who couldn't hide his annoyance when officials asked his company in the early 1990s to contribute up to $1,000 for a planning project the city was undertaking next to the railroad tracks. "This letter is tantamount to railroad robbery. However, since we are forced to live with the People's Republic of Davis, we will accede to your demands in the interest of the commune welfare," the executive wrote in response, enclosing a check for $500."
- ^ Raibert, Andrea. "Garden Grove: City of 'youth and ambition' is culturally diverse, celebrating 50 years of hometown pride", Orange County Register, November 8, 2006. Accessed June 2, 2007.
- ^ Barry Popik, Big Strawberry, February 16, 2006
- ^ Greetings From America's Secret Capitals, Time (magazine), July 13, 1998.
- ^ Glendale: The Jewel City (PDF), Glendale, California. Accessed June 2, 2007.
- ^ a b c Claims to Fame - Plants, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
- ^ a b Chad Greene, From ‘Iowa By The Sea’ To ‘International City’: A Look At Long Beach’s Changing Demographics With Former Advanced Planning Officer, Long Beach Business Journal, January 17, 2006
- ^ Queen City, Time (magazine), January 30, 1928, accessed April 13, 1928.
- ^ Grant, Rachel. "Different stars in Tinseltown", Financial Times, March 9, 2007, accessed April 12, 2007. "With shows such as Red Eye and an important LA artist retrospective last year at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, Tinseltown is finally gaining international artistic recognition."
- ^ Marysville’s Golden History, accessed April 12, 2007. "Those that survive are a constant reminder of Marysville’s golden history and proof that Marysville is still the ‘Gateway to the Gold Fields’."
- ^ Merced Conference & Visitor's Bureau, accessed April 12, 2007. "As the "Gateway to Yosemite," Merced offers the traveler an abundance of recreational facilities and a short drive or ride into Yosemite National Park."
- ^ Welcome to Modesto - the city of "Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health.", accessed April 12, 2007.
- ^ Monterey, California, accessed April 12, 2007. "Many California "firsts" occurred in Monterey. These include California's first theater, brick house, publicly funded school, public building, public library, and printing press. Because of this, some have dubbed Monterey 'the cradle of history.'"
- ^ Claims to Fame - Animals, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
- ^ About Oakdale, accessed April 12, 2007. "The Saddle Club started putting on rodeos in the spring, and the city became known as the “Cowboy Capital of the World”."
- ^ McClymonds Students Study to Rejuvenate Park, by Cecily Burt, from Oakland Tribune, Tuesday, May 4, 2004; archived on City of Oakland website (accessed January 6, 2007). "They talked about Oakland's nickname, 'Oak Town,' and the lack of remaining leafy specimens that made the city famous."
- ^ Oakland: Geography and Climate, City-Data website. "Oakland has earned the nickname "bright side of the Bay" because of its sunny skies and moderate year-round climate."
- ^ For Keyshia Cole, it's good to be back in the Bay Area, by Jim Harrington, Oakland Tribune, April 25, 2007, retrieved October 16, 2007
- ^ Oakland (Postcard History), by Annalee Allen (2005; Arcadia Publishing; ISBN 978-0738530147).[1] "A Chevrolet plant opened, attracting various automotive parts manufacturers to establish themselves as well, thus earning Oakland the nickname 'Detroit of the West.'" (page 58)
- ^ Claims to Fame - Weather, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
- ^ a b Claims to Fame - Favorites, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
- ^ Local History: Redwood City, CA
- ^ a b Barry Popik, Big Tomato, April 02, 2005
- ^ Sacramento Camellia City
- ^ Sacramento River City website
- ^ Sacramento Earns High Marks as 'Green' Leader, article from Sacramento Business Journal, July 2, 2007. "The River City joined Minneapolis and Tallahassee, Fla., as ... runners-up."
- ^ Used in names of Sactown Magazine and Sactown.com portal website
- ^ Leo, Peter. "'America's finest city' takes a fall", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 6, 2005, accessed April 12, 2007. "Which brings us to less-humble San Diego. It had the nerve to tout itself as "America's Finest City."... This would seem to present an opportunity for Tampa, which bills itself as "America's Next Greatest City."
- ^ Fikes, Bradley. Science & Technology: Silicon Beach. North County Times. Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
- ^ CommNexus 'Silicon Beach' Map. Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
- ^ James Sullivan (October 14, 2003), Frisco, that once-verboten term for the city by the bay, is making a comeback among the young and hip., <http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/10/14/DD67721.DTL>. Retrieved on 2007-12-24
- ^ San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, accessed July 11, 2007. "Experience the SLO Life".
- ^ a b Santa Monica Tries to Curb Charity to Homeless by Kit R. Roane, The New York Times, September 16, 1996
- ^ Claims to Fame - Ethnic Groups, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
- ^ Claims to Fame - Business, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
- ^ Claims to Fame - Energy, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
[edit] External links
- a list of American and a few Canadian nicknames
- U.S. cities list