List of city nicknames in Michigan

This partial list of city nicknames in Michigan compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities in Michigan 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"[2] are also believed to have economic value.[1] Their economic value is difficult to measure,[1] 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.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Muench, David "Wisconsin Community Slogans: Their Use and Local Impacts", December 1993, accessed April 10, 2007.
  2. ^ a b Alfredo Andia, Branding the Generic City :), MU.DOT magazine, September 10, 2007
  3. ^ Alma Highland Festival accessed April 8, 2010.
  4. ^ Kerry Rutherford's Bio and Blog August August 16, 2007
  5. ^ Michigan Lingo in 2006 Graduate Handbook for the Political Science Department of the University of Michigan
  6. ^ The city's official web site is www.a2gov.org
  7. ^ Replanting Tree Town page on Ann Arbor City Government website (accessed January 12, 2008)
  8. ^ http://www.a2gov.org/news/Documents/TTL_Nov_2007.pdf
  9. ^ Claims to Fame - Animals, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007
  10. ^ This moniker appears on the city seal, displayed on the Battle Creek city website
  11. ^ Claims to Fame - Food, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007
  12. ^ The One Dollar Miracles of Battle Creek by Jim Middleton
  13. ^ Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce accessed August 1, 2010.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Claims to Fame - Agriculture, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007
  15. ^ Belding was once the third-largest silk producing city in the world
  16. ^ a b Claims to Fame - Favorites, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007
  17. ^ Champion page on infomi.com, accessed July 14, 2010
  18. ^ Village of Colon accessed May 11, 2010.
  19. ^ This moniker appears on the city seal, displayed on the Davison city website
  20. ^ a b c d e f U.S. City Monikers, Tagline Guru website, accessed January 5, 2008
  21. ^ Solnit, Rebecca (2007-07-01). "Detroit arcadia: Exploring the post-American Landscape" (PDF). Harper's Magazine 157 (9): 65–73. http://www.harpers.org/archive/2007/07/0081594. Retrieved 2007-07-30. 
  22. ^ a b Saul Anuzis, All Eyes Look to Michigan: A Report From the Presidential Hustings, Human Events, November 6, 2007
  23. ^ a b The Greening of Detroit, accessed May 8, 2007 "The Greening of Detroit seeks to return the city of Detroit to its former glory as "The City of Trees" and "The Paris of the Midwest" by reforesting the city through tree planting projects and by using environmental education to generate the resolve, the necessary support, and the essential abilities necessary to ensure a safe, sustainable ecosystem for healthy trees with the city of Detroit."
  24. ^ Barry Popik, Smoky City, barrypopik.com website, March 27, 2005
  25. ^ a b Claims to Fame - Business, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007
  26. ^ Detroit: Sights & Activities, Fodor's, accessed May 8, 2007 "Though the city nicknamed itself "Renaissance City" in the 1970s, it did little to deserve the title until recently."
  27. ^ Drummond Island Chamber of Commerce accessed Sept. 5, 2010
  28. ^ Community Ties site accessed May 11, 2010.
  29. ^ [1]
  30. ^ About the University of Michigan-Flint, accessed May 8, 2007 "Flint is a mid-size city with a population of approximately 125,000. Although the city is best known as the birthplace of General Motors..."
  31. ^ Flint: Vehicle City, Michigan History Online website, accessed August 19, 2009
  32. ^ Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau accessed May 30, 2011.
  33. ^ Gaylord Convention & Tourism Bureau accessed May 30, 2011.
  34. ^ City of Greenville accessed April 9, 2010.
  35. ^ More Than Furniture City, accessed May 8, 2007 "After an 1876 international exhibition held in Philadelphia, Grand Rapids gained worldwide recognition as 'Furniture City.'"
  36. ^ modeldmedia accessed August 1, 2010.
  37. ^ [2]
  38. ^ Tulip Time Festival accessed May 30, 2011.
  39. ^ Birthplace of the Republican Party - "Under the Oaks", accessed May 8, 2007
  40. ^ a b c d The History of Kalamazoo MI, accessed May 8, 2007 "It's been called "The Paper City," for its many paper and cardboard mills; "The Celery City," after the crop once grown in the muck fields north, south, and east of town; and "The Mall City," after construction of the first outdoor pedestrian shopping mall in the United States in 1959. The fertile soil on which Kalamazoo is built has led the area to most recently be called the "Bedding Plant Capital of the World," as the county is home to the largest bedding plant cooperative in the U.S. "
  41. ^ Sloganville, USA Awards For Best City Mottos & Monikers, Tagline Guru website, accessed March 15, 2010
  42. ^ City of Mt. Clemens accessed April 8, 2010.
  43. ^ Burns, Robert C. "Brewmaster to create ale, pub downtown", Muskegon Chronicle, September 13, 2006 Accessed May 8, 2007 "Although Muskegon is known by some, very informally, as the 'Beer Tent Capital of the World,' the business plan cites 'an enormous unmet need in the microbrewery market in Muskegon.'"
  44. ^ a b c History of Muskegon, accessed May 8, 2007 "A river meets the lake at a place that’s been know as the Lumber Queen of the world, the Port City and the Riviera of the Midwest; our own Muskegon."
  45. ^ Official Newberry Michigan Area Chamber of Commerce, accessed May 8, 2007. "Snowmobile the Moose Capital of Michigan & Tahquamenon Country!"
  46. ^ City of Niles Motto listed on web site logo, accessed May 8, 2007.
  47. ^ Historical nickname commemorating the elaborate garden created and maintained by German immigrant gardener John Gipner, at the Michigan Central Railroad depot in Niles, per "Stations of Distinction", Michigan History Online website, accessed May 30, 2009
  48. ^ "Michigan's Smallest City" accessed April 9, 2010.
  49. ^ Claims to Fame - Fish, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
  50. ^ Paradise, Michigan Chamber of Commerce accessed April 9, 2010.
  51. ^ "waymarking.com" accessed July 6, 2010.
  52. ^ Pinconning page on Roadside America.com, accessed April 9, 2010.
  53. ^ [3] accessed July 16, 2010.
  54. ^ [4] accessed on July 16, 2010.
  55. ^ City of St. Louis accessed March 22, 2010.
  56. ^ Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau accessed August 1, 2010.
  57. ^ City of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan accessed August 1, 2010.
  58. ^ The World Capital of Whatever, The New York Times by Harold Faber, September 12, 1993.
  59. ^ a b "Retired teacher completes work on history book," The Macomb Daily, June 12, 2010. Accessed Jan. 13, 2011.
  60. ^ City of Vassar accessed May 30, 2011.
  61. ^ Centennial Cranberry Farm accessed Sept. 5, 2010.

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