List of city nicknames in Pennsylvania

This partial list of city nicknames in Pennsylvania compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities, boroughs, and towns in Pennsylvania 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. Many of the unofficial nicknames listed here have been in use for a long time or have gained wide currency.

A sign proclaiming Scranton as "The Electric City" overlooks Courthouse Square. The city got its moniker for being the site of the nation's first electric-powered streetcars.

• Allentown
  • Band City USA ^[3]
  • Peanut City^[4]
  • The Queen City^[5][6]
  • Silk City.^[7]
  • Truck Capital of the World.^[8]
• Bethlehem - Christmas City, USA^[9]
• Erie
  • The Flagship City^[10]
  • The Gem City^[10]
• Hanover - Snack Capital of the World.^[11]
• Hershey
  • Chocolate Capital of the World.^[12]
  • Chocolate Town^[13]
  • The Sweetest Place on Earth.^[11][14]
• Indiana - Christmas Tree Capital of the World ^[15][16]
• Johnstown
  • The Flood City^[17]
  • The Friendly City^[17]
• Lancaster – The Red Rose City^[18]
• New Castle - Fireworks Capital.^[8]
• Philadelphia
  • The Athens of America^[19]
  • The Big Scrapple^[13]
  • The City of Brotherly Love^[13][20]--a literal translation of the city's name from the original Greek language
  • The City That Loves You Back^[21]
  • City of Homes^[20]
  • Filthadelphia or Filthydelphia^[22][23]
  • Philly^[13]
  • Quaker City^[13][20]
  • The Workshop of the World^[24]
• Pittsburgh
  • Birmingham of America^[20]
  • The 'Burgh^[13]
  • The City of Bridges ^[25]
  • The City of Champions^[26][27][28]
  • Iron City^[13][20]
  • The Smoky City^[20]
  • The Steel City^[20]
• Punxsutawney - Weather Capital of the World.^[29]
• Reading
  • Baseballtown^[30]
  • Pretzel Capital of the World.^[12]
• Scranton - The Electric City^[31]
• State College - Happy Valley^[32]
• Wilkes-Barre - Diamond City^[33]

See also

• List of city nicknames in the United States
• Lists of nicknames – nickname list articles on Wikipedia

References

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Harrisburg (capital) Topics Index Delegations Government History Geography Geology Law Pennsylvanians State parks Symbols Visitor attractions Society Agriculture Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Gambling Politics Sports Metro areas Altoona Baltimore-Washington Erie Harrisburg–Carlisle Johnstown Lancaster Lebanon Lehigh Valley New York Philadelphia Pittsburgh Reading Scranton‑Wilkes-Barre State College Williamsport York-Hanover Largest cities Allentown Altoona Bethlehem Butler Chester DuBois Easton Erie Greensburg Harrisburg Hazleton Johnstown Lancaster Lebanon McKeesport New Castle Philadelphia Pittsburgh Pottsville Reading Scranton Sunbury Wilkes-Barre Williamsport York Largest municipalities Abington Bensalem Bethel Park Bristol Cheltenham Cranberry Darby Falls Hampden Haverford Hempfield Lower Macungie Lower Makefield Lower Merion Lower Paxton Manheim McCandless Middletown Millcreek Township Monroeville Mount Lebanon Norristown Northampton North Huntingdon Penn Hills Radnor Ridley Ross Shaler Spring State College Tredyffrin Upper Darby Upper Merion Warminster West Chester Whitehall York Township Regions Allegheny Mountains Allegheny National Forest Allegheny Plateau Atlantic Coastal Plain Bald Eagle Valley Blue Ridge Central Coal Region Cumberland Valley Delaware Valley Dutch Country Eastern Endless Mountains Great Valley Mahoning Valley Happy Valley Laurel Highlands Lehigh Valley Main Line Moshannon Valley Nittany Valley Northeastern Northern Tier Northern Northwestern Ohio Valley Oil Region Pennsylvania Highlands Penns Valley Philicon Valley Piedmont Pocono Mountains Ridge and Valley Saucon Valley South Central Southeastern Southern Southwestern Susquehanna Valley Western Wyoming Valley Counties Adams Allegheny Armstrong Beaver Bedford Berks Blair Bradford Bucks Butler Cambria Cameron Carbon Centre Chester Clarion Clearfield Clinton Columbia Crawford Cumberland Dauphin Delaware Elk Erie Fayette Forest Franklin Fulton Greene Huntingdon Indiana Jefferson Juniata Lackawanna Lancaster Lawrence Lebanon Lehigh Luzerne Lycoming McKean Mercer Mifflin Monroe Montgomery Montour Northampton Northumberland Perry Philadelphia Pike Potter Schuylkill Snyder Somerset Sullivan Susquehanna Tioga Union Venango Warren Washington Wayne Westmoreland Wyoming York