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List of city nicknames in New York State

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This partial list of city nicknames in New York compiles the aliases, sobriquets, and slogans that cities in the U.S. state of New York are known by (or have been known by historically), officially and unofficially, to municipal governments, local people, outsiders, or the cities' 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.

Nicknames by city

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Chazy calls itself the world capital of the McIntosh apple.
Cooperstown, site of the Baseball Hall of Fame where this plaque honoring Ty Cobb is displayed, lays claim to the title "Birthplace of Baseball."
Lockport's nickname of "Lock City" refers to the several Erie Canal locks located in the city.

A

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  • Albany
    • Cradle of the Union[3]
    • Nippertown[4]
    • Smallbany (somewhat derisive)[5]
  • Amsterdam – The Carpet City[6]
  • Auburn
    • History's Hometown[7]
    • The Prison City (for Auburn Correctional Facility, formerly Auburn Prison)[8]

B

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C

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E

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F

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G

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H

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I

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  • Indian Lake-The Whitewater Rafting Capital
  • Ithaca - City of Gorges, Ten Square Miles Surrounded by Reality

J

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K

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L

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M

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N

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The city of Niagara Falls, New York, gets both its name and its nickname of "Cataract City" from the famous set of waterfalls known as Niagara Falls.

O

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  • Ogdensburg
    • The Maple City (19th century)[67]
    • The New York of the North (mid-19th century)[67]

P

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Q

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R

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S

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This 1907 postcard of Canfield Park and Saratoga Springs' nickname "the Spa City" both recall the era when the city's mineral springs and hotels made it a fashionable resort.

T

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  • Troy
    • The Collar City[93]
    • The Troylet
    • Troyalty

U

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W

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Y

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    • City of Seven Hills
    • City of Gracious Living

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Muench, David (December 1993). "Wisconsin Community Slogans: Their Use and Local Impacts" (PDF). University of Wisconsin Extension. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 9, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2007.
  2. ^ a b Alfredo Andia, Branding the Generic City: Archived 2008-05-21 at the Wayback Machine, mu.dot magazine, September 10, 2007
  3. ^ MSN Encarta states that this nickname "resulted from the meeting here in 1754 of the Albany Congress, which adopted Benjamin Franklin's Plan of Union, the first formal proposal to unite the colonies."[1] Archived 2009-10-29 at the Wayback Machine. Archived 2009-10-31.
  4. ^ "Nippertown returns with new focus on arts and culture"
  5. ^ "Albany: Smallbany or Smalbany or SmAlbany (nickname)"
  6. ^ The Amsterdam Free Library Archived 2022-03-18 at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 5, 2007. "Amsterdam became known as "The Carpet City of the World."'
  7. ^ ""History's Hometown" Campaign Kick-off". Good News from Auburn. 4 (11). Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  8. ^ E.g. Prison City Pub and Brewery, Prison City Ramblers car club Archived 2015-12-22 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Binghamton: Building The Parlor City Archived 2008-10-13 at the Wayback Machine, WSKG-TV, accessed April 5, 2007.
  10. ^ Carousel Capital of the World Archived 2007-10-10 at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 5, 2007.
  11. ^ Smith, Gerald (2006). Partners All: A History of Broome County, New York. Virginia Beach, VA: The Donning Company. ISBN 978-1-578-64339-4.
  12. ^ a b c The Legacy Of George F. Johnson And The Square Deal, accessed February 5, 2015.
  13. ^ "2008 Inductee Jim Matthews - Bobby Orr Hall of Fame, Parry Sound, Ontario". Archived from the original on 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2015-02-05.
  14. ^ Kat Kinsman (March 25, 2015). "This is the Boogie Down Bronx". CNN. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  15. ^ "Birthplace of Hip Hop". History Detectives: Special Investigations. PBS. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  16. ^ Ryley, Sarah. "Brooklyn Atlantic Yards: 'Wrong Church, Wrong Pew,' Says Manhattan Judge in Tenants' Case", Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 18, 2007. Accessed June 13, 2007. "State Supreme Court Justice Walter Tolub ruled the action 'was brought both in the wrong church and the wrong pew,' making reference to Brooklyn's early reputation as the 'City of Churches'. In a footnote, the judge cited an 1844 issue of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle as the origin of that nickname."
  17. ^ Mele, Andrew P. (2008). The Boys of Brooklyn: The Parade Grounds: Brooklyn's Field of Dreams. AuthorHouse. p. 292. ISBN 978-1434340405.
  18. ^ Morrone, James F. (2001). An Architectural Guidebook to Brooklyn. Gibbs Smith. pp. x. ISBN 1586850474.
  19. ^ a b Brooklyn news updates for December 27 - January 9, 2005 Archived May 9, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. Accessed June 13, 2007. "'This once again proves that in addition to being the Borough of Churches and the Borough of Trees, that Brooklyn is the Borough of Light during the holidays, and throughout the year,' said Marty."
  20. ^ Students Show Why We Are the City of Good Neighbors, WGRZ, November 10, 2006.
  21. ^ a b Todd Natti, An Orphan of History Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine, Art Voice, October 26, 2006
  22. ^ a b The Urban Design Project, The Queen City Hub: A Regional Action Plan for Downtown Buffalo Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine, accessed February 12, 2011
  23. ^ a b c d e f U.S. City Monikers, Tagline Guru website, accessed January 5, 2008
  24. ^ a b Barry Popik, Smoky City, barrypopik.com website, March 27, 2005
  25. ^ City of Canandaigua official website
  26. ^ a b c d Faber, Harold (1993-09-12). "The World Capital of Whatever". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  27. ^ Hoboken Claims Honor As Baseball Birthplace, The Washington Post, June 20, 1990. "Gov. Jim Florio made a pitch to have Hoboken declared the birthplace of baseball, and he did it from the pitcher's mound at a site not far from where supporters say the first game was played, on the game's anniversary today."
  28. ^ a b "Claims to fame - Sports". Archived from the original on 2015-05-19. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
  29. ^ Corning, New York Archived 2007-12-12 at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 16, 2007. "Recognized as a world leader in glass-making – and dubbed "Crystal City" for its prominence – Corning boasts a heritage that dates to the 1860s."
  30. ^ Local History Archived 2017-01-26 at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 5, 2007. "Known as the 'Crown City' because of its location on a plain formed by the convergence of seven valleys, Cortland is situated about 1,130 feet above sea level, making it the uppermost city to crown the state."
  31. ^ Claims to Fame - Agriculture, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
  32. ^ Aswad, Ed; Meredith, Suzanne M. (2003). Endicott-Johnson. Charleston, SC: Arcadia. p. 23. ISBN 9780738513065. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  33. ^ Florida, New York Archived 2008-01-02 at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 16, 2007. "Onion farming became the primary source of agricultural revenue, resulting in the area being known as "The Onion Capital of the World." Growing, packing, and distribution of this crop continues to be Florida's most important industry."
  34. ^ Motola, Chris. "Nestle and Sonoco Plants Expected to Resume Operation Under New Ownership", Oswego County Business, December 10, 2003, accessed April 16, 2007. "Fulton may once again live up to its slogan, 'a city with a future.' New York State Gov. George Pataki arrived to unveil the good news at a press conference at the Fulton Municipal Building on Dec. 10 at 2PM."
  35. ^ a b Claims to Fame - Fish Archived 2008-02-18 at the Wayback Machine, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
  36. ^ Claims to Fame - Rocks Archived 2008-02-18 at the Wayback Machine, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
  37. ^ [2], accessed November 19, 2013. "It may be 'the town that friendship built.' But Hamburg’s three-member Town Board has been rife with bickering and discord."
  38. ^ Glenn Curtiss, accessed April 16, 2007. "Here, in the picturesque village of Hammondsport, known locally as the "cradle of aviation," Glenn H. Curtiss, world famous aviation pioneer who died unexpectedly in a Buffalo hospital, will be buried at 4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon."
  39. ^ The Village of Haverstraw's History Archived 2008-11-20 at the Wayback Machine, Village of Haverstraw website, accessed December 24, 2008
  40. ^ Brownfields Assessment Pilot Fact Sheet: Haverstraw, NY, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, accessed December 24, 2008
  41. ^ Brick Making in the Hudson River Valley - Haverstraw[permanent dead link‍], Powerpoint presentation by students in Marist College's Hudson Valley History Course, undated
  42. ^ City of Hornell official website
  43. ^ Historical Map of Jamestown, NY - 1882. Worldmapsonline.com. Retrieved on 2014-06-19.
  44. ^ City of Jamestown, New York - The Pearl City Archived 2016-11-09 at the Wayback Machine. Jamestownny.net. Retrieved on 2014-06-19.
  45. ^ About JC Archived 2015-02-05 at the Wayback Machine, accessed February 5, 2015
  46. ^ TechCity Properties Archived 2014-04-11 at the Wayback Machine, accessed December 1, 2011
  47. ^ City of Kingston 2011 Visitors' Guide Archived 2012-04-26 at the Wayback Machine, page 26. Accessed December 1, 2011
  48. ^ D'Onofrio, John. "FOOTBALL: Semi-pro football returns to Lock City" Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine, Niagara Gazette, April 1, 2007, accessed April 16, 2007.
  49. ^ City of Long Beach official website
  50. ^ Purdum, Todd S. "POLITICAL MEMO; An Embattled City Hall Moves to Brooklyn", The New York Times, February 22, 1992. Accessed March 27, 2008. "Leaders in all of them fear that recent changes in the City Charter that shifted power from the borough presidents to the City Council have diminished government's recognition of the sense of identity that leads people to say they live in the Bronx, and to describe visiting Manhattan as 'going to the city.'"
  51. ^ "Former 'Paper City' Westvaco mill in New York that closed 40 years ago profiled as demolition completed for redevelopment". RISI. November 11, 2013. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  52. ^ Joining the Sisterhood: Young Jewish Women Write Their Lives. SUNY Press. February 2012. ISBN 9780791486153.
  53. ^ "Jacob's Voice". Jewish Press. 24 May 2006. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  54. ^ Joseph Nathan Kane, Gerard L. Alexander, Nicknames and Sobriquets of U.S. Cities, States, and Counties, Scarecrow Press, 1979, Page 340
  55. ^ New Rochelle: The City of Huguenots, Knickerbocker Press, 1926, New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce
  56. ^ Modern New Rochelle and The National City Bank, The National City Bank, 1909, M.J.Dillon, Page 19
  57. ^ Sullivan, James; Williams, Melvin E.; Conklin, Edwin P.; Fitzpatrick, Benedict, eds. (1927), "Chapter IX. Westchester County.", History of New York State, 1523–1927 (PDF), vol. 2, New York City, Chicago: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., p. 480, hdl:2027/mdp.39015019994048, Wikidata Q114149636, The seat of hundreds of country estates, with more private and public parks than any like area in the United States, it is known as the "City of Parks."
  58. ^ Why Is New York City Called "The Big Apple"? Archived 1997-10-10 at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 16, 2007.
  59. ^ Finn, Robin. "A Vigilant Eye on Threats to the 'Capital of the World'", The New York Times, June 8, 2007. Accessed June 13, 2007. "'What makes this the biggest challenge in all that we do as an agency is, well, as the late pope said, New York City is the capital of the world,' he says, leading the way into his spacious sanctum at 26 Federal Plaza."
  60. ^ Aakanksha Pagnis (October 5, 2009). "New York: The City of Dreams". The Viewspaper. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  61. ^ Mullane, J.D. "Trumping a New Yorker"[permanent dead link‍], The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 25, 2007, accessed April 16, 2007. "'Here we go again,' I said. 'New York, New York. The city so nice they named it twice, right?'"
  62. ^ "New York, New York" Lyrics Archived 2008-01-11 at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 16, 2007. "These vagabond shoes / Are longing to stray / And make a brand new start of it / New York, New York / I want to wake up in the city that never sleeps..."
  63. ^ Art and the Empire City: New York, 1825–1861, Metropolitan Museum of Art, accessed April 16, 2007.
  64. ^ "Why 1970s New York was nicknamed "Fun City"". 30 December 2016.
  65. ^ Pfeiffer, Rick. "NIAGARA FALLS: Courthouse crumbles" Archived 2012-09-09 at archive.today, Niagara Gazette, April 4, 2007, accessed April 16, 2007. "You don't have to look far to find structural faults — there is more police crime scene tape stretched around problem areas at the Public Safety Building then there is on Cataract City streets."
  66. ^ The Town of Tonawanda - History Archived 2016-08-11 at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 16, 2007. "By the turn of the century Tonawanda and North Tonawanda, jointly known as 'The Lumber City', was the largest lumber supply center in the world."
  67. ^ a b History of Ogdensburg, Thousand Islands. Accessed June 13, 2007. "Attracting people from far and wide, we became the 'New York of the North'. At that time the community was known as 'the Maple City' and a city form of government was adopted on April 27, 1868."
  68. ^ [3], Palmyra. Accessed March 27, 2011.
  69. ^ [4], Pearl River Patch website, accessed January 12, 2012
  70. ^ "Top 16 Small Cities in New York". Cities Journal. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  71. ^ a b Claims to Fame - Food Archived 2017-04-01 at the Wayback Machine, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
  72. ^ "The First Annual Black Dirt Feast: Program Guide" (PDF). July 28, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012. By the mid 19th century ... immigrant farmers, had drained the mucklands and planted the magnificent golden onions that made the region famous, eventually reaching a yield of 30,000 pounds of onions per acre. Pine Island, in the heart of the Black Dirt, became known as 'The Onion Capital of the World'.
  73. ^ Jennifer Brizzi (June 11, 2012). "The onion reigns supreme in Black Dirt Country". Hudson Valley Almanac Weekly.
  74. ^ Tourism Archived 2011-04-20 at the Wayback Machine, City of Plattsburgh website, accessed April 13, 2011
  75. ^ "Welcome to the City of Poughkeepsie". City of Poughkeepsie. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
  76. ^ "New road signs proclaim Queens as "The World's Borough"". New York Daily News. 15 October 2014.
  77. ^ "Crapchester". Campus Times. 19 December 2004.
  78. ^ a b c d "Rochester FAQs". Greater Rochester Visitors Association. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008. Retrieved June 13, 2007. Rochester has been known as the "Young Lion of the West," the "Flour City," and the "Flower City." During the 1990s, Rochester was called "The World's Image Centre," a title stemming from its unique and impressive history in photography, xerography, and optics along with its leading role in manufacturing/research activities, and impressive educational resources in both traditional and evolving imaging sciences.
  79. ^ FAQs, Visit Rochester website, accessed April 28. 2012
  80. ^ a b Rochester's History Archived 2018-01-17 at the Wayback Machine webpage; "1850–1899: Westward expansion has moved the focus of farming to the Great Plains. Rochester's importance as the center for flour milling has declined. Several seed companies in Rochester have grown to become the largest in the world. Rochester's nickname is changed from the Flour City to the Flower City."
  81. ^ The Flower City: Center of Nurseries and Fruit Orchards Archived 2009-07-08 at the Portuguese Web Archive by Blake McKelvey, University of Rochester website; tells of the "almost world-wide fame that once redounded to the Flower City" during the latter half of the 19th century.
  82. ^ E.g. Roc City Furniture, Roc City Skatepark, Roc City Rib Fest
  83. ^ E.g. Copper City Driving School, Copper City Chrysler Dodge, Copper City United Soccer Club Archived 2016-01-12 at the Wayback Machine
  84. ^ Paul Post, Saratoga group hopes to create Thoroughbred park Archived 2019-05-01 at the Wayback Machine, Thoroughbred Times, November 21, 2008. "Mayor Scott Johnson said the city cannot afford to purchase the parcel but that he supports the foundation’s efforts, which he said would be a welcome addition to the 'Racing City's' landscape."
  85. ^ Mokhiber, Jessica. "Spa City celebrates Mardi Gras with sister city", Capital News 9, February 18, 2007. Accessed June 13, 2007. "Waveland, Mississippi and Saratoga are hundreds of miles from each other but they are connected by a special bond. After hurricane Katrina they became sister cities. This weekend people from Waveland helped the Spa City celebrate its very first Mardi Gras."
  86. ^ Claims to Fame - Energy Archived 2017-04-20 at the Wayback Machine, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
  87. ^ Roane, Kit R.
      • Schenecstasy
    "The Forgotten New York", U.S. News & World Report, January 7, 2007. Accessed June 13, 2007. "Back in the 1950s, maybe. But the song, adopted by the city in 1995, expresses more hope than reality these days. Once known as 'the city that lights and hauls the world,' Schenectady has become a dim bulb and the first stop in a long, bleak road that runs through much of upstate New York, a countryside pockmarked with a series of eerie industrial relics and shuttered mill towns."
  88. ^ "Getting Around Staten Island: A Guide to the Borough of Parks". CBS New York. August 22, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  89. ^ "The Borough of Parks". Staten Island Advance. October 5, 2009. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  90. ^ 15 July 1928, New York Times, pg. RE1: "Urging Staten Island operators to be cautious about pricing their realty, W. Burke Harmon, President of the Harmon National Real Estate Corporation, yesterday declared that sudden price increases on properties at this time might well result in halting the normal development of what he calls 'this forgotten borough that has suddenly stepped into the limelight.'"
  91. ^ Barry Popik, Shao-Lin (Staten Island), popik.com, September 14, 2004
  92. ^ "A History of Syracuse City Hall". City of Syracuse official website. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2015. Syracuse, called the 'Salt City,' flourished in the mid-1800s.
  93. ^ Faber, Harold "The Talk of Troy; 'The Collar City' Is Loosening Its Ties to the Past" January 22, 1989. "Troy is still known as 'the collar city.'"
  94. ^ a b c Mittel Jr., David A. (June 4, 2008). "The City That God Forgot". The Providence Journal. Archived from the original on June 5, 2008.
  95. ^ "Garland City". City of Watertown official website. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  96. ^ "Lost Borough (Yonkers)"
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