List of city nicknames in California

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.Muench, David [http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cced/economies/communityindicators/communityslogans.pdf "Wisconsin Community Slogans: Their Use and Local Impacts"] , December 1993, accessed April 10, 2007.] They are also believed to have economic value, but that economic value is difficult to measure.

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.

*Alameda - The Island City [ [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1216/is_2_207/ai_77875552 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 - Gateway to the Delta [ [http://www.antiochchamber.com/html/community.htm 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."]
*Auburn - Endurance Capital of The World [ [http://www.auburnendurancecapital.com/ 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."]
*Bakersfield
**California's Country Music Capital [ [http://www.greencountry.com/articles/Relocating-to-Bakersfield.htm 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."]
**BakoFact|date=June 2008
**The Armpit of CaliforniaFact|date=June 2008
*Berkeley
**Berzerkeley [http://www.taglineguru.com/monikerlist.html U.S. City Monikers] website, accessed January 5, 2008]
**The People's Republic of Berkeley [Foldvary, Fred E. [http://www.progress.org/fold41.htm "The People's Republic of Berkeley"] , "The Progress Report". Accessed May 17, 2007.]
**Athens of the West [Cockrell, Cathy. [http://www.berkeley.edu/news/berkeleyan/2004/10/20_Chronicle.shtml "The ‘Athens of the West’ - Latest Chronicle of UC edition highlights history of campus arts and culture"] , "UCBerkeley News", October 20, 2004.]
*Bishop - Mule Packer Capital of the World [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2000_June_30/ai_63073249 Yosemite Wrangler Wins Mule Days World Championships] , Business Wire, June 30, 2000]
*Buena Park - Center of the Southland [ [http://www.buenapark.com/5bp/about.htm 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."]
*Campbell - The Orchard City [http://www.epodunk.com/slogans/agriculture.html Claims to Fame - Agriculture] , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.]
*Castroville - Artichoke Center of the World [http://www.irvineworldnews.com/Astories/febs22/cityside.htm Motto ought to be boffo] , "Irvine World News", February 22, 2004.]
*Chatsworth - San Pornando [ [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/11/25/entertainment/main530805.shtml "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.]
*Chico
** City of Roses [http://www.californiabeautiful.com/east-central-california-tourism/39-city-roses-city-trees-chico-california.html " City of Roses City of Trees - Chico, California"] , CaliforniaBeautiful.com, March 17, 2007. Accessed May 17, 2007.]
** City of Trees
** Almond Capital of the World
** Where Everything Grows [ [http://www.cityofchino.org/about/default.asp 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."]
*Chula Vista - Beautiful View [ [http://www.chulavistaca.gov/About/History.asp 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.'"]
*Clovis - Gateway to the Sierra [ [http://www.ci.clovis.ca.us/UMAP.asp?ID=724 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.'"]
*Coachella
**City of Eternal Sunshine [http://thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=yourtown02 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."]
**Gateway to the Salton Sea
*Compton - The Hub City [ [http://www.comptoncity.org/aboutus/about10.html 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."]
*Corning - Olive City
*Corona - The Circle City [ [http://www.ci.corona.ca.us/ Welcome to Corona - The Circle City] , City of Corona. Accessed June 2, 2007.]
*Daly City
**Gateway To The Peninsula [ [http://www.dalycityhistory.org/Gateway.htm Gateway to the Peninsula: History of Daly City, California] . Accessed June 2, 2007.]
**Little Manila [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-8999800.html " 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."]
*Davis - People's Republic of Davis [Fitch, Mike. [http://www.cityofdavis.org/cdd/cultural/30years/chapt10.cfm "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."]
*Dinuba - Raisinland, USA
*Fallbrook - Avocado Capital of the World
**Raisin Capital of the World
**City of Youth and Ambition [Raibert, Andrea. [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/discoveroc/aboutoc/article_1347944.php "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.]
*Forestville - Poison Oak Capital of the World
* Garden Grove - Big Strawberry [Barry Popik, [http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/summary28/ Big Strawberry] , February 16, 2006]
*Gilroy - Garlic Capital of the World [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,988693,00.html Greetings From America's Secret Capitals] , "Time (magazine)", July 13, 1998.]
* Glendale - The Jewel City [ [http://www.ci.glendale.ca.us/cdh/chg_3.pdf Glendale: The Jewel City] (PDF), Glendale, California. Accessed June 2, 2007.]
* Greenfield - Broccoli Capital of the World
* Gridley - Kiwi Fruit Capital of the World
* Hacienda Heights - The Heights [ http://web.userinstinct.com/7773758-heights-the.htm ]
* Half Moon Bay - Pumpkin Capital
* Holtville - The Carrot Capital of the World
* Huntington Beach - Surf City, USA
* Indio - Date Capital of the World
* Isleton - Asparagus Capital of the World
* La Puente
* Linden - Cherry Capital of the World
* Lodi - Tokay Grape Capital of the World
* Lompoc - Flower Seed Capital of the World [http://www.epodunk.com/slogans/plants.html Claims to Fame - Plants] , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.]
* Long Beach
** The International CityChad Greene, [http://www.lbbj.com/manage/uploads/lbbj_pdfs/Demographics_01172006.pdf 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]
** Iowa By the Sea (historical nickname)
* Los Angeles
** L.A.
** City of Angels [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,737166,00.html Queen City] , "Time (magazine)", January 30, 1928, accessed April 13, 1928.]
** The Entertainment Capital of the World
** City of Flowers and Sunshine
** La-La Land
** Tinseltown [Grant, Rachel. [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/c1641032-cd01-11db-a938-000b5df10621.html "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."] (specifically applies to Hollywood)
** The Big Orange
* Madera
** Madtown
** M-town
** Murdera
* Marysville - Gateway to the Gold Fields [ [http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:5YJIaK2fE7wJ:www.marysville.ca.us/city_council.asp%3Fdid%3D43+%22Gateway+to+the+Gold+Fields%22+marysville&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=9&gl=us 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’."]
*McCloud - Blackberry Capital of the World
*Merced - Gateway to Yosemite [ [http://www.yosemite-gateway.org/ 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."]
*Modesto - Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health [ [http://www.ci.modesto.ca.us/localinfo/modesto.asp Welcome to Modesto - the city of "Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health."] , accessed April 12, 2007.]
*Monterey - The Cradle of History [ [http://www.montereycitynews.com/news/ 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.'"]
*Norco - Horse Town USA [http://www.epodunk.com/slogans/animals.html Claims to Fame - Animals] , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.]
*Oakdale - Cowboy Capital of the World [ [http://oakdalechamber.com/content/view/7/32/ 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”."]
*Oakland
**Oak Town [ [http://oaklandnet.com/parks/news/050404a.asp 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."]
**Bright Side of the Bay [ [http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-West/Oakland-Geography-and-Climate.html 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."]
**O-town [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20060425/ai_n16229661 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]
**Detroit of the West "(historical)" ["Oakland" (Postcard History), by Annalee Allen (2005; Arcadia Publishing; ISBN 978-0738530147). [http://books.google.com/books?id=AtXK85bjBksC&pg=PA58&lpg=PA58&dq=oakland+nickname&source=web&ots=5iUw9gwPDt&sig=87MkqiaQKfyFqdtAN-bBtJZGVDA#PPA58,M1] "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)]
*Oroville - City of Gold (literal translation)
*Oxnard - Lima Bean Capital of the World
*Pacifica
**Fog Capital of California [http://www.epodunk.com/slogans/weather.html Claims to Fame - Weather] , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.]
**Pasyphillis
*Palmdale - The Aerospace Capital of America
*Palm Springs - Golf Capital of the World
*Pasadena - City of Roses
*Pearsonville - Hubcap Capital of the World [http://www.epodunk.com/slogans/index.html Claims to Fame - Favorites] , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.]
*Placerville - Hangtown
*Reedley - The World's Fruit Basket
*Redwood City
** Climate Best By Government Test [ [http://www.ci.redwood-city.ca.us/about/local_history/exhibits/climate_best/climate_best.html Local History: Redwood City, CA] ]
** Deadwood City ["Judge weighs lawyer's lawsuit: Plan to redevelop downtown challenged", by Will Oremus, "Redwood City Daily News". Quote page 7, paragraph #3, '... for a city that has been saddled with the moniker "Deadwood City" in the past.'] [ cite web
url = http://smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?type=lnews&id=60858 | title = What happened to the Fourth of July Rodeo?
last = Levy | first = Joan | publisher = San Mateo Daily Journal | date = July 3, 2006 | accessdate = 2007-10-21 ]
* Sacramento
**Almond Capital of the World
**Big TomatoBarry Popik, [http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/summary15/ Big Tomato] , April 02, 2005]
**Camellia City [ [http://sacrag.com/2007/03/camellia-day/ Sacramento Camellia City] ]
**City of Trees
**River City [ [http://www.rcru.com/ Sacramento River City] website] [ [http://www.sactoedc.org/go/sacto/sacto_news/articles/sacramento_earns_high_marks_as_green_leader/index.cfm 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." ]
**Sacratomato
**Sacto Fact|date=February 2008
**Sactown [Used in names of [http://sactownmag.com/ Sactown Magazine] and [http://www.sactown.com/ Sactown.com] portal website]
*Salinas - Lettuce Capital of the World
*Santa Ana
*San Diego
**America's Finest CityLeo, Peter. [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05340/617696.stm "'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."]
**City in Motion
**Plymouth of the West
**Silicon Beach [ cite web|url=http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/12/11/news/columnists/silicon_beach/20_56_0412_10_05.txt |title=Science & Technology: Silicon Beach |accessdate=2007-08-17 |last=Fikes |first=Bradley |work=North County Times ] [ cite web|url=http://www.commnexus.org/map/ |title=CommNexus 'Silicon Beach' Map |accessdate=2007-08-17 |format= |work= ]
*San Fernando Valley
* San Francisco
** Baghdad by the Bay [cite book
last = Caen
first = Herb
authorlink = Herb Caen
title = Baghdad-by-the-Bay
publisher = Doubleday
date = 1949
location = Garden City, N.Y.
id = LC F869.S3 C12
isbn = 978-0891740476]
** The City by the Bay
** The City That Knows How (archaic) [cite web
last= San Francisco Public Library
url=http://sfpl.lib.ca.us/news/onlineexhibits/amusing/ppie.htm
title=PPIE: The City That Knows How
accessdate=2008-06-14
work=Amusing America
publisher=San Francisco Public Library, Online Exhibitions
date=2005-03-29]
** Frisco [Citation
url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/10/14/DD67721.DTL
title=Frisco, that once-verboten term for the city by the bay, is making a comeback among the young and hip.
author=Herb Caen
authorlink=Herb Caen
author=James Sullivan
publication=San Francisco Chronicle
date=October 14, 2003
accessdate=2007-12-24] [Many tourists refer to San Francisco as "Frisco", a name popularized through songs like Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay and Sweet Little Sixteen. However, locals discourage this use and prefer the nickname "The City by the Bay." Samuel D. Cohen writes that many credit "Friscophobia" to newspaper columnist Herb Caen, whose first book, published in 1953, was "Don't Call it Frisco." Caen was considered by many to be the recognized authority on what was, and what was not, beneath the city's dignity, and to him, Frisco was intolerable. cite web | last =Cohen | first =Sam | title = Locals Know best: only tourists call it 'Frisco'| work = Golden Gater Online| publisher = San Francisco State University | date = 1997-09-11| url =http://www.journalism.sfsu.edu/www/pubs/gater/fall97/sept11/Frisco.html | accessdate = 2008-07-13]
** The City
** Everybody's Favorite City
** Fog City
** Golden CityBarry Popik, [http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/summary12/ Smoky City] , barrypopik.com website, March 27, 2005]
** The Golden Gate City
*San Jose - The Capital of Silicon Valley
*San Luis Obispo - SLO (as in, "Experience the SLO Life") [ [http://www.visitslo.com San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce] , accessed July 11, 2007. "Experience the SLO Life".]
*Sanger - Christmas Tree City
*Santa Cruz
**Surf City
*Santa Monica
**Dogtown
**Home of the Homeless [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02EED7123AF935A2575AC0A960958260 Santa Monica Tries to Curb Charity to Homeless] by Kit R. Roane, "The New York Times", September 16, 1996]
**People's Republic of Santa Monica
*Santa Paula - Citrus Capital of the World
*Selma - Raisin Capital of the World
*Smith River - Lily Growing Capital of the World
*Solvang
**Danish capital of America. [http://www.epodunk.com/slogans/ethnic.html Claims to Fame - Ethnic Groups] , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.]
**The Industrial City [http://www.epodunk.com/slogans/business.html Claims to Fame - Business] , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.]
*Stockton - Asparagus Capital of the World
*Sunnyvale
**The Heart of Silcon Valley [ [http://www.sunnyvale.ca.gov/ City of Sunnyvale website] , accessed September 5, 2008]
** Valley of the SunFact|date=September 2008
*Tulelake - Horseradish Capital of the World
*Wasco - Rose Growing Capital of the World
*Watsonville - Strawberry Capital of the World. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9F0CE6DC1430F931A2575AC0A965958260 The World Capital of Whatever] , "The New York Times" by Harold Faber, September 12, 1993.]
*West Hollywood
**The Creative CityFact|date=December 2007
**WeHoFact|date=December 2007
**Boys TownFact|date=December 2007
*Willits
** Gateway to the Redwoods [http://www.willits.org/ Willits Chamber of Commerce] ]
** Heart of Mendocino County
** Solar Energy Capital of the World [http://www.epodunk.com/slogans/energy.html Claims to Fame - Energy] , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.]
*Willow Creek - Bigfoot Capital of the World
*Yuba City - Prune Capital

ee also

*List of city nicknames in the United States
*List of cities in California

References

External links

* [http://got.net/~landauer/lists/CityOf.html a list] of American and a few Canadian nicknames
* [http://www.usacitiesonline.com/mottos.htm U.S. cities list]