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.
- Adrian – The Maple City[3]
- Alma – Scotland, USA[4]
- Ann Arbor
- Atlanta – Elk Capital of Michigan[10]
- Battle Creek
- Beaver Island – America's Emerald Isle[14]
- Belding
- Berrien Springs – Christmas Pickle Capital of the World[17]
- Cadillac – Chestnut Town USA[18]
- Calumet – Coppertown USA[19][20]
- Champion – Horse Pulling Capital of the U.P.[21]
- Colon – Magic Capital of the World[22]
- Curran – Black Bear Capital of Michigan[23]
- Davison – City of Flags[24]
- Detroit
- Drummond Island – Gem of the Huron[32]
- Dundee – Hub of the Highways[33]
- Eaton Rapids – The Island City[34]
- Eau Claire – Cherry Pit Spitting Capital of the World[17]
- Elsie – Michigan's Dairy Capital[35]
- Escanaba – Esky[36]
- Fairview – Wild Turkey Capital of Michigan[37]
- Flint
- Frankenmuth – Michigan's Little Bavaria[42]
- Fremont – Baby Food Capital of the World[43]
- Gaylord – Michigan's Alpine Village[44]
- Glenn – The Pancake Town[45]
- Grand Haven – Coast Guard City, USA[46]
- Grand Rapids
- Greenville – The Danish Festival City[49]
- Hamtramck
- Holland – Tulip City[52]
- Huntington Woods – City of Homes[53]
- Jackson – Birthplace of the Republican Party[54]
- Kalamazoo
- Kalkaska – Trout Capital of Michigan[57]
- Kingsley – A Little Bit of Paradise[58]
- Lake City – Christmas Tree Capital[59]
- Linwood – Michigan's Walleye Capital[60]
- Manistee – Salt City[61] Marlette - Heart Of the Thumb
- Marquette – Queen City of the North[62]
- Mayfield – Birthplace of the Adams Fly[63]
- Mesick – Mushroom Capital of the World[15]
- Mount Clemens – Bath City[64]
- Mount Pleasant – The Oil Capital of Michigan[65]
- Muskegon
- The Beer Tent Capital of the World[66]
- Port City[67]
- The Riviera of the Midwest[67]
- Lumber Queen of the World[67]
- The Skee[citation needed]
- Skeetown[citation needed]
- Naubinway – Top of the Lake[68]
- Negaunee – Irontown, USA[69]
- Newberry – Moose Capital of Michigan[70]
- Niles
- Northville – Switzerland of Wayne County[73]
- Oceana County – Asparagus Capital of the World[74]
- Omer – Michigan's Smallest City[75]
- Onaway – Sturgeon Capital of Michigan[76]
- Oscoda – Paddletown USA[77]
- Paradise – Wild Blueberry Capital of Michigan[78]
- Pellston – Icebox of the Nation[79]
- Pinconning – Cheese Capital of Michigan[80]
- Plainwell – The Island City[81]
- Port Huron – Maritime Capital of the Great Lakes[82]
- Portland – City of Two Rivers[83]
- Rogers City
- The Nautical City[84]
- Rocket City
- Romulus – Gateway to the World,[85] Romtown
- Rudyard – Snowy Owl Capital of Michigan[86]
- Saint Johns – The Mint City[15]
- Saint Louis – Middle of the Mitten[87]
- Sault Ste. Marie
- Scottville - Clown Town
- South Haven – Blueberry Capital of the World[15]
- Sturgis – Electric City[90]
- Taylor – Taylortucky[91][92]
- Traverse City
- Trufant – Stump Fence Capital of the World[96]
- Utica
- Vassar – Cork Pine City[98]
- Vicksburg – The Village with a Vision[99]
- Whitefish Point – Cranberry Capital of Michigan[100]
- Ypsilanti
See also
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Andia, Alfredo (September 10, 2007). "Branding the Generic City :)" (PDF). MU.DOT Magazine. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 21, 2008.
- ^ Smith, Benjamin E., ed. (1911). The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: The Century Cyclopedia of Names. Century Company.
- ^ Alma Highland Festival accessed April 8, 2010.
- ^ Kerry Rutherford's Bio and Blog August August 16, 2007
- ^ "Michigan Lingo" (PDF). Graduate Handbook for the Political Science Department of the University of Michigan. 2006.
- ^ The city's official web site is www.a2gov.org
- ^ "Replanting Tree Town". City of Ann Arbor City. Archived from the original on February 27, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
- ^ http://www.a2gov.org/news/Documents/TTL_Nov_2007.pdf[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Claims to Fame: Animals". Epodunk. Archived from the original on November 6, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
- ^ This moniker appears on the city seal, displayed on the Battle Creek city website
- ^ "Claims to Fame: Food". Epodunk. Archived from the original on April 1, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
- ^ Middleton, Jim. "The One Dollar Miracles of Battle Creek".
- ^ Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce accessed August 1, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Claims to Fame: Agriculture". Epodunk. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
- ^ "Belding was once the third-largest silk producing city in the world" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2009.
- ^ a b "Claims to Fame: Favorites". Epodunk. Archived from the original on January 16, 2008. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
- ^ Ammeson, Jane (October 15, 2003). "Return of the chestnut". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
- ^ "Uncovering the History of Coppertown USA". www.copper.org. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ "Coppertown USA Mining Museum & Gift Shop". Keweenaw Convention & Visitor’s Bureau. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ Champion page on infomi.com, accessed July 14, 2010
- ^ Village of Colon Archived October 29, 2023, at the Wayback Machine accessed May 11, 2010.
- ^ "Talk with the Doc: Upper Peninsula fun facts for 2020". The Mining Journal. Marquette, Michigan. July 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
- ^ This moniker appears on the city seal, displayed on the Davison city website
- ^ a b c d e f "U.S. City Monikers". Tagline Guru. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
- ^ Solnit, Rebecca (July 1, 2007). "Detroit arcadia: Exploring the post-American Landscape" (PDF). Harper's Magazine. Vol. 157, no. 9. pp. 65–73. Retrieved July 30, 2007.
- ^ a b Anuzis, Saul (November 6, 2007). "All Eyes Look to Michigan: A Report From the Presidential Hustings". Human Events. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011.
- ^ a b "About Us". The Greening of Detroit. Archived from the original on February 10, 2008. Retrieved 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.
- ^ a b "Claims to Fame: Business". Epodunk. Archived from the original on July 13, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
- ^ This moniker appears in the Entertainment Link on the local television station WDIV's Click On Detroit website Archived October 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Detroit: Sights & Activities". Fodor's. Retrieved May 8, 2007.
Though the city nicknamed itself 'Renaissance City' in the 1970s, it did little to deserve the title until recently.
- ^ Drummond Island Chamber of Commerce Archived June 3, 2023, at the Wayback Machine accessed September 5, 2010
- ^ "Dundee - Hub of the Highways Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ http://www.ci.eaton-rapids.mi.us/park_isparkhis.htm Archived June 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Eaton Rapids, MI
- ^ Elsie Michigan - Historic Town Archived November 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine accessed August 12, 2012
- ^ "My Home Town - Esky, Michigan". gigland.com. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ Community Ties site Archived March 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine accessed May 11, 2010.
- ^ E.g. Auto City Speedway, accessed December 9, 2015
- ^ About the University of Michigan-Flint Archived January 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, 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..."
- ^ All Things Buick. A History of the Buick factories at Flint, Michigan accessed August 12, 2012
- ^ Flint: Vehicle City Archived January 20, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Michigan History Online website, accessed August 19, 2009
- ^ Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau Archived February 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine accessed May 30, 2011.
- ^ National Baby Food Festival accessed December 4, 2014.
- ^ Gaylord Convention & Tourism Bureau accessed May 30, 2011.
- ^ Glenn Community Center Archived January 30, 2018, at the Wayback Machine accessed August 13, 2013.
- ^ http://www.coastguardfest.org/#!about-us/cge2 , accessed November 9, 2015 "Festival History"
- ^ More Than Furniture City Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 8, 2007 "After an 1876 international exhibition held in Philadelphia, Grand Rapids gained worldwide recognition as 'Furniture City.'"
- ^ Ellison, Garret (May 13, 2013). "Grand Rapids wins Beer City USA 2013 poll outright with 27,000 votes". MLive Media Group. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
- ^ http://www.danishfestival.org/history/ Archived August 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, accessed November 9, 2015 "Danish Festival History"
- ^ modeldmedia accessed August 1, 2010.
- ^ Sercombe, Charles (January 14, 2011). "Movers and Shakers . . . Christine Komisarz". The Review. Hamtramck, Michigan. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2011.
- ^ Tulip Time Festival accessed May 30, 2011.
- ^ City of Huntington Woods accessed October 11, 2012
- ^ Birthplace of the Republican Party - "Under the Oaks", accessed May 8, 2007
- ^ 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."
- ^ Sloganville, USA Awards For Best City Mottos & Monikers, Tagline Guru website, accessed March 15, 2010
- ^ "National Trout Festival". Experience Michigan. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ "Home - Village of Kingsley, Michigan". www.villageofkingsley.com. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ "Lake City Area History". Lake City Area Chamber of Commerce. December 7, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
- ^ Walleye Tournament Trail Archived December 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, accessed August 12, 2012
- ^ Fedder, Mark (February 1, 2016). "The Salt Industry in Manistee". Manistee County Tourism - Manistee, Michigan. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
- ^ "Local author highlights Marquette Ghost Stories". Ishpeming, MI: WBUP-TV. October 6, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- ^ "Mayfield, Michigan: Birthplace of the Adams Fly". Dan Kennaley FlyFishing. August 14, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ City of Mt. Clemens Archived July 31, 2012, at archive.today accessed April 8, 2010.
- ^ "Michigan Petroleum History Exhibit". American Oil & Gas Historical Society. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
- ^ Burns, Robert C. "Brewmaster to create ale, pub downtown" Archived July 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, 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.'"
- ^ a b c History of Muskegon Archived May 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 8, 2007 "A river meets the lake at a place that's been known as the Lumber Queen of the world, the Port City and the Riviera of the Midwest; our own Muskegon."
- ^ http://www.topofthelake.org/ Top of the Lake Communities Association, accessed July 3, 2013.
- ^ Negaunee Irontown Association, accessed August 12, 2012.
- ^ Official Newberry Michigan Area Chamber of Commerce, accessed May 8, 2007. "Snowmobile the Moose Capital of Michigan & Tahquamenon Country!"
- ^ City of Niles Motto listed on web site logo, accessed May 8, 2007.
- ^ 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 Archived 2009-01-20 at the Wayback Machine", Michigan History Online website, accessed May 30, 2009
- ^ Fecht, Michele (January 6, 2012). "Northville: An Ideal 1892 Suburban Village". Northville Patch. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
- ^ "National Asparagus Festival". asparagusfestival. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ "Michigan's Smallest City" Archived July 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine accessed April 9, 2010.
- ^ Claims to Fame - Fish Archived February 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
- ^ Walton, Brett (April 11, 2018). "Fear and Fury in Michigan Town Where Air Force Contaminated Water". Circle of Blue. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ Paradise, Michigan Chamber of Commerce accessed April 9, 2010.
- ^ "waymarking.com" accessed July 6, 2010.
- ^ Pinconning page on Roadside America.com, accessed April 9, 2010.
- ^ "City of Plainwell, Michigan - Home". www.plainwell.org. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ Sheridan, Margaret (June 24, 2011). "Port Huron: Gateway to Canada worth a stay". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ Portland Community site accessed April 3, 2012
- ^ "Home". rogerscity.com.
- ^ www.romulusgov.com http://www.romulusgov.com. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)[title missing] - ^ "Rudyard is now the snowy owl capital of Michigan". The Sault News. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ^ City of St. Louis accessed March 22, 2010.
- ^ Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau accessed August 1, 2010.
- ^ City of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Archived January 10, 2022, at the Wayback Machine accessed August 1, 2010.
- ^ Marshall, Dana (February 12, 2018). "5 Things Everyone From Sturgis Knows". 103.3 WKFR. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
- ^ Detroit Metro Times Archived January 4, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Downriver: Close to Detroit, Far from Kentucky August 2012; public radio affiliated with Wayne State University, Michigan". wdet.org. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
- ^ a b c Faber, Harold (September 12, 1993). "The World Capital of Whatever". The New York Times. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ "Hockeytown North shows its support for Wings". NHL.com. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
- ^ "The Winged Wheel - Hockeytown North". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
- ^ Gonzalez, John (August 30, 2017). "Yes, there really is a 'Stump Fence' festival in Michigan". mlive. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ a b "Retired teacher completes work on history book Archived March 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine," The Macomb Daily, June 12, 2010. Accessed January 13, 2011.
- ^ City of Vassar Archived August 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine accessed May 30, 2011.
- ^ Vicksburg, MI | Village Government and Information Archived July 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Centennial Cranberry Farm accessed September 5, 2010.
- ^ a b "Ypsilanti: What's in a Name?". www.ypsireal.com. September 30, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
External links
- a list of American and a few Canadian nicknames
- U.S. cities list