List of city nicknames in Massachusetts

This partial list of city nicknames in Massachusetts compiles the

aliases A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individu ...

sobriquet A sobriquet ( ), or soubriquet, is a nickname, sometimes assumed, but often given by another, that is descriptive. A sobriquet is distinct from a pseudonym, as it is typically a familiar name used in place of a real name, without the need of expla ...

s, and slogans that

cities A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...

and towns in

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...

are known by (or have been known by historically), officially and unofficially, to municipal governments, local people, outsiders or their

tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism mor ...

boards or

chambers of commerce A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to a ...

. City

nickname A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...

s 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. Nicknames and slogans that successfully create a new community "ideology or myth" are also believed to have economic value. Their economic value is difficult to measure, but there are anecdotal reports of cities that have achieved substantial economic benefits by "

brand A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's good or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create ...

ing" themselves by adopting new slogans.Alfredo Andia
Branding the Generic City :)
, MU.DOT magazine, September 10, 2007 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. Minute Man Statue Lexington Massachusetts

Minute Man Statue Lexington Massachusetts

* Athol – Tool TownClaims to Fame - Products
, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. * Attleboro – Jewelry Capital of America or Jewelry Capital of the World * Belmont – Town of Homes *

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

** Athens of America – Boston Brahmins' reference to the numerous cultural institutions which separated Boston from its counterparts Also called the Modern Athens.Barry Popik
Smoky City
barrypopik.com website, March 27, 2005 ** Beantown or Bean Town and variations 'The Bean', 'DA BEAN', BeanCity, B-town, etc.
Tagline Guru website, accessed January 5, 2008Norman Dalager
"What's in a nickname?"
Boston.com website, accessed June 18, 2008 ** The Hub (or the Hub of the Universe)
''

Time (magazine) ''Time'' (stylized in all caps) is an American news magazine based in New York City. For nearly a century, it was published weekly, but starting in March 2020 it transitioned to every other week. It was first published in New York City on Mar ...

'', January 30, 1928, accessed April 13, 1928. ** City of Notions ** The Cradle of Liberty ** Puritan City * Brockton – The City of Champions *

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a College town, university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cam ...

– The People's Republic of CambridgeCambridge Officials Put a Stop to Boy Scout Drive to Aid Troops in Iraq
,

Fox News The Fox News Channel, abbreviated FNC, commonly known as Fox News, and stylized in all caps, is an American multinational conservative cable news television channel based in New York City. It is owned by Fox News Media, which itself is owne ...

, accessed April 4, 2008. * Chicopee ** Kielbasa Capital of the World *

Duxbury Duxbury (alternative older spelling: "Duxborough") is a historic seaside town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. A suburb located on the South Shore approximately to the southeast of Boston, the population was 16,090 at the 20 ...

– Deluxebury *

Fall River Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The City of Fall River's population was 94,000 at the 2020 United States Census, making it the tenth-largest city in the state. Located along the eastern shore of Mount H ...

– Scholarship City * Fitchburg – The Dirty Burg * Foxboro - The Gem of Norfolk County *

Framingham Framingham () is a city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. Incorporated in 1700, it is located in Middlesex County and the MetroWest subregion of the Greater Boston metropolitan area. The city proper covers with a popul ...

– The Dirty Ham or The Ham * Gardner ** Chair City ** Furniture Capital of New England *

Gloucester Gloucester ( ) is a cathedral city and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean to the west, east of Monmouth and east ...

– Fishtown or Fish City * Hadley – Asparagus Capital of the World * Hingham ** Blingham ** Cha-chingham *

Holyoke Holyoke is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, that lies between the western bank of the Connecticut River and the Mount Tom Range. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 38,238. Located north of Springfield ...

** Birthplace of Volleyball ** Paper City *

Lawrence Lawrence may refer to: Education Colleges and universities * Lawrence Technological University, a university in Southfield, Michigan, United States * Lawrence University, a liberal arts university in Appleton, Wisconsin, United States Preparator ...

- Immigrant City *

Leominster Leominster ( ) is a market town in Herefordshire, England, at the confluence of the River Lugg and its tributary the River Kenwater. The town is north of Hereford and south of Ludlow in Shropshire. With a population of 11,700, Leominster i ...

– Pioneer Plastics City of the World * Lexington – The Birthplace of American Liberty * Lowell ** The Mill City ** City of Spindles ** Manchester of America * Lynn - City of Sin * Marshfield - Marshvegas *

Natick Natick ( ) is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is near the center of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, with a population of 37,006 at the 2020 census. west of Boston, Natick is part of the Greater Boston area. ...

– Home of Champions *

New Bedford New Bedford (Massachusett: ) is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts. It is located on the Acushnet River in what is known as the South Coast region. Up through the 17th century, the area was the territory of the Wampanoag Native American pe ...

– The Whaling CityTom Huntington
"Treasure Trove of Documents Discovered in Whaling Town," ''American Heritage'', Winter 2009. *

Newburyport Newburyport is a coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, northeast of Boston. The population was 18,289 at the 2020 census. A historic seaport with vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island. The mo ...

– Clipper City * Newton – The Garden City * North Adams – The Tunnel City *

North Andover North Andover is an affluent town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. At the 2020 census the population was 30,915. History Native Americans inhabited what is now northeastern Massachusetts for thousands of years prior to European c ...

– Turkey Town * Northampton ** Hamp ** NoHo ** The Paradise of America or The Paradise City * Orange - Friendly Town, Jump Town * Peabody – Leather City, Tanner City * Plymouth – America's Hometown *

Provincetown Provincetown is a New England town located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, in the United States. A small coastal resort town with a year-round population of 3,664 as of the 2020 United States Census, Province ...

** Like Nowhere Else ** P-Town * Quincy ** City of Presidents ** Granite City * Salem ** City of Peace ** City of Witches or The Witch City *

Sandwich A sandwich is a food typically consisting of vegetables, sliced cheese or meat, placed on or between slices of bread, or more generally any dish wherein bread serves as a container or wrapper for another food type. The sandwich began as a po ...

– Sangy * Scituate – The Irish Riviera * Sharon – Cowtown * Somerville – Slummerville * Springfield ** Birthplace of Basketball ** City of FirstsSpringfield
, Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts ** City of Homes ** City of ProgressThe City of Progress New City Library, Merrick Park, State Street Springfield, MA
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See also

References

External links