This partial list of city nicknames in New York 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

slogan A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a clan, political slogan, political, Advertising slogan, commercial, religious, and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose, with the goal of persuading members of the publi ...

s 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 ...

in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

are known by (or have been known by historically), officially and unofficially, to

municipal A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the ...

governments, local people, outsiders, or the cities'

tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring (disambiguation), touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tour (disambiguation), tours. Th ...

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 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. 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 an ...

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.

Nicknames by city

McIntosh with sticker by Lars Zapf 2006-03-30 cropped

A

* Albany **Cradle of the Union **Nippertown **Smallbany (somewhat derisive) *

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population of 907,976 within the city proper, 1,558,755 in the urban ar ...

– The Carpet City * Auburn **History's Hometown **The Prison City (for Auburn Correctional Facility, formerly Auburn Prison)

B

Binghamton Binghamton () is a City (New York), city in the United States, U.S. state of New York (state), New York, and serves as the county seat of Broome County, New York, Broome County. Surrounded by rolling hills, it lies in the state's Southern Tier reg ...

**Parlor City **Carousel Capital of the World **Valley of Opportunity **The

Triple Cities The Binghamton Metropolitan Statistical Area, also called Greater Binghamton or the Triple Cities, is a region of southern Upstate New York in the northeastern United States, anchored by the city of Binghamton. The MSA encompasses Broome an ...

(with Johnson City and Endicott)The Legacy Of George F. Johnson And The Square Deal
accessed February 5, 2015. **Hockey Town USA *

The Bronx The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New ...

(part of

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

) **Boogie Down **The Birthplace of Hip-Hop *

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

(part of New York City) **The Borough of Homes and Churches (also "Borough of Churches" or "Borough of Homes") **The Borough of TreesBrooklyn news updates for December 27 - January 9, 2005
, Brooklyn Borough President

Marty Markowitz Martin Markowitz (born February 14, 1945) is an American politician who served as the borough president of Brooklyn, New York City. He was first elected in 2001 after serving 23 years as a New York State Senator. His third and final term end ...

. 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." * Buffalo **The City of Good Neighbors **The City of Light (nickname at the time of the 1901 World's Fair)Todd Natti
An Orphan of History
''Art Voice'', October 26, 2006 **The City of No IllusionsThe Urban Design Project

, accessed February 12, 2011 **The Nickel City
Tagline Guru website, accessed January 5, 2008 **The Queen City (or The Queen City of the Great Lakes)Barry Popik
Smoky City
barrypopik.com website, March 27, 2005

C

* Canandaigua – The Chosen Spot * Chazy – The World Capital of McIntosh Apples *

Cooperstown Cooperstown is a village in and county seat of Otsego County, New York, United States. Most of the village lies within the town of Otsego, but some of the eastern part is in the town of Middlefield. Located at the foot of Otsego Lake in the ...

– Birthplace of BaseballHoboken Claims Honor As Baseball Birthplace
''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large n ...

'', 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." *

Corinth Corinth ( ; el, Κόρινθος, Kórinthos, ) is the successor to an ancient city, and is a former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, which is located in south-central Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it has been part ...

– Snowshoe Capital of the World * Corning – The Crystal City * Cortland – The Crown City

E

Elba Elba ( it, isola d'Elba, ; la, Ilva) is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino on the Italian mainland, and the largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago. It is also part of the Arcipelago Toscano Nationa ...

– Onion Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Agriculture
Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. * Elmira – Soaring Capital of the World * Endicott **The Magic City **The

(with

and Johnson City)

F

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and ...

– The Onion Capital of the World * Fulton – City with a Future

G

Geneva Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ; rm, Genevra is the second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Situa ...

– Lake Trout Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Fish
Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. * Granville – Slate Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Rocks
Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.

H

Hamburg Hamburg (, ; nds, label=Hamburg German, Low Saxon, Hamborg ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (german: Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg; nds, label=Low Saxon, Friee un Hansestadt Hamborg),. is the List of cities in Germany by popul ...

– The Town That Friendship Built *

Hammondsport Hammondsport is a village at the south end of Keuka Lake, in Steuben County, one of the Finger Lakes of New York, United States. The Village of Hammondsport is in the Town of Urbana and is northeast of Bath. History Lazarus Hammond founded ...

– Cradle of Aviation * Haverstraw – Bricktown or Brickmaking Capital of the World *

Hornell Hornell is a city in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 8,259 at the 2020 census. The city is named after the Hornell family, early settlers. The City of Hornell is surrounded by Town of Hornellsville. Hornell is about ...

– The Maple City * Hurley – Sweet Corn Capital of the World

I

* Indian Lake-The Whitewater Rafting Capital *

Ithaca Ithaca most commonly refers to: *Homer's Ithaca, an island featured in Homer's ''Odyssey'' *Ithaca (island), an island in Greece, possibly Homer's Ithaca *Ithaca, New York, a city, and home of Cornell University and Ithaca College Ithaca, Ithaka ...

- City of Gorges, Ten Square Miles Surrounded by Reality

J

* Jamestown **The Furniture Capital of the World (1880s-1940s) **The Pearl City * Johnson City **Home of the Square Deal **The

(with

and Endicott)

K

* Kingston – Breadbasket of the Revolution

L

* Lockport – Lock City *

Long Beach Long Beach is a city in Los Angeles County, California. It is the 42nd-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 466,742 as of 2020. A charter city, Long Beach is the seventh-most populous city in California. Incorporat ...

– The City by the Sea

M

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...

(borough of New York City) – The City * Mechanicville – The Paper City * Monsey – Ir Hakodesh ("the holy city" in

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

) *

Mount Vernon Mount Vernon is an American landmark and former plantation of Founding Father, commander of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War, and the first president of the United States George Washington and his wife, Martha. The estate is on ...

- “Money Earnin’”

N

New Rochelle New Rochelle (; older french: La Nouvelle-Rochelle) is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state. In 2020, the city had a population of 79,726, making it the seventh-largest in the state o ...

**Queen City of the Sound **The City of Huguenots **The City of Parks *

**The

Big Apple "The Big Apple" is a nickname for New York City. It was first popularized in the 1920s by John J. Fitz Gerald, a sportswriter for the '' New York Morning Telegraph''. Its popularity since the 1970s is due in part to a promotional campaign by th ...

**The Capital of the World **The City of Dreams **The City So Nice, They Named It Twice **The City That Never Sleeps **Empire City **The Five Boroughs **Fun City **Gotham *

Niagara Falls Niagara Falls () is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the Canada–United States border, border between the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario in Canada and the U.S. state, state ...

– Cataract City *

North Tonawanda North Tonawanda is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 31,568 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is named after Tonawanda Creek, its south bo ...

– Lumber City

O

* Ogdensburg **The Maple City (19th century)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." **The New York of the North (mid-19th century)

P

Palmyra Palmyra (; Palmyrene: () ''Tadmor''; ar, تَدْمُر ''Tadmur'') is an ancient city in present-day Homs Governorate, Syria. Archaeological finds date back to the Neolithic period, and documents first mention the city in the early secon ...

– Queen of Canal Towns
Palmyra. Accessed March 27, 2011. * Pearl River, New York, Pearl River – The Town of Friendly People * Phelps – Sauerkraut CapitalClaims to Fame - Food
, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. * Pine Island – Onion Capital of the World * Plattsburgh – Ville Sur Le Lac (

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

) or The Lake City (

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

) *

Poughkeepsie Poughkeepsie ( ), officially the City of Poughkeepsie, separate from the Town of Poughkeepsie around it) is a city in the U.S. state of New York. It is the county seat of Dutchess County, with a 2020 census population of 31,577. Poughkeepsie ...

**Queen City of the Hudson

Q

Queens Queens is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located on Long Island, it is the largest New York City borough by area. It is bordered by the borough of Brooklyn at the western tip of Long ...

-- The World's Borough

R

* Rhinebeck – Anemone Capital of the World *

Rochester Rochester may refer to: Places Australia * Rochester, Victoria Canada * Rochester, Alberta United Kingdom *Rochester, Kent ** City of Rochester-upon-Medway (1982–1998), district council area ** History of Rochester, Kent ** HM Prison ...

**The Flour City (historical)Rochester's History
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." **The Flower City (contemporary) **Ra-Cha-Cha **Roc City **Snapshot City **Young Lion of the West **The World's Image Centre (1990's) *

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus ( legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

– Copper City * Roscoe – Trout Town USA

S

Saratoga Springs Saratoga Springs is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 28,491 at the 2020 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area, which has made Saratoga a popular resort destination for over ...

**The Racing City **The Spa City **Toga *

Schenectady Schenectady () is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2020 census, the city's population of 67,047 made it the state's ninth-largest city by population. The city is in eastern New Y ...

**Electric CityClaims to Fame - Energy
Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. **The City That Lights and Hauls the World *

Staten Island Staten Island ( ) is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located in the city's southwest portion, the borough is separated from New Jersey b ...

(borough of New York City) **The Borough of Parks **The Forgotten Borough **Shaolin *

Syracuse Syracuse may refer to: Places Italy * Syracuse, Sicily, or spelled as ''Siracusa'' * Province of Syracuse United States *Syracuse, New York **East Syracuse, New York ** North Syracuse, New York * Syracuse, Indiana *Syracuse, Kansas *Syracuse, M ...

– Salt City

T

Troy Troy ( el, Τροία and Latin: Troia, Hittite: 𒋫𒊒𒄿𒊭 ''Truwiša'') or Ilion ( el, Ίλιον and Latin: Ilium, Hittite: 𒃾𒇻𒊭 ''Wiluša'') was an ancient city located at Hisarlik in present-day Turkey, south-west of Ç ...

**The Collar City **The Troylet **Troyalty

U

* Utica **The City That God Forgot **Handshake City **Sin City **Cord Blood City

W

* Watertown – The Garland City * Westfield – Grape Juice Capital of the World

Y

Yonkers Yonkers () is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. Developed along the Hudson River, it is the third most populous city in the state of New York (state), New York, after New York City and Buffalo, New York, Buffalo. The popul ...

**The Lost Borough"Lost Borough (Yonkers)"
/ref> **City of Seven Hills **City of Gracious Living

References

External links

a list
of American and a few Canadian nicknames

{{New York New York cities and towns Populated places in New York (state) City nicknames

Nicknames by city

A

B

C

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

W

Y

See also

References

External links