This partial list of city nicknames in North Carolina 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 ...

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...

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 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, Davi
"Wisconsin Community Slogans: Their Use and Local Impacts"
, December 1993, accessed April 10, 2007.

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 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, divisive or just downright negative. The unofficial nicknames listed here have been in use for a long time or have gained wide currency. *

Apex The apex is the highest point of something. The word may also refer to: Arts and media Fictional entities * Apex (comics), a teenaged super villainess in the Marvel Universe * Ape-X, a super-intelligent ape in the Squadron Supreme universe *Apex, ...

**Peak of Good LivingClaims to Fame - Favorites
, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. *

Asheboro Asheboro is a city in and the county seat of Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 25,012 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Greensboro–High Point metropolitan area of the Piedmont Triad and is home of the sta ...

**A-Town **A-Boro **Zoo City *

Asheville Asheville ( ) is a city in, and the county seat of, Buncombe County, North Carolina. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the state's 11th-most populous ci ...

**San Francisco of the South
''NYT'', August 28, 2005 * Boone, North Carolina, Boone **Firefly Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Animals
, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. * Brevard **Home of the white squirrels *

Burlington Burlington may refer to: Places Canada Geography * Burlington, Newfoundland and Labrador * Burlington, Nova Scotia * Burlington, Ontario, the most populous city with the name "Burlington" * Burlington, Prince Edward Island * Burlington Bay, no ...

**B-Town **The Buck **Bucktown **Burvegas *

Calabash Calabash (; ''Lagenaria siceraria''), also known as bottle gourd, white-flowered gourd, long melon, birdhouse gourd, New Guinea bean, Tasmania bean, and opo squash, is a vine grown for its fruit. It can be either harvested young to be consumed ...

**Seafood Capital of the World *

Cape Hatteras Cape Hatteras is a cape located at a pronounced bend in Hatteras Island, one of the barrier islands of North Carolina. Long stretches of beach, sand dunes, marshes, and maritime forests create a unique environment where wind and waves shap ...

**The Graveyard of the AtlanticU.S. City Monikers
, Tagline Guru website, accessed January 5, 2008
''Irvine World News'', February 22, 2004 * Carolina Beach **C.B. *

Carrboro Carrboro is a town in Orange County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 21,295 at the 2020 census.

**Paris of the PiedmontAn Interview with Nyle Frank
, Carrboro.com website *

Cary Cary may refer to: Places ;United States * Cary, Illinois, part of the Chicago metropolitan area * Cary, Indiana, part of the Indianapolis metropolitan area * Cary, Miami County, Indiana * Cary, Maine * Cary, Mississippi * Cary, North Carolina ...

**Containment Area for Retired Yankees * Chadbourn **Strawberry Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Agriculture
, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. *

Chapel Hill Chapel Hill or Chapelhill may refer to: Places Antarctica * Chapel Hill (Antarctica) Australia *Chapel Hill, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane *Chapel Hill, South Australia, in the Mount Barker council area Canada * Chapel Hill, Ottawa, a neighbo ...

**The Southern Part of Heaven *

Charlotte Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...

**Queen City **Mint City **The Hornet's Nest **City of Trees *

Durham Durham most commonly refers to: *Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham *County Durham, an English county * Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States *Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...

** City of Medicin

** City of The Viper ** Bull City * Erwin, North Carolina, Erwin **Denim Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Clothing
, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. * Fayetteville **All-American CityFYV vs. FAY
, Fayetteville Free Weekly (blog based in Fayetteville, Arkansas), September 6, 2007 **City of Dogwoods **Fayettenam **The Ville **2-6 **Fay-Raq **Tar Heel Town **Torture Town **The Soldier City * Gastonia **Spindle City **Gashouse **G-Ville **Little Chicago *

Greensboro Greensboro (; formerly Greensborough) is a city in and the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, third-most populous city in North Carolina after Charlotte, North Car ...

**The Gate City **The Boro **G-Boro **G-Bitty * Greenville **The Emerald City **G-Vegas * High Point **Furniture capital of the worldClaims to Fame - Products
, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. *

Jacksonville Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...

**Marine Town **Gateway to Lost Souls **The O9 *

Kannapolis Kannapolis () is a city in Cabarrus and Rowan counties, in the U.S. state of North Carolina, northwest of Concord and northeast of Charlotte and is a suburb in the Charlotte metropolitan area. The city of Kannapolis was incorporated in 1984. Th ...

**City of Looms * Leland **L.A. ( Leland Area ) * Lexington **L-Town **"The BBQ Capital of the World" * Lincolnton **L-Town **Lancton * Mooresville **The Dirty Mo * Mount Airy **Mayberry **The Granite City *

Maggie Valley Maggie Valley is a town in Haywood County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,150 at the 2010 census. A popular tourist destination, it is home to Cataloochee Ski Area and the former Ghost Town in the Sky amusement park. Maggie V ...

**Clogging Capital of the World *

New Bern New Bern, formerly called Newbern, is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 29,524, which had risen to an estimated 29,994 as of 2019. It is the county seat of Craven County and t ...

**The Bern **The Birthplace of Pepsi **First Capital of North Carolina * Pinehurst **Golf Capital of the World *

Raleigh Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southeas ...

**The City of Oaks **Raleigh Wood **Ruff Raleigh **Oak City **The Big Acorn * Rocky Mount **City On The Rise **Murder Mount * Sherrills Ford **Sherrills Fjord * Thomasville **Chair City **T-Ville * Weldon **Rockfish Capital of the World * Wilmington **Hollywood East **Wilmy **Wilmo **The Dub **The Port City **Wilmywood *

Winston-Salem Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...

**Camel City **Tre-Fo **The Twin City **Tobaccotown

References

{{North Carolina North Carolina cities and towns Populated places in North Carolina

City nicknames This is a list of nickname-related list articles on Wikipedia. A nickname is "a familiar or humorous name given to a person or thing instead of or as well as the real name." A nickname is often considered desirable, symbolising a form of acceptance ...

See also

References