List of city nicknames in Indiana

This partial list of city nicknames in Indiana compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities in Indiana 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.
*Churubusco - Turtle Town, U.S.A. [ [http://www.digten.com/busco/tdays.htm Turtle Days] , City of Churubusco, accessed April 21, 2007. "Oscar, however, does live on in memories, and is commemorated each year with a four day Turtle Days celebration. Thus, Churubusco is world renown as TURTLE TOWN, USA. "]
*Columbus - Athens of the Prairie. [ [http://www.lib.umich.edu/wsfh/Tour.html Columbus, Indiana: "The Athens of the Prairie"] , accessed April 21, 2007.] [http://www.taglineguru.com/monikerlist.html U.S. City Monikers] website, accessed January 5, 2008]
*Elkhart - RV Capital of the World. [http://www.epodunk.com/slogans/products.html Claims to Fame - Products] , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.]
*Fort Wayne
**City That Saved Itself. [ [http://www.ft-wayne.in.us/home/history.html] , accessed February 2, 2008. "(The result of the citizen sandbag brigades in the Flood of 1982 in which Fort Wayne was a forerunner of what is now the norm in flood fighting)"]
**Summit City. [ [http://www.fwhistorycenter.com/ahfaq.htm#summitcity Allen County - Fort Wayne Historical Society] , accessed April 21, 2007. "Where does the term "Summit City" come from? When the Wabash and Erie canal was constructed, the highest point (summit) on the canal was at Fort Wayne."]
*Gary
**City of the Century. [http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/collections/steel/context/essay3.html THE MAGIC CITY OF STEEL] , accessed April 21, 2007. "Local boosters referred to the Town of Gary as the 'Magic City' and the 'City of the Century.'"]
**City of Vision, People of Commitment. [ [http://www.gary.in.us/HOME.ASP City of Gary, Indiana] , accessed April 21, 2007. motto at top of page.]
**Magic City.
**Steel City. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1782995.stm Gary's steel town blues] , "BBC News", January 27, 2002, accessed April 21, 2007. "It is for this reason Gary, with its huge US Steel Gary Works plant - along with other, smaller steel firms - still refers to itself as 'Steel City'."]
*Indianapolis
**Amateur Sports Capital of the World. [ [http://www.indychamber.com/sportsRec.asp Amateur Sports Capital of the World] , accessed April 21, 2007. "Indianapolis is certainly deserving of its designation as “Amateur Sports Capital of the World.”"]
**Circle City. [ [http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6404554&nav=0Ra7 Hot Spot: April 20-22] , WISH-TV, April 20, 2007, accessed April 21, 2007. "INDIANAPOLIS - Looking for something fun to do with your family this weekend? There is plenty to do around the Circle City indoors and outside."]
**Naptown. [ [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/colts/2007-01-28-arrival-in-indy_x.htm?csp=34 Colts' arrival transformed Indy into major sports city] , "USA Today", January 28, 2007, accessed April 21, 2007. "INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A convoy of moving vans brought more than the Colts to Indianapolis. The westward migration that cold, snowy night almost a quarter-century ago also awakened Naptown to a new era of professional football and transformed the city into a major league sports town."]
**Railroad City. [ [http://imaps.indygov.org/ed_portal/template.asp?page=history_trans City of Indianapolis Economic Development Portal: Transportation] , accessed April 21, 2007. "The abundance of rail lines caused Indianapolis to become known as the 'Railroad City'."]
*Kokomo - City of Firsts. [ [http://www.cityofkokomo.org/?fCS=2 Information for Businesses] , accessed April 2, 2007.]
*Marion - Queen City. [ [http://www.jamesdeancountry.com/Grant_County_History.php History of Grant County & Marion, Indiana] , accessed April 2, 2007. "Marion fielded professional baseball and roller polo teams, had its opera houses, supported rival street car companies and came within two weeks of operating the first electric interurban line in Indiana. Marion, "Queen City of the Gas Belt," was as exciting as a Roman candle lit at both ends."]
*Peru - Circus Capital of the World. [ [http://www.cityofperu.org/ City of Peru] , accessed April 2, 2007. "Being the "Circus Capital of the World", we celebrate our heritage each July with our own world class youth circus and parade."]
*Speedway - Racing Capital of the World. [ [http://www.redevelopspeedway.com/PDF/Our%20town%20-%20Speedway's%20Vision%20Defined!.pdf Our Town – Speedway’s Vision Defined!] , accessed April 2, 2007. "Speedway, Indiana is the true Racing Capital of the World."]
*Terre Haute
**Queen City of the Wabash. [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=EaOr8to39F0C&dq=%22terre+haute%22+%22queen+city+of+the+wabash%22&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=VEhDVZoFYd&sig=MQXBcVXU0nT_yn3RztoqU84WsSg Terre Haute: Queen City of the Wabash] , accessed April 2, 2007.]
**Crossroads of America (National Road/U.S. Route 40 and Dixie Bee Rd/U.S. Route 41 met in downtown). [ [http://specials.tribstar.com/terrehautestop40/stories/crossroads.html Crossroads of America: In the days before the interstate system, Terre Haute was at the center of travel.] , accessed April 2, 2007. "Terre Haute's claim as "Crossroads of America" dates back to the roaring '20s, when the city boasted newly paved U.S. 40 and newly designated U.S. 41."]
**Prairie City (eastern edge of the Great Plains/prairies). [ [http://www.geocities.com/vigobios/terrehaute.htm History of Terre Haute, Vigo Co., IN - 1880] , accessed April 2, 2007. "Certainly no more beautiful location could have been chosen for the "Prairie City.""]
**Pittsburgh of the West (historical: city was an early steel center). [ [http://web.indstate.edu/community/vchs/thhist.htm Vigo County Historical Society: History of Terre Haute] , accessed April 2, 2007. "The city's dream of becoming the Pittsburgh of the West was not realized because of inferior ore and the development of Lake County's steel industry."]
*Valparaiso - Vale of Paradise. [ [http://www.valp.org/ City of Valparaiso ~ Vale of Paradise] , accessed April 2, 2007.]
*Warsaw - Orthopedic Capital of The World. [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-141577756.html Warsaw: a growing "orthopedics capital of the world."] , "Indiana Business Magazine", January 1, 2006. "FIVE INDUSTRIES employing more than 5,500 have earned Warsaw, long dubbed "Lake City" because of its three lakes, a new moniker. Today, Warsaw is also known as the "Orthopedic Capital of the World." "]

ee also

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

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]