List of city nicknames in Massachusetts

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This partial list of city nicknames in Massachusetts compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities and towns in Massachusetts 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.[1] They are also believed to have economic value, but that economic value is difficult to measure.[1]

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.

The Minute Man Statue on the Green in Lexington commemorates the events that earned the town its sobriquet of The Birthplace of American Liberty.
The Minute Man Statue on the Green in Lexington commemorates the events that earned the town its sobriquet of The Birthplace of American Liberty.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Muench, David "Wisconsin Community Slogans: Their Use and Local Impacts", December 1993, accessed April 10, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Claims to Fame - Products, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
  3. ^ Boston :: "The Athens of America" - Britannica Student Encyclopaedia
  4. ^ a b c U.S. City Monikers website, accessed January 5, 2008
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Barry Popik, Smoky City, barrypopik.com website, March 27, 2005
  6. ^ Queen City, Time (magazine), January 30, 1928, accessed April 13, 1928.
  7. ^ The World Capital of Whatever, The New York Times by Harold Faber, September 12, 1993.
  8. ^ Examples of the use of this name include the book title Lexington, the Birthplace of American Liberty: A Handbook by Fred Smith Piper (first published in 1902, formerly available from the Lexington Historical Society [1], and currently available through Google Books), the Lexington Visitor Center website, and the City of Lexington website (all websites accessed January 6, 2008).
  9. ^ Newburyport History, Newburyport History, accessed October 01, 2007. "For over 100 years the Coast Guard, born in Newburyport, has plied the waters of the river, first in revenue cutters that enforced navigation laws."
  10. ^ Focus on Newburyport, Merrimack valley Info[not in citation given], accessed October 01, 2007. "Shipbuilding was one of the most important and profitable trades making Newburyport known as the 'Clipper City.'"
  11. ^ "The slogan for Provincetown says it well, 'Like No Where Else'"[2] and "Some members felt that although a slogan (“Like nowhere else”) has been chosen, there needs to be more community input and consensus"[3].
  12. ^ Used in Rich Gay, Poor Gay by David Colman, The New York Times, September 4, 2005, and in the title of the book Ptown: Art, Sex, and Money on the Outer Cape By Peter Manso (2002; Simon and Schuster; ISBN 978-0743243117
  13. ^ "QUITS POST IN DISPUTE ON SALEM'S BIRTH DATE; Author of City History Gives Up Place With the Essex Institute.", The New York Times, March 6, 1926, accessed April 23, 2007. "Sidney Perley, author of a history of Salem, resigned his position with the Essex Institute today because of a dispute as to the date of the city's founding. His action renewed a controversy which had raged since plans were set on foot to observe next July the tercentenary of the 'City of Witches.'"
  14. ^ Matarazzo Jr., Bruno. "Historic buildings getting plundered for copper", The Salem News, April 23, 2007, accessed April 23, 2007. "SALEM - Think of a thief snatching a gold necklace from around a woman's neck as she walks down the street. Now think of the victim as a historic building, and you get an idea of one of the crime trends haunting the Witch City."
  15. ^ New England for Visitors, About.com, accessed April 23, 2007. "Did you know that Springfield is the birthplace of basketball?"
  16. ^ Lopes, Ashley. "Watching the history of Taunton", Taunton Daily Gazette, April 15, 2007, accessed April 23, 2007. "TAUNTON - Mayor Charles Crowley, producer of cable access program Olde Tyme Taunton, kept the history of the Silver City alive as he celebrated his 250th show Wednesday."
  17. ^ A Message From The Mayor, Taunton, Massachusetts, accessed April 23, 2007. "Throughout our glorious history, our community has earned the reputation as the Christmas City as visitors converge on Taunton from all corners of New England to witness the annual lighting of historic Taunton Green."
  18. ^ City of Taunton, Massachusetts, accessed April 23, 2007. "Taunton has three nicknames; 'City of Firsts'- 1st Woman Proprietor, 1st to raise the Liberty & Union Flag 1774, and 1st Silver Manufacturer 'The Silver City- Had three major Silver Manufacturing Plants-1 remaining Christmas City-For decades the community lit up the Taunton green at the annual "Lights On" ceremony."
  19. ^ Siek, Stephanie V. Waltham: Room to grow at museum", Boston Globe, April 12, 2007, accessed April 23, 2007. "You can see it at the new home of the Waltham Museum, which finally has enough room for its many windows into the past lives of the Watch City."
  20. ^ WESTFIELD, THE "WHIP CITY.", accessed April 23, 2007.
  21. ^ City of Worcester, Massachusetts
  22. ^ Worcester, Mass - Origins of the Phrase Wormtown

[edit] External links