William Hazlitt, "On Nicknames," in Sketches and Essays, John Templeman: London, 1839, p. 222.
In George Orwell's "Down and Out in Paris and London" he mentions that London's nickname among the tramps is "Smoke" (considering the heavy coal-laden air, a very appropriate name). Anybody who's been within 20,000 miles of it knows that New York is "The Big Apple" (it's generally believed that this expression comes from 1920s horseracing slang). Baltimore decided that “Bodymore, Murderland” wasn’t exactly good for tourism, so an advertising campaign was launched: it’s now officially “Charm City.” And San Diego acquired its idiotic nickname “America’s Finest City” because the mayor, the smarmy Pete Wilson, was trying to lure the Republican Party to San Diego for their 1972 convention (it didn’t work -- they went to Miami).
But just about every city, town, and disused railroad crossing in the US seems to have a nickname. Some are reasonable. Some are idiotic. Some are weird. And a truly amazing number involve claiming to be the "capital" of something or other (for example Decatur AL has proclaimed itself "Wave Pool Capital of the World," Davis CA is the "Bicycle Capital of the World," and both Lexington KY and Ocala FL claim to be "Horse Capital of the World").
Here are some "capitals" focused on food and drink*:
- Almonds
- Chico CA: Almond Capital of the World
- Ripon CA: City of Almonds
- Sacramento CA: Almond Capital of the World
- Apples
- Belding MI: Apple Capital
- Gays Mills WI: The Apple Capital of Wisconsin
- Wenatchee WA: Apple Capital of the World
- Winchester VA: Apple Capital of the World
- Apricots
- Patterson CA: Apricot Capital of the World
- Artichokes
- Castroville CA: Artichoke Center of the World
- Asparagus
- Isleton CA: Asparagus Capital of the World
- Avocadoes
- Fallbrook CA: Avocado Capital of the World
- Bagels
- Mattoon IL: Bagel Capital of the World
- Beans and Peas
- Athens TX: Blackeyed Pea Capital of the World
- Boston MA: Beantown
- Dove Creek CO: Pinto Bean Capital of the World
- Lima OH: BeanTown (Lima Bean)
- Oxnard CA: Lima Bean Capital of the World
- Pullman WA: Lentil Capital
- Berries (also see strawberries below)
- Cherryfield ME: Blueberry Capital of the World.
- Hammonton NJ: Blueberry Capital of the World
- Jay OK: Huckleberry Capital of the World
- McCloud CA: Blackberry Capital of the World
- Paradise MI: Wild Blueberry Capital of Michigan
- South Haven MI: Blueberry Capital of the World
- Bourbon
- Bardstown KY: Bourbon Capital of the World
- Broccoli
- Greenfield CA: Broccoli Capital of the World
- Butter
- Reedsburg WI: Butter Capital of America
- Carrots
- Holtville CA: The Carrot Capital of the World
- Celery
- Arvada CO: Celery Capital of the World
- Kalamazoo MI: Celery City
- Cheese
- Colby WI: Home of Colby Cheese
- Ellsworth WI: Cheese Curd Capital of Wisconsin
- Monroe WI: Swiss Cheese Capital of the USA
- Cherries
- Linden CA: Cherry Capital of the World
- Salem OR: The Cherry City
- Traverse City MI: Cherry Capital of the World
- Chile Peppers and Chili
- Hatch NM: Chile Pepper Capital of the World
- Terlingua TX: Chili Capital of the World
- Chocolate
- Burlington WI: Chocolate City, USA
- Hershey PA: Chocolate Capital of the World.
- Citrus Fruit (also see grapefruit, oranges below)
- Santa Paula CA: Citrus Capital of the World
- Coffee
- Seattle WA: Coffee Capital of the World
- Corn
- Deshler OH: Corn City
- Hurley NY: Sweet Corn Capital of the World
- Toledo OH: Corn City
- Crabs and Crabcakes
- Annapolis MD: Crabtown
- Baltimore MD: Crab Cake Capital of the World
- Newport OR: The Dungeness Crab Capital of the World
- Cranberries
- Babcock WI: The Cranberry Pie Capital
- Eagle River WI: Wisconsin's Cranberry Country
- Tomah WI: Gateway to Cranberry Country
- Warrens WI: The Cranberry Capital of Wisconsin
- Whitefish Point MI: Cranberry Capital of Michigan
- Crawfish
- Breaux Bridge LA: Crawfish Capital of the World
- Mauriceville TX: Crawfish Capital of Texas
- Cucumber
- Boyceville WI: Cucumber Capital of Wisconsin
- Dates
- Indio CA: Date Capital of the World
- Eggs
- Petaluma CA: Egg Basket of the World
- Flour
- Buffalo NY: Flour City
- Madison WI: Flour City
- Minneapolis MN: City of Flour and Sawdust/Mill City
- Garlic
- Gilroy CA: Garlic Capital of the World
- Grapes and Grapejuice
- Lodi CA: Tokay Grape Capital of the World
- Westfield NY: Grape Juice Capital of the World
- Grapefruit
- Mission TX: Home of the Ruby Red Grapefruit
- Grits
- Warwick: The Grits Capital of Georgia/The Grits Capital of the World
- Guava
- Tampa FL: The Big Guava
- Hamburgers
- El Reno OK: The Onion Fried Burger Capital of the World
- Friona TX: Cheeseburger Capital of Texas
- Seymour WI: Home of the Hamburger
- Herbs (also see mint below)
- Gahanna OH: Ohio’s Herb Capital
- Honey
- Randolph NE: Honey Capital of the Nation
- Horseradish
- Collinsville IL: Horseradish Capital of the World
- Eau Claire WI:Horseradish Capital of the World
- Gilroy CA: Horseradish Capital of the World
- Tulelake CA: Horseradish Capital of the World
- Ice Cream
- Le Mars IA: Ice Cream Capital of the World
- Kiwi Fruit
- Gridley CA: Kiwi Fruit Capital of the World
- Lettuce
- Salinas CA: Lettuce Capital of the World
- Lobster
- Rockland ME: Lobster Capital of the World.
- Mayhaw (fruits of either Crataegus aestivalis or C. opaca)
- Colquitt GA: Mayhaw Capital of the World
- Melon (also see Watermelon below)
- Thomson IL: The Melon Capital of the World
- Mint (and peppermint)
- Mishawaka IN: Peppermint Capital of the World
- Saint Johns MI: The Mint City
- Mushrooms
- Madisonville TX: Mushroom Capital of Texas
- Mesick MI: Mushroom Capital of the World
- Muscoda WI: Morel Mushroom Capital of Wisconsin
- Utica MI: Mushroom Capital of Michigan
- Oats
- Bertram TX: Home of the Oatmeal Festival
- Olives
- Corning CA: Olive City
- Onions
- Elba NY: Onion Capital of the World
- Florida NY: The Onion Capital of the World
- Pine Island NY: Onion Capital of the World
- Vidalia GA: Sweet Onion Capital of the World
- Winooski VT: The Onion City
- Oranges
- Los Angeles CA: The Big Orange
- Pancakes
- Glenn MI: The Pancake Town
- Hawkins TX: Pancake Capital of Texas
- Peaches
- Atlanta GA: The Big Peach
- Fort Valley GA: Peach Capital of Georgia
- Haysville KS: Peach Capital of Kansas
- Nashville AR: Peach Capital
- Palisade CO: Peach Capital of Colorado
- Weatherford TX: Peach Capital of Texas
- Peanuts
- Allentown PA: Peanut City
- Ashburn GA: Peanut Capital of the World
- Blakely GA: Peanut Capital of the World
- Dawson GA: Spanish Peanut Capital of the World
- Floresville TX: Peanut Capital of Texas
- Sylvester GA: Peanut Capital of the World
- Pears
- Kelseyville CA: Pear Capital of the World
- Rogue River Valley OR: Pear Capital of the World
- Pineapple
- Honolulu HI: The Big Pineapple
- Popcorn
- Marion OH: World's Popcorn Capital
- North Loup NE: Popcorn Capital
- Van Buren IN– Popcorn Capital of the World
- Pork
- Cincinnati OH: Porkopolis
- Potatoes
- Blackfoot ID: Potato Capital of the World
- Clark SD: Potato Capital of South Dakota
- Hoople ND: Tater Town
- Pretzels
- Freeport IL: Pretzel City, USA
- Reading PA: Pretzel Capital of the World
- Prunes
- Yuba City CA: Prune Capital
- Pumpkin
- Floydada TX: Pumpkin Capital
- Half Moon Bay CA: Pumpkin Capital
- Morton IL: Pumpkin Capital of the World
- Radishes
- Long Beach MS: Radish Capital of the World
- Raisins
- Dinuba CA: Raisinland, USA
- Selma CA: Raisin Capital of the World
- Rhubarb
- Sumner WA: Rhubarb Pie Capital
- Utica NY: Hothouse Rhubarb Capital of the World
- Rice
- Stuttgart AR: Rice and Duck Capital of the World
- Root Beer
- Gulfport MS: Root Beer Capital of the World
- Rutabaga
- Cumberland WI: Rutabaga Capital
- Sauerkraut
- Phelps NY: Sauerkraut Capital
- Sausages
- Bucyrus OH: Bratwurst Capital of the World
- Chicopee MA: Kielbasa Capital of the World
- Elgin TX: Sausage Capital of Texas
- Eustis NE: Sausage Capital of Nebraska
- Sheboygan WI: Bratwurst Capital of the World
- Soybeans
- Decatur IL: Soy Capital of the World
- Spam
- Austin MN: Spamtown USA
- Spinach
- Alma AR: Spinach Capital of the World
- Lenexa KS: Spinach Capital
- Steak
- Lincoln NE: Steak Capital of the World
- Strawberries
- Chadbourn NC: Strawberry Capital of the World
- Garden Grove CA: Big Strawberry
- Marysville WA: The Strawberry City
- Oxnard CA: Strawberry Capital of the World
- Plant City FL: Strawberry Capital of the World/Winter Strawberry Capital of the World
- Ponchatoula LA: Strawberry Capital of the World
- Stilwell: Strawberry Capital
- Watsonville CA: Strawberry Capital of the World
- Tomatoes
- Green Forest AR: Tomato Capital
- Jacksonville TX: Tomato Capital of the World
- Reynoldsburg OH: Birthplace of the Tomato
- Sacramento CA: The Big Tomato/ “Sacratomato”
- Slocomb AL:: The Tomato Capital of the South
- Turkey
- Barron WI: Turkey Capital of Wisconsin
- Berryville AR: Turkey Capital
- Cuero TX: Turkey Capital of the World
- North Andover MA: Turkey Town
- Worthington MN: Turkey Capital of the World
- Watermelon
- Hope AR: Watermelon Capital of the World
- Cordele GA: Watermelon Capital of the World
- Rush Springs OK: Watermelon Capital of the World
- Knox City: Seedless Watermelon Capital of Texas
- Naples TX: The Watermelon Capital of The World
- Beardstown IL: Watermelon Capital
- Green River UT: The World's Watermelon Capital
There are also some, so to speak, “collective food” and "specialty food" capitals:
- Battle Creek MI: Breakfast Capital of the World
- Berrien Springs MI: Christmas Pickle Capital of the World
- Braham MN: Homemade Pie Capital of Minnesota
- Briston TN: Food City
- Calabash NC: Seafood Capital of the World
- Chillicothe MO: Home of Sliced Bread
- Claxton GA: Fruitcake Capital of the World
- Corsicana TX: Fruit Cake Capital of the World
- Crisfield: Seafood Capital of the World
- Denison TX: Wine Root Stock Capital of the World
- Fremont: Baby Food Capital of the World
- Gainesville GA: Poultry Capital of the World
- Gonzales LA: Jambalaya Capital of the World
- Grand Junction CO: Colorado's Wine Country
- Hastings NE: Birthplace of Kool-Aid
- Kingston NY: Breadbasket of the Revolution
- Lecompte LA: Pie Capital of Louisiana
- Muskegon MI: Beer Tent Capital of the World
- Pittsburg KS: Fried Chicken Capital
- Reedley CA: The World's Fruit Basket
- Roanoke TX: The Unique Dining Capital of Texas
- Sheboygan WI: The City of Cheese, Chairs, and Children
- Windom KS: Covered Dish Capital of the World
And finally, there is BARBECUE:
- Kansas City MO: BBQ Capital of the World
- Lockhart TX: Barbecue Capital of Texas
- Memphis TN: Barbecued Pork Capital of the World
- Owensboro KY: Barbecued Mutton Capital of the World
- Peru IN: Barbecue City
Now, in perusing this list there are some questions that come to mind:
- Who came up with this idea? Who decided that the way to put your town on the map (so to speak) was to make it the “Dandelion Green Capital of the Universe?”**
- Is there conflict over these claims? Do Beardstown IL, Green River UT, Hope AR, Cordele GA, Rush Springs OK, Knox City TX, and Naples TX get into angry shouting matches over who has the right to claim they are the real “Watermelon Capital?”
- Do these places actually eat what they produce? Do they even actually produce what they proclaim (Seattle may brew coffee, but it certainly doesn't grow it)? I know all the barbecue “capitals” have an assortment of restaurants, but do the others? Does Holtville CA have a tradition of carrot cuisine? Does the place that grows kiwi fruit (Lodi CA) have some sort of kiwi restaurant row?
- California, Texas and Wisconsin really seem to dominate this list. Why? Why not New Jersey (“The Garden State”) or Washington ("The Evergreen State")?
*I had to make some judgement calls. There are a lot of places that claim to be, for example, “Trout Capitals” or “Salmon Capitals” or even “Crappie Capitals” (that’s Cedar Bluff AL, if you’re curious), but I’m not really sure if they’re focusing on food or sport (I’m assuming catching crappie constitutes a sport), so I didn’t include them. If you disagree, make your own list.
** Vineland NJ says it’s the “Dandelion Capital of the World,” but I’m not sure whether they’re focused on edible greens or lawns.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_city_nicknames_in_the_United_States
http://got.net/~landauer/lists/CityOf.html
https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/popular-us-city-nickname-origins
http://www.triviaasylum.com/lists/cities.html
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