This partial list of city nicknames in California compiles the aliases, sobriquets, mottos and slogans that cities in California are known by (or have been known by historically), officially and unofficially, to locals, outsiders or their tourism boards or chambers of commerce. 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 "branding" 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
A Alameda – The Island City Anaheim Duck Capital of the World (after the Anaheim Ducks) Ducktown The Heart of the City AnaCrime Antioch – Gateway to the DeltaAntioch - A Total Community , accessed April 5, 2007. "The waters in the Antioch area are some of the prime striped bass and sturgeon fishing waters. As the "Gateway to the Delta", Antioch will continue as a refuge for boaters." Arcadia – Community of Homes Azusa – "Everything from A to Z in the U.S.A." Auburn – Endurance Capital of The WorldWelcome to the Auburn Endurance Capital Web Site!, accessed April 5, 2007. "2003, the Auburn City Council passed an official measure proclaiming Auburn as the Endurance Capital of the World. Auburn is home to some of the most challenging and historic endurance events on the planet."
B
Bakersfield California's Country Music CapitalRelocating to Bakersfield , Green Country. Accessed June 2, 2007. "Bakersfield has become known as "California's Country Music Capital" with the emergence of musicians like Merle Haggard and Buck Owens." Nashville West Little Oklahoma Berkeley BerzerkeleyU.S. City Monikers, Tagline Guru website, accessed January 5, 2008 The People's Republic of BerkeleyFoldvary, Fred E. "The People's Republic of Berkeley" , The Progress Report. Accessed May 17, 2007. Athens of the WestCockrell, Cathy. "The ‘Athens of the West’ - Latest Chronicle of UC edition highlights history of campus arts and culture", UCBerkeley News, October 20, 2004. Bishop – Mule Packer Capital of the World Blythe – Friendliest City In The West Buena Park – Center of the SouthlandABout Buena Park , Buena Park, California. Accessed May 17, 2007. "Known as the "Center of the Southland," Buena Park is a City with a distinct heritage undergoing an exciting revitalization in business, residential, and commercial projects." Burbank – Media Capital of the World
C
Campbell – The Orchard CityClaims to Fame - Agriculture, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. Carlsbad – Village by the seaVisit Carlsbad website, accessed December 9, 2015. Castroville – Artichoke Center of the WorldMotto ought to be boffo, Irvine World News, February 22, 2004. Chatsworth – San Pornando"San Fernando's Open Secret: Porn Biz Has Migrated To What Some Call 'San Pornando Valley'", CBS News, November 25, 2002. Accessed June 2, 2007. Chico City of Roses" City of Roses City of Trees - Chico, California" , CaliforniaBeautiful.com, March 17, 2007. Accessed May 17, 2007. City of Trees Almond Capital of the World Where Everything GrowsWelcome to the Official Website for the City of Chino: About the City , Chino, California. Accessed May 17, 2007. "The City's motto, "Where Everything Grows" originally referred to this agricultural beginning." Claremont - City of Tree’s & PHD’s Clovis – Gateway to the SierraA Brief History of Clovis , City of Clovis. Accessed June 2, 2007. "Located in the northeast quadrant of the Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area, Clovis is situated in the midst of the agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley. Since its incorporation in 1912, Clovis has been the 'Gateway to the Sierra.'" Coachella City of Eternal SunshineYour City: Coachella, The Desert Sun. Accessed June 2, 2007. "The "City of Eternal Sunshine – Gateway to the Salton Sea" is largely a young, rural and family oriented area of the desert." Gateway to the Salton Sea Colma (founded as a necropolis in 1924)Colma, California The City of the Silent Compton – The Hub CityHistory , City of Compton. Accessed June 2, 2007. "The City of Compton is known as the "Hub City" because of its unique position in almost the exact geographical canter of Los Angeles County." Corning – Olive City Corona – The Circle CityWelcome to Corona - The Circle City , City of Corona. Accessed June 2, 2007. Coronado – The Crown CityCrownCity.com area businesses website Corte Madera – The Twin City (with Larkspur)"Central Marin Police Authority Consolidation Summary": "Over the past three years the Twin Cities Police Authority and the San Anselmo Police Department have been collaboratively working together toward Police Consolidation through the sharing of services." Accessdate December 9, 2015 Costa Mesa Costa Mexico Goat Hill The City of the Arts Culver City – Heart of ScreenlandJohn L. Mitchell, Four Classics to Hit the Boards: 'Heart of Screenland' to Stage Theater in Park, Los Angeles Times, July 9, 1987. "Culver City may be known as the 'Heart of Screenland,' but live theater will take center stage there..."
D
Daly City Gateway To The PeninsulaGateway to the Peninsula: History of Daly City, California . Accessed June 2, 2007. Little Manila Davis Bicycle Capital of the WorldUS News & World Report People's Republic of DavisFitch, Mike. "Growing Pains: Thirty Years in the History of Davis" Chapter Ten: The Political Culture of Davis, Davis, California. "Another of the city's critics was a railroad executive who couldn't hide his annoyance when officials asked his company in the early 1990s to contribute up to $1,000 for a planning project the city was undertaking next to the railroad tracks. "This letter is tantamount to railroad robbery. However, since we are forced to live with the People's Republic of Davis, we will accede to your demands in the interest of the commune welfare," the executive wrote in response, enclosing a check for $500." Del Mar – Where the turf meets the surfDel Mar Thoroughbred Club Dinuba – Raisinland, USA
F Fallbrook Avocado Capital of the World Raisin Capital of the World City of Youth and AmbitionRaibert, Andrea. "Garden Grove: City of 'youth and ambition' is culturally diverse, celebrating 50 years of hometown pride" , Orange County Register, November 8, 2006. Accessed June 2, 2007. Forestville – Poison Oak Capital of the World Fontana Fontucky Fountain Valley A nice place to live Gospel Swamps Fresno The Big Raisin"Lessons from the Big Raisin," Monterey County Herald, December 23, 2009; "A Nickname Would Give Fresno and Identity," Fresno Bee, December 27, 1993; many others FresYes"Thousands will head downtown for FresYes Fest this weekend. How to best enjoy the party," Fresno Bee, March 22, 2023; "Retailer says 'yes' to Fresno's appeal - Hollister Co., ex-Fresnan sell clothing with a positive twist on the city's name." Fresno Bee, May 7, 2004; many others
G
Garden Grove Big StrawberryBarry Popik, Big Strawberry, February 16, 2006 Garbage Grove Gilroy – Garlic Capital of the WorldGreetings From America's Secret Capitals, Time (magazine), July 13, 1998. Glendale – The Jewel CityGlendale: The Jewel City (PDF), Glendale, California. Accessed June 2, 2007. Glendora – The Pride of the FoothillsCity of Glendora website Goleta – The Good Land Greenfield – Broccoli Capital of the World Gridley – Kiwi Fruit Capital of the World
H Half Moon Bay – Pumpkin Capital Hawthorne – City of Good NeighborsCity of Hawthorne website , accessed September 22, 2016 Hayward Heart of the BayCity of Hayward website, accessed November 20, 2011 The Haystack Hercules – The Dynamic City on the BayCity of Hercules website. Accessed October 29, 2008. Holtville – The Carrot Capital of the World Huntington Beach Surf City, USA Scumington Beach California’s Redneck Riviera
I Indio City of Festivals Date Capital of the World Inglewood The City of Champions Inglewatts"Our Inglewood Moment," Los Angeles Times, January 13, 2015 (and subsequent letter on January 16); "Inglewood Wages War With Studios," Los Angeles Times, February 18, 1992; others Irwindale Jardín de Rocas Isleton Asparagus Capital of the World
K Koreatown, Los Angeles, CA K-Town Crazy Town
L La Crescenta-Montrose – The Balcony of Southern California La Habra – Guadalahabra La Mesa Jewel of the Hills Larkspur – The Twin City (with Corte Madera) Linden – Cherry Capital of the World Livingston – Sweet Potato Capitol of the World Lodi Tokay Grape Capital of the World Zinfandel Capital of the WorldThe 12 Zins of Lodi , accessed March 13, 2010. Lompoc – Flower Seed Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Plants , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. Long Beach LBC – popular within the hip-hop community The International CityChad Greene, From 'Iowa By The Sea' To 'International City': A Look At Long Beach's Changing Demographics With Former Advanced Planning Officer , Long Beach Business Journal, January 17, 2006 Iowa by the Sea (historical nickname) Los Angeles Entertainment Capital of the World L.A. El Lay"The sad demise of Brooks Brothers," The Spectator (UK), April 23, 2022; "John Mayer's love letter to El Lay yacht rock is more than just easy nostalgia," Los Angeles Times, July 15, 2021; innumerable others The Angels (literal Spanish translation) Angeltown The Big Orange City of AngelsQueen City, Time (magazine), January 30, 1928, accessed April 13, 1928. – based partially on the literal translation of the city's original historical full name from the Spanish language -- "The City of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels". City of Flowers and Sunshine La-La Land Shaky TownDue to earthquakes; a nickname shared with San Francisco, for similar reasons. TinseltownGrant, Rachel. "Different stars in Tinseltown", Financial Times, March 9, 2007, accessed April 12, 2007. "With shows such as Red Eye and an important LA artist retrospective last year at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, Tinseltown is finally gaining international artistic recognition." (specifically applies to Hollywood) City of Champions (used in 2020 after the Lakers and Dodgers championships just 16 days apart) Tehrangeles or little Persia
M Manteca – Lard City Marysville – Gateway to the Gold Fields, accessed April 12, 2007. "Those that survive are a constant reminder of Marysville's golden history and proof that Marysville is still the ‘Gateway to the Gold Fields’." McCloud – Blackberry Capital of the World McKinleyville – Oklahoma By The Sea Mendota – Cantaloupe Center of the World Merced Gateway to YosemiteMerced Conference & Visitor's Bureau , accessed April 12, 2007. "As the "Gateway to Yosemite," Merced offers the traveler an abundance of recreational facilities and a short drive or ride into Yosemite National Park." The Fountain City"'It's part of our history.' Merced community unites to restore historic Laura Fountain", Merced Sun-Star, February 12, 2022; "Sarah Lim: Historical Society Calendar celebrates Merced's 150th anniversary," Merced Sun-Star, December 26, 2021; others Milpitas – Crossroads of Silicon ValleyCity of Milpitas | About Milpitas , accessed March 16, 2009. Modesto Water, Wealth, Contentment, HealthWelcome to Modesto - the city of "Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health." , accessed April 12, 2007. Motown"Marijuana is mainstream but weed tourism isn't booming. Here's why," Washington Post, April 20, 2023; "What's going on in the Modesto region? A lot, here's a look," Modesto Bee, April 18, 2019; many others