This partial list of city nicknames in Michigan compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities in Michigan are known by (or have been known by historically), officially and unofficially, to municipal governments, local people, 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.

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. Adrian – The Maple City Alma – Scotland, USA Ann Arbor A2 or A-squaredThe city's official web site is www.a2gov.org Tree Townhttp://www.a2gov.org/news/Documents/TTL_Nov_2007.pdf Atlanta – Elk Capital of Michigan Battle Creek Breakfast Capital of the WorldThis moniker appears on the city seal, displayed on the Battle Creek city website Cereal Bowl of the World Cereal City Beaver Island – America's Emerald Isle Belding Apple Capital Silk City Berrien Springs – Christmas Pickle Capital of the World Burton - Burtucky Cadillac – Chestnut Town USA Calumet – Coppertown USA Champion – Horse Pulling Capital of the U.P. Colon – Magic Capital of the World Curran – Black Bear Capital of Michigan Davison – City of FlagsThis moniker appears on the city seal, displayed on the Davison city website Detroit America's Comeback City Arsenal of Democracy City of Trees Hitsville, USA Hockeytown The Motor City Motown The DThis moniker appears in the Entertainment Link on the local television station WDIV's Click On Detroit website The Paris of the Midwest The Renaissance City Drummond Island – Gem of the Huron Dundee – Hub of the Highways Eaton Rapids – The Island City Eau Claire – Cherry Pit Spitting Capital of the World Elsie – Michigan's Dairy Capital Escanaba – Esky Fairview – Wild Turkey Capital of Michigan Flint The Vehicle City Frankenmuth – Michigan's Little Bavaria Fremont – Baby Food Capital of the World Gaylord – Michigan's Alpine Village Glenn – The Pancake Town Grand Haven – Coast Guard City, USA Grand Rapids Furniture City Beer City USA Greenville – The Danish Festival City Hamtramck City Within the City The World Within Two Square Miles Holland – Tulip City Huntington Woods – City of HomesCity of Huntington Woods accessed October 11, 2012 Jackson – Birthplace of the Republican PartyBirthplace of the Republican Party - "Under the Oaks", accessed May 8, 2007 Kalamazoo Bedding Plant Capital of the World Celery City Kazoo (or K'Zoo)Sloganville, USA Awards For Best City Mottos & Monikers, Tagline Guru website, accessed March 15, 2010 Mall City (first outdoor pedestrian mall in the US)The History of Kalamazoo MI, accessed May 8, 2007 "It's been called 'The Paper City', for its many paper and cardboard mills; 'The Celery City', after the crop once grown in the muck fields north, south, and east of town; and 'The Mall City', after construction of the first outdoor pedestrian shopping mall in the United States in 1959. The fertile soil on which Kalamazoo is built has led the area to most recently be called the 'Bedding Plant Capital of the World', as the county is home to the largest bedding plant cooperative in the U.S." The Paper City Kalkaska – Trout Capital of Michigan Kingsley – A Little Bit of Paradise Lake City – Christmas Tree Capital Linwood – Michigan's Walleye CapitalWalleye Tournament Trail , accessed August 12, 2012 Manistee – Salt City Marlette - The Heart of The Thumb Marquette – Queen City of the North Mayfield – Birthplace of the Adams Fly Mesick – Mushroom Capital of the World Mount Clemens – Bath CityCity of Mt. Clemens accessed April 8, 2010. Mount Pleasant – The Oil Capital of Michigan Muskegon The Beer Tent Capital of the WorldBurns, Robert C. "Brewmaster to create ale, pub downtown" , Muskegon Chronicle, September 13, 2006, Accessed May 8, 2007 "Although Muskegon is known by some, very informally, as the 'Beer Tent Capital of the World,' the business plan cites 'an enormous unmet need in the microbrewery market in Muskegon.'" Port CityHistory of Muskegon , accessed May 8, 2007 "A river meets the lake at a place that's been known as the Lumber Queen of the world, the Port City and the Riviera of the Midwest; our own Muskegon." The Riviera of the Midwest Lumber Queen of the World Naubinway – Top of the Lakehttp://www.topofthelake.org/ Top of the Lake Communities Association, accessed July 3, 2013. Negaunee – Irontown, USANegaunee Irontown Association, accessed August 12, 2012. Newberry – Moose Capital of Michigan, accessed May 8, 2007. "Snowmobile the Moose Capital of Michigan & Tahquamenon Country!" Niles The City of Four FlagsCity of Niles Motto listed on web site logo, accessed May 8, 2007. Garden CityHistorical nickname commemorating the elaborate garden created and maintained by German immigrant gardener John Gipner, at the Michigan Central Railroad depot in Niles, per "Stations of Distinction ", Michigan History Online website, accessed May 30, 2009 Northville – Switzerland of Wayne County Oceana County – Asparagus Capital of the World Omer – Michigan's Smallest City"Michigan's Smallest City" accessed April 9, 2010. Onaway – Sturgeon Capital of MichiganClaims to Fame - Fish , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. Oscoda – Paddletown USA Paradise – Wild Blueberry Capital of MichiganParadise, Michigan Chamber of Commerce accessed April 9, 2010. Pellston – Icebox of the Nation"waymarking.com" accessed July 6, 2010. Pinconning – Cheese Capital of MichiganPinconning page on Roadside America.com, accessed April 9, 2010. Plainwell – The Island City Pontiac - The Yak Port Huron – Maritime Capital of the Great Lakes Portland – City of Two RiversPortland Community site accessed April 3, 2012 Rogers City The Nautical City Rocket City Romulus – Gateway to the World, Romtown Rudyard – Snowy Owl Capital of Michigan Saint Johns – The Mint City Saint Louis – Middle of the MittenCity of St. Louis accessed March 22, 2010. Sault Ste. Marie The SooSault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau accessed August 1, 2010. Michigan's Oldest City (founded 1668)City of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan accessed August 1, 2010. Scottville - Clown Town Southfield - SFLD South Haven – Blueberry Capital of the World Sturgis – Electric City Taylor – TaylortuckyDetroit Metro Times Traverse City Cherry Capital of the World Hockeytown North T City The Bay Area Trufant – Stump Fence Capital of the World Utica Hothouse Rhubarb Capital of the World"Retired teacher completes work on history book ," The Macomb Daily, June 12, 2010. Accessed January 13, 2011. Mushroom Capital of Michigan Vassar – Cork Pine CityCity of Vassar accessed May 30, 2011. Vicksburg – The Village with a VisionVicksburg, MI Village Government and Information Whitefish Point – Cranberry Capital of MichiganCentennial Cranberry Farm accessed September 5, 2010. Ypsilanti Ypsi Ypsiltucky

See also List of city nicknames in the United States List of cities, villages, and townships in Michigan

References

External links a list of American and a few Canadian nicknames U.S. cities list