This partial list of city nicknames in Indiana compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities and towns in Indiana 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.Muench, David "Wisconsin Community Slogans: Their Use and Local Impacts" , December 1993, accessed April 10, 2007. 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. Albion – Gateway to the Chain O' Lakes Anderson – Pittsburg of the White River Valley Auburn Buggy City Home of the Classics Bedford – Stone CityJacob Platt Dunn (1912), Indiana Geographical Nomenclature, Indiana Magazine of History, Volume 8, page 81. Berne - Furniture Capitol of Indiana Bloomington B-Town University City Bloom Bluffton Asphalt City Parlor CityBluffton , accessed July 18, 2013. Brazil Black Diamond City Clay Metropolis Carmel Roundabout Capital of the U.S. SwimCity, USA Chesterton – Gateway to the DunesChesterton, Indiana, accessed July 18, 2013. Churubusco – Turtle Town, U.S.A.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-renowned as TURTLE TOWN, USA." Clay City – Mayberry of the MidwestRich Davis, Words to live by; Pride extends from 'Best Town on Earth' to 'Hub of Universe', Evansville Courier & Press, January 27, 2008. Columbus – Athens of the PrairieColumbus, Indiana: "The Athens of the Prairie" , accessed April 21, 2007.U.S. City Monikers, Tagline Guru website, accessed January 5, 2008 Crawfordsville – Athens of Indiana Elkhart City of Musical Doings Independent State RV Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Products , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. Ellettsville – Diet Bloomington Elwood Buckle of the Gas Belt Gem City of the Gas Belt Evansville Crescent CityJacob Platt Dunn (1912), Indiana Geographical Nomenclature, Indiana Magazine of History, Volume 8, page 79. "Evansville is the 'Crescent City' from its location on the outer side of a curve on the Ohio River; the 'Pocket City' from its location in and as the metropolis of that part of the State popularly designated at 'The Pocket.'" Pocket CityCatherine Traylor Gregory, Evansville, Indiana Business Magazine, Sunday, June 1, 1997. Nickname refers to city's location on "a horseshoe-shaped section of the Ohio River." River CityRich Davis, Words to live by; Pride extends from 'Best Town on Earth' to 'Hub of Universe', Evansville Courier & Press, January 27, 2008. "Evansville has long been 'Stoplight City' to truckers thanks to the dozen or so red lights on U.S. 41. ...And while it's true you'll find 'River City' atop Downtown Evansville's Main Street arches from the 1980s, it could just as easily proclaim Pocket City or Heavensville." Stoplight City Heavensville Evansvegas Fort Wayne City of Churches City That Saved Itself Magnet Wire Capital of the World Summit CityAllen 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 CenturyTHE 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.'" Magic City Steel CityGary'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'." Goshen – Maple City Greensburg – Tree City Hobart – The Friendly City Huntington – Lime City Indianapolis Jeffersonville – Jeff, accessed July 18, 2013. Kokomo – City of FirstsInformation for Businesses, accessed April 2, 2007. Lafayette – Star City La Porte City of LakesLaPorte, Indiana, accessed July 18, 2013. Maple City Logansport City of Bridges City of Churches Madison – City 'Neath the Hills Marion – Queen City or Queen City of the Gas Belt, 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." Martinsville City of Mineral Water Goldfish Capital of the World Medaryville Tatertown Mudville Mishawaka Peppermint Capital of the WorldA History of Excellence , City of Mishawaka website, accessed June 19, 2009 Princess City Monticello - Monticompton Muncie Funcie Middletown Little Chicago Peru Barbecue City Circus Capital of the WorldCity 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." Richmond Quaker City of the West Rose CityCity of Richmond: Rose View Transit , accessed December 9, 2015 Rockville – Covered Bridge Capital of the World Roselawn – Naked City South Bend Lotion CityJacob Platt Dunn (1912), Indiana Geographical Nomenclature, Indiana Magazine of History, Volume 8, page 80. Metropolis of Northern Indiana Wagon City Speedway – Racing Capital of the WorldOur 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 WabashTerre 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)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." Sin City - dubbed by Stag Magazine in 1955 issue; supported by Terre Haute's notorious reputation for bordellos, bootlegging and illegal casinos Prairie City (eastern edge of the Great Plains/prairies) 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)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 ParadiseCity of Valparaiso ~ Vale of Paradise, accessed April 2, 2007. ValpoValparaiso, Indiana, accessed July 18, 2013. Van Buren – Popcorn Capital of the WorldTown of Van Buren, Indiana, website , accessed 10 May 2011. Vincennes Indiana's First CityVision , Knox County (Indiana) Chamber of Commerce website, accessed 20 November 2011 Old Post Pioneer City of the Wabash Valley Wabash – Rock City Warsaw Lake City Orthopedic Capital of the World
See also List of city nicknames in the United States List of cities in Indiana
References
External links a list of American and a few Canadian nicknames U.S. cities list