This partial list of city nicknames in North Carolina compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities in North Carolina 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, divisive or just downright negative. The unofficial nicknames listed here have been in use for a long time or have gained wide currency. Apex Peak of Good LivingClaims to Fame - Favorites , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. Asheboro A-Town A-Boro Zoo City Asheville San Francisco of the South, NYT, August 28, 2005 AVL Beer City Boone Firefly Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Animals , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. Brevard Home of the white squirrelsWhite Squirrel Wars , Roadside America, accessed April 21, 2007. "Olney, IL; Marionville, MO; Kenton, TN; Brevard, NC; Exeter, ON. Not one, but five towns use albino squirrels as their claims to fame, and none is particularly happy about the others." Burlington B-Town The Buck Bucktown Burvegas Calabash Seafood Capital of the World Cape Hatteras The Graveyard of the AtlanticU.S. City Monikers , Tagline Guru website, accessed January 5, 2008, Irvine World News, February 22, 2004 Carolina Beach C.B. Carrboro Paris of the PiedmontAn Interview with Nyle Frank , Carrboro.com website Cary Containment Area for Relocated Yankees Chadbourn Strawberry Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Agriculture , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. Chapel Hill The Southern Part of Heaven Charlotte Queen CityCharlotte Chamber of Commerce . Retrieved 2008-02-14. Mint CitySports Logos. Retrieved 2022-05-26. The Hornet's Nest City of Trees Buzz City Durham City of Medicine City of The Viper Bull City Erwin Denim Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Clothing , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. Fayetteville All-American CityFYV vs. FAY , Fayetteville Free Weekly (blog based in Fayetteville, Arkansas), September 6, 2007 City of Dogwoods Fayettenam The Ville 2-6 Fay-Raq Tar Heel Town Torture Town The Soldier City Gastonia Spindle City Gashouse G-Ville Little Chicago
Greensboro The Gate CityE.g. Gate City Transportation , Gate City FC , Gate City Patrol Agency , Gate City Billiards Club The Boro G-Boro G-Bitty Greenville The Emerald City G-Vegas High Point Furniture Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Products , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. Jacksonville Marine Town Gateway to Lost Souls The O9 Kannapolis City of Looms Kernersville K-Vegas The Heart of the Triad Leland L.A. (Leland Area) Lexington L-Town "The BBQ Capital of the World" Lincolnton L-Town Lancton Mooresville The Dirty Mo Mount Airy Mayberry The Granite City Maggie Valley Clogging Capital of the World New Bern The Bern The Birthplace of Pepsi First Capital of North Carolina Pinehurst Golf Capital of the World Raleigh The City of Oaks Raleigh Wood Ruff Raleigh Oak City The Big Acorn Rocky Mount City On The Rise Murder Mount
Sherrills Ford Sherrills Fjord
Thomasville Chair City T-Ville Weldon Rockfish Capital of the World Wilmington Hollywood East Wilmy Wilmo The Dub The Port City Wilmywood Winston-Salem Camel CityCamel City Dispatch , online news daily Tre-Fo The Twin City Tobaccotown
See also List of city nicknames in the United States
References