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List of city nicknames in Indiana

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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.[1] Nicknames and slogans that successfully create a new community "ideology or myth"[2] are also believed to have economic value.[1] Their economic value is difficult to measure,[1] but there are anecdotal reports of cities that have achieved substantial economic benefits by "branding" themselves by adopting new slogans.[2]

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.

The nickname "Athens of the Prairie" was bestowed on Columbus, Indiana, due to the large assemblage of contemporary architecture and public sculpture in the city, including Henry Moore's "Large Arch."

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Muench, David "Wisconsin Community Slogans: Their Use and Local Impacts" Archived 2013-03-09 at the Wayback Machine, December 1993, accessed April 10, 2007.
  2. ^ a b Alfredo Andia, Branding the Generic City Archived 2008-05-21 at the Wayback Machine, MU.DOT magazine, September 10, 2007
  3. ^ "Auburn Automotive History". publichistory.iupui.edu. Retrieved 2023-01-17. Auburn, Indiana— Home of the Classics— was once a bustling center of manufacturing.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Jacob Platt Dunn (1912), Indiana Geographical Nomenclature, Indiana Magazine of History, Volume 8, page 81.
  5. ^ "The Backstage Blog - Visit Bloomington, Indiana Blog". www.visitbloomington.com. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  6. ^ "Indiana Hoosiers IU adidas® B-Town Hood". Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  7. ^ Bluffton Archived 2013-06-02 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 18, 2013.
  8. ^ Bradley, Daniel (November 20, 2023). "Carmel City Council mulling 20 mph roundabout speed limit". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  9. ^ Chesterton, Indiana, accessed July 18, 2013.
  10. ^ Turtle Days Archived 2011-07-10 at the Wayback Machine, 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."
  11. ^ Rich Davis, Words to live by; Pride extends from 'Best Town on Earth' to 'Hub of Universe', Evansville Courier & Press, January 27, 2008.
  12. ^ Columbus, Indiana: "The Athens of the Prairie" Archived 2008-04-09 at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 21, 2007.
  13. ^ U.S. City Monikers, Tagline Guru website, accessed January 5, 2008
  14. ^ "The Athens of Indiana". cdpl-history.blogspot.com. 5 June 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  15. ^ Claims to Fame - Products Archived 2007-04-08 at the Wayback Machine, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
  16. ^ https://twitter.com/btownmoose/status/1704225289587335198/photo/1 [bare URL]
  17. ^ a b Jacob 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.'"
  18. ^ Catherine 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."
  19. ^ a b Rich 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."
  20. ^ Salter Rodriguez, Rosa (2007-06-22). "'City of Churches' hard to prove: Census stats can't back up old moniker". The Journal Gazette.
  21. ^ Lohrmann, Shannon. "Flood brought out our best". The News-Sentinel.[full citation needed]
  22. ^ Olson, Eric (2012-02-29). "30th anniversary of the Great Flood of 1982: Where were you?". Indiana's NewsCenter. Archived from the original on 2014-06-28. Retrieved 2013-07-19.
  23. ^ Crothers, Julie (2013-06-18). "Righting a toppled icon". The Journal Gazette. Archived from the original on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
  24. ^ "Phelps Dodge Magnet Wire to consolidate operations to Fort Wayne". Inside Indiana Business. 2004-02-16. Archived from the original on 2014-06-28. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
  25. ^ Allen County - Fort Wayne Historical Society Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine, 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."
  26. ^ a b THE 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.'"
  27. ^ Gary'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'."
  28. ^ "Timing not right for study of nickname". Goshen News. 2010-10-13. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
  29. ^ Hornaday, Joe (2008-10-04). "Help the party come to life". Greensburg Daily News. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
  30. ^ Amateur Sports Capital of the World Archived 2008-05-16 at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 21, 2007. "Indianapolis is certainly deserving of its designation as “Amateur Sports Capital of the World.”"
  31. ^ Hot Spot: April 20-22[permanent dead link], WISH-TV, April 20, 2007, accessed April 21, 2007. "INDIANAPOLIS – Looking for something fun to do with your family this weekend? There is plenty to do around the Circle City indoors and outside."
  32. ^ About Indy: Who We Are[permanent dead link], Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association, accessed April 21, 2007
  33. ^ a b India-no-place No More,Time Magazine, June 11, 1984, accessed July 27, 2012"
  34. ^ "IndyStar". Indianapolis Star. 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
  35. ^ Colts' arrival transformed Indy into major sports city, USA Today, January 28, 2007, accessed April 21, 2007. "INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A convoy of moving vans brought more than the Colts to Indianapolis. The westward migration that cold, snowy night almost a quarter-century ago also awakened Naptown to a new era of professional football and transformed the city into a major league sports town."
  36. ^ City of Indianapolis Economic Development Portal: Transportation Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 21, 2007. "The abundance of rail lines caused Indianapolis to become known as the 'Railroad City'."
  37. ^ About Jeffersonville, accessed July 18, 2013.
  38. ^ Information for Businesses, accessed April 2, 2007.
  39. ^ "Lafayette, Indiana- Star City of the West – Tippecanoe County Historical Association | More than a Museum". Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  40. ^ a b LaPorte, Indiana, accessed July 18, 2013.
  41. ^ a b c d e f Jacob Platt Dunn (1912), Indiana Geographical Nomenclature, Indiana Magazine of History, Volume 8, page 80.
  42. ^ History of Grant County & Marion, Indiana Archived 2008-04-18 at the Wayback Machine, 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."
  43. ^ Haughn, Tyler (August 25, 2022). "Martinsville of tomorrow: City looks to update comprehensive plan". The Reporter-Times. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  44. ^ Bowman, Sarah (August 24, 2022). "From Indiana to your aquarium: Oldest private fish farm in the U.S. raises goldfish, koi". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  45. ^ a b A History of Excellence Archived 2009-07-25 at the Wayback Machine, City of Mishawaka website, accessed June 19, 2009
  46. ^ Huppke, Rex (April 27, 2003). "Day of prayer turning into day of discord". Chicago Tribune. Chicago. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  47. ^ Roysdon, Keith; Walker, Douglas (2016). Wicked Muncie. The History Press. ISBN 978-1-43965-665-5.
  48. ^ Lasley, Norma (2012). "Muncie". Delaware County. Arcadia Publishing. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-7385-9430-9.
  49. ^ City 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."
  50. ^ City of Richmond: Rose View Transit Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine, accessed December 9, 2015
  51. ^ "Covered Bridge Capital of the World, Rockville". Indiana Office of Tourism Development. Archived from the original on 2014-10-08. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
  52. ^ "Roselawn, Indiana". Roadside America. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
  53. ^ Buttle; Tuttle (2008). "Naked City (Indiana) Airport". PlaceNames. Archived from the original on 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
  54. ^ Our Town – Speedway’s Vision Defined! Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 2, 2007. "Speedway, Indiana is the true Racing Capital of the World."
  55. ^ Terre Haute: Queen City of the Wabash, accessed April 2, 2007.
  56. ^ Crossroads of America: In the days before the interstate system, Terre Haute was at the center of travel. Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine, 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."
  57. ^ 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.""
  58. ^ 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."
  59. ^ City of Valparaiso ~ Vale of Paradise, accessed April 2, 2007.
  60. ^ Valparaiso, Indiana, accessed July 18, 2013.
  61. ^ Town of Van Buren, Indiana, website Archived 2012-11-10 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 10 May 2011.
  62. ^ Vision Archived 2010-03-14 at the Wayback Machine, Knox County (Indiana) Chamber of Commerce website, accessed 20 November 2011
  63. ^ a b Warsaw: a growing "orthopedics capital of the world.", Indiana Business Magazine, January 1, 2006. "Five industries employing more than 5,500 have earned Warsaw, long dubbed "Lake City" because of its three lakes, a new moniker. Today, Warsaw is also known as the 'Orthopedic Capital of the World.'"
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