# City nicknames-- do people who live there use them? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080 "2013-02-12T14:38:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/61 "2013-02-16T19:26:04Z")
We don’t have any nicknames for our little town but we have a few (personal ones) for other Washington towns: Mount Vernon is ‘Mount Vermin’ Castle Rock is ‘Rassle Cock’ Oak Harbor is ‘Joke Harbor’ or ‘The Joke’ Lots of folks refer to Bellingham as ‘B-ham’ and residents as ‘Hamsters’ and Sedro-Woolley and Port Townsend are locally referred to as ‘Woolley’ and ‘Town’. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/62 "2013-02-16T19:46:31Z")
If I hear anyone say “New York City” in conversation, I have to respond with, “Get a rope!” ---
**Author:** ![ASanders](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asanders/32/3367_2.png) [@ASanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASanders)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/63 "2013-02-16T20:03:54Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Anyone who’s a _real_ New Yorker (especially in Manhattan) just refers to it as “the city.” No NYC, Big Apple, or whatnot. > [@panache45](#): > > No, to real New Yorkers, Manhattan is “The City,” and the other boroughs just go by their name. Real New Yorker here, and yep, the City is just the City. Manhattan only needs to be named if I’m talking with a non-native (or long-time resident). My creds: born in the City, lived at various times in various places in Queens, Brooklyn, and NJ. Sorry, other boroughs, you’re not included in “the City.” ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/64 "2013-02-16T21:25:03Z")
I’ve heard Chi-town used rarely. Like meteor strike rarely. For some reason, our anchorpersons use the term “Chicagoland” a lot, but I’ve never heard it from anyone else besides them and car dealers in local commercials. Maybe it’s a TV thing. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/65 "2013-02-16T22:23:37Z")
I sometimes hear people say Chicagoland, but rarely. People usually just say “the Chicago area,” or, because they’re apparently trying to signal to me that they shouldn’t be taken seriously, “the Chicagoland area.” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/66 "2013-02-16T23:24:47Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > I’ve heard Chi-town used rarely. Like meteor strike rarely. > > For some reason, our anchorpersons use the term “Chicagoland” a lot, but I’ve never heard it from anyone else besides them and car dealers in local commercials. Maybe it’s a TV thing. I hear Chicagoland fairly commonly and use it (typically in the phrase “Chicagoland area.”) I never noticed how weird it must sound to non-Chicagoans until I got to college and somebody thought I was talking about an amusement park. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/67 "2013-02-17T07:10:05Z")
Chicagoland is common enough from media sources and I guess it makes sense when referring to the suburbs and NW Indiana. I never hear anyone use it conversationally though. The only time I hear Chi-town or Windy City is in advertisements for national companies that are awkwardly trying to endear themselves to the local audience (lookin’ at you with your radio ads, Geico). ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/68 "2013-02-17T09:28:33Z")
> [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](#): > > My city, Sheffield, S Yorkshire is the Steel City or just Steel City (for it’s manufacturing base). I can’t recall if I’ve ever used it in conversation but I did use it to title a picture on Facebook recently. it got loads of likes fwiw. I live in Nottingham, and no one ever calls it “Robin Hood Country”, except the local government. We call it Nottnum, cos syllables are hard. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/69 "2013-02-17T10:09:02Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Nobody in Annapolis calls it “Naptown.” Maybe not, but some folks still call Indianapolis “Naptown”, although it was more common in the past. The old-timers I know who call it that are usually jazz cats and I think they consider it a positive nickname from the height of the jazz scene in Indy (maybe 1920 to 1950???). But nowadays, the younger (and not so young, but not too hip) consider it a demeaning nickname that refers to the sleepy quality of the city (Nap. Get it?) I prefer the old jazz cats positive interpretation of the term and see it as a positive nickname myself. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/70 "2013-02-17T21:49:03Z")
I grew up in San Antonio, TX. I have never heard any of the local folks refer to it as “San An-tone”. Actually, most of us dislike that phrase. Only foreigners use that phrase. The local DJ’s on the radio don’t even use it. It’s an easy way to find out who’s a local and who’s not. I do like the use of “Baltimorons” for folks from Baltimore, MD. I’ve used it a lot, much to the dislike of Marylanders. Or, to use the vernacular, “Merr-lann-ders” When I lived in DC, most people used to simply refer to it as “the city”. Everybody understood the usage. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/71 "2013-02-19T18:51:11Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > If I hear anyone say “New York City” in conversation, I have to respond with, “Get a rope!” [Me too.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgrGyR6EYbY) But the original commercials had [New Jersey](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTX6ulE_Du8) in there before New York City. They made the right choice in changing it though. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/72 "2013-02-19T19:08:56Z")
> [@Yeticus\_Rex](#): > > [Me too.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgrGyR6EYbY) I love how the announcer pronounces “pecanty sauce.” We all pronounce “picante” much better now. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/73 "2013-02-19T19:58:46Z")
> [@shiftless](#): > > Yeah, all those. I do call it Washington sometimes, or Washington DC, if I’m away from home or someone asks me where I’m from. Although I actually live over the river in VA. We recently had some excitement in the office when a non-America read that Washington had legalize pot. Sorry to disappoint, wrong Washington. > > I used to hear DC called “Chocolate City” when I lived to the south, from black and white. I rarely hear that anymore . I wonder if that is because I live here. Chocolate City really referred to a specific time, although there is a club on Georgia Avenue called Chocolate City. [http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-04-19/local/35262494\_1\_black-voters-chocolate-city-open-arms](http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-04-19/local/35262494_1_black-voters-chocolate-city-open-arms) > [@](#): > > One of the best eulogies for Chocolate City was penned by D.C. writer Kenneth Carroll back in 1998. > > “Chocolate City was a cultural muscularity flexing itself in images like Gaston Neal and the New School of African American Thought hosting Sun Ra in the middle of 14th Street,” Carroll wrote in The Washington Post. “It was Robert Hooks and the D.C. Black Repertory Theater. It was Shirley Horne, Buck Hill and Carter Jefferson on sax, Bobby Sanchez on trumpet and Fred Foss on alto at Twins. It was Bill Harris on guitar at the Pigfoot, Butch Warren on bass anywhere; it was Chuck Brown at the Maverick Room on Wednesday night; Billy Stewart at the Koko Club at 8th and H; Trouble Funk at the Coliseum, Experience Unlimited at the Panorama Room, and Gil Scott-Heron’s ‘H2O Watergate Blues’ in regular rotation on black radio.” For DC, if you say you’re from Washington, I assume you are probably from a MD, or VA suburb, but if you say you are from the District, it means you are a Washingtonian. ---
**Author:** ![mage-girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@mage-girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mage-girl)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/74 "2013-02-19T20:01:59Z")
I have heard my town of Omaha, NE referred to as “The River City” and “The Big O”. I find both nicknames ridiculous, particularly “The Big O”. It just sounds silly. “The River City” is obnoxious because it ties in with an annual “River City Round-Up” rodeo and western-themed events. Sigh. I’m a city girl at heart. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/75 "2013-02-19T20:09:59Z")
I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and some of us would refer to the city as ‘The A.T.L.’ . ATL is the airport code for Hartsfield/Jackson International Airport. Nobody ever calls it ‘Hotlanta’ unless it is the middle of a heat wave and we are trying (and failing) to be funny. We also refer to the region inside the Perimeter (I-285) as ‘I.T.P.’ (Inside The Perimeter). ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080/76 "2013-02-20T05:18:55Z")
Most everyone I knew in San Luis Obispo called it SLO. Sometimes as S-L-O, but usually all run together so it sounded like “slow”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-nicknames-do-people-who-live-there-use-them/650080.md?page=3)