# Deprecating names of cities **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 4, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699 "2012-03-04T03:39:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/81 "2019-05-29T19:13:29Z")
Tucson, AZ has often been referred to as “Too-Stoned.” ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/82 "2019-05-29T19:55:41Z")
Since this has been resurrected, I’ve heard Sacratomato from someone who lived in Fresno. I’ve also heard De-twat for Detroit. > [@Number](#): > > The truly dim-witted and ignorant sometimes refer to San Francisco by an F-word which is too filthy for me to repeat here. I strongly recommend against its use, particularly within the city limits, as there are some offenses against propriety which can still serve as a legitimate justification for homicide. I think the use of that word is the sole remaining crime for which California still imposes the death penalty. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/83 "2019-05-29T20:03:21Z")
> [@kirk1168](#): > > Fayette County, PA, known locally as “Fayette Nam.” It is, shall we say, very rural. An episode of _My Big Redneck Wedding_ was filmed there. North Carolina has a Fayette Nam as well, officially known as Fayetteville, and the home of Fort Bragg. I’ve heard of Chapel Hill being referred to as Chapel Hell, but I’m not sure if that’s the city proper or UNC’s flagship campus. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/84 "2019-05-29T20:08:59Z")
Don’t know if it’s just the locals, or the surrounding states that call Mass. “Taxachusettes.” ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/85 "2019-05-29T20:41:34Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > I’ve lived in Folsom (a Sacramento suburb) for 14 years and I don’t think I’ve ever heard it called “Sacratomato”. I think I’ve mostly just heard it called “California’s biggest farm town” and “The Midwest of California”. When I lived in Sacramento (a long time ago), I remember hearing Sacratomato all the time on the radio. They’d mention the weather or the traffic in “Sacratomato”. Maybe it’s gone out of fashion. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/86 "2019-05-29T20:48:04Z")
I’ve referred to “Butt, Montana”, but it’s not really fair. The stinking filthy hole in a butt serves a useful purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/87 "2019-05-29T21:03:49Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > North Carolina has a Fayette Nam as well, officially known as Fayetteville, and the home of Fort Bragg. > > I’ve heard of Chapel Hill being referred to as Chapel Hell, but I’m not sure if that’s the city proper or UNC’s flagship campus. Jesse Helms was such a fan of Chapel Hill he said the state did not need a new zoo, they should just put a fence around Chapel Hill. And he called the coed dorms at UNC “State supported cathouses” ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/88 "2019-05-29T21:21:27Z")
> [@Sarabellum](#): > > Houston–\> Pee-yew-ston (a reference to the petrochem/refineries that give some areas a pretty unpleasant stench) > One derogatory nickname that was rechristened into something a little more dignified, was the downtown area in Fort Worth, that was long known as “Hell’s Half Acre” and is now known as “Sundance Square”. You must be confusing Houston with Stinkadena (Pasadena), known for its abundance of stenchy refineries and petrochemical facilities. Hell’s Half Acre was actually where the Ft. Worth Convention Center and Water Gardens are today… Sundance Square was further north- up by the river. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/89 "2019-05-29T21:24:52Z")
> [@Silver\_Tyger](#): > > When I was in junior high, we used to call our city Krap Room. Because that’s Moorpark backwards. We were oh so clever. Ha, my niece and nephew heard that in 1st grade. My niece was especially proud to ask us what Moorpark is spelled backward. It’s kinda cool for little kids who are just learning to read. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/90 "2019-05-29T21:30:47Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Chicago - “Chiraq” because of the violence. Also Chiberia because of the weather in winter ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/91 "2019-05-29T22:33:39Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Taylortucky, Fontucky, Cedartucky, Pennsatucky. > > I’ve been to Kentucky. It’s really a very nice state. Why does it have such a bad rep? Is it just because “tucky” sounds funny? It’s a slam based on the perception that \_tucky denotes a backward/trashy population. Some residents of Columbus refer to the town of Grove City just to the south as “Grovetucky”. Another deprecating nickname: Indianapolis hasn’t classically been called “Naptown” because people thought it was an exciting place. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/92 "2019-05-29T22:55:12Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Perhaps I should rephrase that as “some people don’t call Baltimore “Charm City” unironically”. There may be a few who think it still calls to mind 1970s tourism-driving ad campaigns… Local TV news anchors and reporters there still refer to Baltimore as “Charm City” in feel-good stories. I’m not sure how they keep a straight face, because it’s usually about ten seconds after reporting on the latest beating, murder, armed robbery, drive-by shooting, or city government scandal. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/93 "2019-05-29T22:56:33Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Also Chiberia because of the weather in winter And another one (which I won’t post here, I’m sure it would at least merit a warning if not worse), because it’s got a large population of people of African descent. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2019, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/94 "2019-05-30T01:01:37Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > And another one (which I won’t post here, I’m sure it would at least merit a warning if not worse), because it’s got a large population of people of African descent. Hm. Can’t imagine what that could be. Worse than Chiraq and Chiberia for me is New York Lite. Talk about insulting. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/95 "2019-05-30T01:22:49Z")
Not a city, but I hear Missouri being called “Misery” ---
**Author:** ![Bibliothecarius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@Bibliothecarius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliothecarius)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/96 "2019-05-30T01:56:59Z")
> [@JpnDude](#): > > My friend from Sacramento referred to the city as “SUCKramento” or “EXcremento.” If I had to invent one for Sacramento, I would have gone with Scatramento. Logan City, Queensland (just south of Brisbane) has traditionally been a lower socioeconomic area and is frequently dubbed Bogan (the Aussie equivalent of “trailer trash”). But honestly Australia has so many bizarre place names that most don’t even require a derogatory nickname, including an actual Bogan Gate in outback New South Wales (enjoy this delightful [video tour](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tglsE310Gio) that went viral a few years back). See [here](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3753951/Map-shows-Australia-s-funniest-rudest-quirkiest-place-names.html) for extensive map listings that will have you laughing for hours. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/97 "2019-05-30T02:06:04Z")
Back in the 1960’s I lived in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, a suburb of Akron. It was known as (1) solidly middle class and (2) for having no black citizens (and took actions to keep it that way). So it was called at various times “Caucasian Falls” or “Cuyahonky Falls” BTW, I looked at Wikipedia and the black population has climbed to 3.3% of the total population. So progress has been made–very deliberately. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/98 "2019-05-30T02:35:10Z")
In England (not cities; we have a stricter definition of those, so these are just places): Bracknell is sometimes called Cracknell Bradistan for Bradford, because of the large number of people of Pakistani descent there.-Istan is added to a few other places, though I could think of them right now I’ve heard Basildon called Basildon’t. But it’s also know, ironically, as Basvegas. I think Glasgow is also nicknamed Glasvegas sometimes. Hove, near Brighton, is often called “Hove, Actually,” because until that nickname became popular that is genuinely how residents used to refer to where they lived when everyone assumed they were in the slightly less posh Brighton Edinburgh - Auld Reekie, referring to it smelling Tottenham in London is sometimes called the 'Nam, and so is Dagenham, but they’re not serious nicknames although they’re slightly rough areas. Posh Cheltenham is sometimes called the 'Nam in a very ironic way. A part of the West Midlands comprising several different towns is called the Black Country. It’s an official name not just a nickname, but although it does have a higher than average number of black residents, the nickname is from the number of factories there used to be there, and all the soot they used to create. It’s sort of been reclaimed as a name but the origin was definitely disparaging. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/99 "2019-05-30T02:57:00Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > When we last visited Costa Rica the nearest town, Tamarindo, was referred to by the locals as “Tamagringo” because of the high concentration of American ex-pats. It made me smile… When I was in Guatemala in the 70s Chichastenango was referred to as Gringotenango because of all the tourists. Here in Panama there are any number of “Gringolandia” developments for ex-pats. Not a city, but I’ve heard southern Mexico referred to as “Guatepeor,” as being even worse than Guatemala (mala = bad, peor = worse) ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699/100 "2019-05-30T06:18:53Z")
> [@tonyfop](#): > > Norfolk, Virginia is often cited in Navy circles as No \*\*\*\*, Vagina. I was told a variation of that as a rah-rah chant: “Norfolk! Where we neither smoke, nor drink, nor…f\*\*k!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deprecating-names-of-cities/614699.md?page=6)