List of city nicknames in Maine

This partial list of city nicknames in Maine compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities in Maine are known by. 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]

• Bangor – The Queen City of the East[3]
• Bath – The City of Ships[4]
• Cherryfield – Blueberry Capital of the World[5]
• Farmington
  • Earmuff Capital of the World[6]
  • Farm Town[7]
• Freeport – Birthplace of Maine[8][9]
• Lincoln – The Gateway Town[10]
• Lewiston – Little Canada[11]
  • The Dirty Lew[12]
• Millinocket – The Magic City[13]
• Portland – Forest City (reported in 1894)[14]
• Presque Isle – The Star City[15]
• Rockland – Lobster Capital of the World[16][17]
• Strong – Toothpick Capital of the World[17]
• Waterville
  • The Elm City[18]
  • The University City of Maine[18]

See also

• List of city nicknames in the United States

References

1. 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. Alfredo Andia, Branding the Generic City :) Archived 2008-05-21 at the Wayback Machine, MU.DOT magazine, September 10, 2007
3. Welcome to the Queen City, accessed April 7, 2007. "Although Bangor's history is of little national historical significance, a day in the Queen City of the East will provide the curious with opportunities to imagine the past."
4. Bath School Department, accessed April 7, 2007. "Known as, "The City of Ships", Bath lies on the shore of the Kennebec River and has been a major shipbuilding center for centuries."
5. Claims to Fame - Agriculture, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
6. Claims to Fame - Clothing, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
7. Farmington, Maine. Maine Resource Guide, accessed January 22, 2013.
8. Freeport, Maine. Maine Resource Guide, accessed January 22, 2013.
9. Sally W. Rand. "Freeport's Role In Maine's Statehood". Freeport Historical Society. There has been concern for many years about the tradition that papers were signed in 1820 in Freeport making it the “Birthplace of Maine.” No verification for this claim has been found, ... but this unsubstantiated story has lingered on. Without sources, this legend does not stand up to scrutiny. ...The legend exaggerating Freeport’s true role in Maine statehood was further perpetuated by the sale of collectible china. Souvenir china was imported from Germany for sale in local dry goods store in the late 19th century.
10. Celebrations, Welcome to Lincoln, Maine Website, accessed January 22, 2013
11. Barrows, Gridley (July 1, 1974). "Historic Lewiston". The Lewiston Historical Commission. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
12. Barrows, Gridley (July 1, 1974). "Historic Lewiston". The Lewiston Historical Commission. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
13. Millinocket Historical Society website, accessed June 26, 2009
14. Barry Popik, Smoky City, barrypopik.com website, March 27, 2005
15. City of Presque Isle Online Archived 2011-10-01 at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 7, 2007.
16. Claims to Fame - Food Archived 2017-04-01 at the Wayback Machine, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
17. Faber, Harold (1993-09-12). "The World Capital of Whatever". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
18. Stephen Plocher (2007), A Short History of Waterville, Maine, City of Waterville website, accessed June 21, 2009