This partial list of city nicknames in North Dakota compiles the aliases, sobriquets, and slogans that cities in North Dakota 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. 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.
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.
- Cando – You Can Do Better in Cando
- Dickinson – Queen City or Queen City of the Prairies
- Drayton – Catfish Capital of the North
- Hebron – The Brick City
- Jamestown – The Buffalo City
- Minot – The Magic City
- Ray – Grain Palace City
- Rugby – Geographical Center of North America
- St. John – City at the end of the Rainbow
- Towner – Cattle Capital of North Dakota
- Velva - The Star City
See also
References
- ^ Muench, David "Wisconsin Community Slogans: Their Use and Local Impacts" Archived 2013-03-09 at the Wayback Machine, December 1993, accessed April 10, 2007.
- ^ Alfredo Andia, Branding the Generic City :) Archived 2008-05-21 at the Wayback Machine, MU.DOT magazine, September 10, 2007
- U.S. City Monikers, Tagline Guru website, accessed January 5, 2008
- North Dakota of today, By Zena Irma Trinka and Z'dena Trinka, 3rd edition, Bismarck Tribune Publishing Company, 1919
- Drayton Economic Development Corporation Archived 2017-05-29 at the Wayback Machine website, accessed July 3, 2008
- website, accessed November 7, 2017
- Jamestown, ND, website; Jamestown is home to the World's Largest Buffalo, a 26-ft-fall cement sculpture.
- North Dakota Residents Flee Minot's Floodwaters, National Public Radio, June 23, 2011
- The Ray, ND, website includes an image of the city's centennial logo, which includes this nickname.
- Geographical Center of North America Archived 2012-01-19 at the Wayback Machine and Northern Lights Tower Archived 2011-10-14 at the Wayback Machine, Rugby Chamber of Commerce website, accessed October 28, 2011
- "St. John, ND History", accessed December 11, 2015. "Material in this history of St. John comes from many sources including: St. John: City at the End of the Rainbow, ..."
- Claims to Fame - Animals Archived 2011-11-06 at the Wayback Machine, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
