This partial list of city nicknames in New Jersey compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities, other municipalities, and other populated places in New Jersey 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.Muench, David "Wisconsin Community Slogans: Their Use and Local Impacts" , December 1993, accessed April 10, 2007. 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.Alfredo Andia, Branding the Generic City :) , MU.DOT magazine, September 10, 2007
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. Asbury Park – The Dark CityAnnual ArtsCAP Event Features Author Hisani Dubose , Atlantic Highlands Herald, June 16, 2010. "...Celebrate ArtsCAP's accomplishments in promoting the arts in Asbury Park and ... help plan further blossoming of art and culture in Dark City." Atlantic City – A.C.,Laughlin, Jason. "Settlement reached in A.C. parking garage collapse", Courier-Post, April 12, 2007, accessed April 12, 2007. America's Playground,"Atlantic City Dream", Time (magazine), November 5, 1934. "Longtime dream of Atlantic City's Mayor Harry Bacharach has been a new railroad station for 'America's Playground'." "The City" (inside Atlantic County) Belleville – The Cherry Blossom Capital of America Byram Township – The Township of LakesWelcome to Byram Township's Official Web Site, Byram Township, New Jersey. Accessed June 13, 2007. "Byram is known as 'The Township of Lakes', having more than two dozen lakes and ponds." Caldwell – The Denver of the East Carlstadt, New Jersey – Home of the Nation's First KindergartenGoogle Street View Accessed Sep 3, 2019. Road sign displays motto Cranford – The Venice of New JerseyCranford History, accessed September 27, 2007 Denville – Hub of Morris CountyDenville profile, Daily Record (Morristown), accessed April 22, 2007. "Known as the 'hub' of Morris County -- because of its central geographic location and spot along major transportation routes — this township is home to one of the most traditional town centers in the county." East Orange – IlltownVarious businesses, including Illtown Unisex Salon, Illtown Blues Elizabeth – Eastwick Emerson – E-Town Fair Lawn – The Lawn Fort Lee – The Birthplace of the Motion Picture IndustryHistory of the Film Industry in Fort Lee , Fort Lee Film Commission website, accessed August 18, 2009 Fortescue – Weakfish Capital of the WorldNatural, Undisturbed Beauty of Nature, Right Here in the Northeast Corridor , accessed April 5, 2007. "Fortescue is also host to one of the East Coast's most popular fishing tournaments, the Fortescue Weakfish Tournament. Fortescue is known as the weakfish capital of the world." Franklin – Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Rocks , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. Garfield - The City of ChampionsKuperinsky, Amy. "'The Jewel of the Meadowlands'?: N.J.'s best, worst and weirdest town slogans", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, January 22, 2015. Accessed July 12, 2016. "Garfield, a city spanning two square miles on the Passaic River, is 'The City of Champions' because of some athletic feats from the distant past — including a championship by the 1939 high school football team." Garwood – The Industrial Center of Union County Hackensack – A City in Motion"Hackensack", FDU Magazine, Fall / Winter 2001. Accessed June 14, 2007. "Billed as 'A City in Motion', Hackensack has been on the move since before the founding of the United States." Hammonton – Blueberry Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Agriculture, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. Hasbrouck Heights – Hasbro Nation Hoboken – The Mile Square CityHit musical 'Hair' was written in Hoboken: Mile-square city housed the seminal musical's authors in the 1960s , Hudson Reporter, October 2, 2005. Irvington – Ghost Town, formerly known as Camptown Jersey City – America's Golden Door, Chilltown,"Why do people call Jersey City 'Chilltown'?" , Jersey City Reporter, April 15, 2005. Wall Street West,Jersey City: "Wall Street West" - After September 11, the ranks of businesses hopping the Hudson swell, Business Week, October 29, 2001. "The nickname 'America's Golden Door' never really caught on. So Jersey City officials tried to tag their town 'Silicon Valley East'--then the Internet Revolution petered out. But the latest monicker for Manhattan's neighbor across the Hudson--'Wall Street West'--just might stick." The Sixth BoroughHolusha, John. " Commercial Property / The Jersey Riverfront; On the Hudson's West Bank, Optimistic Developers", The New York Times, October 11, 1998. Accessed May 25, 2007. "'Given that the buildings on the New Jersey waterfront are new and equipped with the latest technology and just a few stops on the PATH trains from Manhattan, they become an attractive alternative. 'It's the sixth borough,' he said." Keansburg – The Burg, Gem of the Bayshore Lambertville – Antique Capital of New Jersey Long Beach Island – L.B.I. Long Branch – America's First Seaside Resort,"Refuges of the famous saw economic, political change", Asbury Park Press, October 19, 2006. Accessed July 10, 2007. "But the moderate climate and ocean bathing soon helped Long Branch develop a reputation as the nation's 'first seaside resort.'" The Friendly City'Friendly City' overtaxes residents , Atlanticville. June 1, 2007. Accessed July 10, 2007. "Long Branch City Hall does it again! The 'Friendly City' will stick its residents with a tax increase." Madison – The Rose CityShakespeare Theater of New Jersey , accessed April 12, 2007. "Once the hub of America's rose-growing industry, Madison earned the nickname 'The Rose City' in the mid-19th century." Maplewood – MapSo (in reference to the town's close/symbiotic relationship with neighboring town, South Orange) Metuchen – The Brainy Borough (alternately spelled Brainy Boro)Spies, Stacy E. "Images of America: Metuchen", accessed via Google Books, 2011-07-07. Millville – The Holly City Morristown – Motown, The Military Capital of the American Revolution Mount Laurel – Hotel Land Neptune Township – The Crossroads of the Jersey Shore New Brunswick – Health Care City,7:30 a.m. -- Filling cracks in the HealthCare City, from the Home News Tribune, September 23, 1999. "With two major hospitals and a medical school, New Brunswick proclaims itself The HealthCare City." Hub CityA wet day in the Hub City, from the Home News Tribune, September 23, 1999. "A few days short of 60 years, on Wednesday, Sept. 16, a dreary, drizzly day just ahead of the deluge of Hurricane Floyd, the Home News Tribune sent 24 reporters, 9 photographers and one artist into the Hub City, as it is known, to take a peek into life in New Brunswick as it is in 1999." Newark – Brick City,Blame the city for lifeless campus , Rutgers-Newark Observer, April 3, 2007. "And what can we say about Brick City?" Gateway City, Renaissance Newark North Arlington – Where Bergen County BeginsNJ Town Slogans May Sound Great, But Can Be Dubious Ocean City – America's Greatest Family Resort,Ocean City, N.J.: This family-oriented resort thrives on its virtuous origins. , Baltimore Sun, accessed April 5, 2007. A Moral Seaside Resort (historic slogan from the 19th century) Paterson – Silk CityNew Jersey Rep. Pascrell Hopes PAC Fundraising is Smooth as Silk, The New York Times, March 7, 2007. "Paterson — located in northeastern New Jersey, about 20 miles from Manhattan — is known as the “Silk City” because of its long association with textile manufacturing." Perth Amboy – City by the BayCity of Perth Amboy , accessed April 15, 2007. "Welcome to Perth Amboy, The City by the Bay." Plainfield – Queen CityCity of Plainfield , accessed April 5, 2007. "On behalf of the City of Plainfield, I greet you with the passion and enthusiasm that hopefully you share for our Queen City, Plainfield, New Jersey." Pleasantville – P-Ville Rutherford – Borough of Trees, The First Borough of Bergen CountyRutherford Borough . Accessed March 10, 2010. Seaside Heights – SleazesideSeaside Heights Beach Information, accessed April 5, 2007.
South Orange – SoMa (in reference to the township's close/symbiotic relationship with neighboring town, Maplewood) Spring Lake – The Irish RivieraSpring Lake, AboutNewJersey.com website , accessed June 17, 2009 Trenton – Capital City,The Trentonian, Trenton Mayor announces ‘Summer in the Capital City’, The Trentonian, June 22, 2017. The TownKrystal, Becky. "Trenton, N.J.: One for the history buffs" Archived October 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, The Washington Post, February 10, 2011. Accessed January 10, 2012. "Back in the early 18th century, at least, the area was remote enough for Trent, a wealthy Philadelphia merchant, to build his summer home there near the banks of the Delaware River. And though it's dwarfed by its modern-day neighbors, at the time the home reflected its owner's 'ostentatious nature,' Nedoresow said. Further stroking his ego, he named the settlement he laid out 'Trent-towne,' which eventually evolved into the current moniker." Tuckerton – Clamtown Union City – Embroidery Capital of the United States,Union City 2000 Calendar; 2000; culled from History of West Hoboken and Union Hill by Ella-Mary Ryman; 1965 and "The Historical Background of Union City" by Daniel A. Primont, William G. Fiedler and Fred Zuccaro; 1964"Little Havana (Miami) & Little Havana on the Hudson (Union City, New Jersey)" BarryPopkik.com; August 15, 2006 Havana on the HudsonRosero, Jessica. "Most liquor licenses? Bumpiest town? Local municipalities hold unusual distinctions" , Hudson Reporter, August 27, 2006. Accessed June 25, 2007. Vineland – Dandelion Capital of the World
See also List of city nicknames in the United States List of municipalities in New Jersey (by population)
References
External links a list of American and a few Canadian nicknames U.S. cities list