List of city nicknames in Florida

This partial list of city nicknames in Florida compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities in Florida are known by (or have been known by historically), officially and unofficially, to 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.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.

Nicknames by city Apopka – Indoor Foliage Capital of the World Aventura – The City of Excellence Bartow City of Oaks and Azaleas The City of Oaks The 'Tow Belle Glade – Muck City Boca Raton – A City for All SeasonsDicky Galore and Joseph Covino, Jr., Sexcapades by the Decades: The Twenties (2007), p. 70. Boynton Beach – Btown Bradenton – The Friendly City Brooksville - Crooksville Cape Coral Waterfront WonderlandEscape from Cape Coma Cape Coma Clewiston – America's Sweetest TownCity of Clewiston website , accessed October 5, 2010 Coconut Creek – Butterfly Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Animals , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. Coral Gables – The City BeautifulCity of Coral Gables website , accessed September 13, 2011 Coral Springs – Everything Under the SunCity of Coral Springs History Crestview – Hub CityCity of Crestview website , accessed June 15, 2017 DeLand – The Athens of Florida14th Annual DeLand Fall Festival of the Arts , DeLand Fall Festival. Accessed June 13, 2007. "Conveniently located between Orlando and Daytona Beach, DeLand is known as the "Athens of Florida" because of its cultural and educational history and people." Deltona – Florida's Bright SpotCity of Deltona, FL . City of Deltona Government. Retrieved 2012-03-21. Destin – The World's Luckiest Fishing VillageCity of Destin website , accessed June 15, 2017. Eustis – The City of Bright Tomorrows2006 Outgoing Mayor's Message , Eustis, Florida. Accessed June 13, 2007. "As we bring on the challenges of 2007, may Eustis remain the City of Bright Tomorrows, the best City in Lake County." Fernandina Beach – Shark's Tooth Capital of the WorldWanda McKinney, Our Favorite Town Slogans, Southern Living, April 2005 Fort Lauderdale – Venice of AmericaAbout Fort Lauderdale , City of Fort Lauderdale. Accessed June 13, 2007. "The ideal place to live, to visit and to relocate a business. Listed below are pages to help you learn more about the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida — Venice of America." Fort Myers – The City of PalmsThe City of Palms , Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce. Accessed June 13, 2007. "These magnificent Royal Palms, some towering at 75 feet, give the City of Palms its nickname." Fort Pierce – The Sunshine City Fort Walton Beach Billfish Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Fish , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. Emerald CoastVisitor and Relocation Information , Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce website (accessed January 23, 2008) Gainesville HogtownU.S. City Monikers , Tagline Guru website, accessed January 5, 2008 The Tree CityJohn Howells, Where to Retire: America's Best and Most Affordable Places (2006), p. 31. Rainesville Gator CountryBarbie Baldwin, Underground gourmet: restaurants, recipes & reflections (1983), p. 181. Haines City – The Heart of FloridaCity of Haines City, The Heart if Florida , Haines City, Florida. Accessed June 13, 2007. "Haines City is conveniently located in Central Florida and is referred to as the Heart of Florida due to its location." Hialeah – City of ProgressHistory of the City of Hialeah , Hialeah, Florida. Accessed June 13, 2007. "Hialeah -- The City of Progress" Jacksonville JaxWentworth, Harold and Stuart Berg Flexner. (1967) Dictionary of American Slang. Maruzen Asian Edition. Thomas Y. Crowell Company. P. 286 Where Florida BeginsJacksonville. Where Florida Begins "Visitor Website to Jacksonville". Bold New City of the SouthHistory of the "Bold New City " nickname RelocateAmerica.com River City Murder Capital of Florida Cracksonville Key West Conch Republic Southernmost City In The Continental United States Lakeland Swan City Largo Dime City Melbourne – The Harbor CityNannie Kate, Marinas Near Melbourne, Florida , USA Today Travel Tips, accessed November 21, 2011 Miami

Navarre Florida's Best Kept Secret Florida's Most Relaxing Place Florida's Playground Ocala The Brick City Horse Capital of the World (with Marion County) – the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, obtained the trademark on behalf of Ocala and Marion County in the late 1990s. The title is disputed with Lexington, Kentucky, which also claims to be the "Horse Capital of the World."Tom LaMarra, Kentucky and Florida in 'Horse Capital' Battle , The Blood-Horse (March 28, 2002). Ocoee – The Center of Good LivingNew Resident Information , accessed April 12, 2007. "Welcome to the City of Ocoee! We are glad you have chosen to move to The Center of Good Living." Okeechobee – Speckled Perch Capital of the World Orlando The City BeautifulInformation on things to do in the Orlando area , accessed April 12, 2007. Slogan is in City seal. O-Town Theme Park Capital of the World Ormond Beach – Birthplace of SpeedMayor's Welcome , Ormond Beach website, accessed July 4, 2008 Panama City Beach – The World's Most Beautiful BeachesLawlor, Julia. "HAVENS |Panama City Beach, Fla.; A Vacation Town Tries to Take Off Its Blue Collar" , The New York Times, January 5, 2007, accessed April 12, 2007. "LIKE a supermodel showing off her good side, Panama City Beach is not shy about flaunting its most valuable asset. The World's Most Beautiful Beaches, boasts the sign at the end of Hathaway Bridge, which leads into the city." Pensacola – City of Five FlagsCITY OF FIVE FLAGS , accessed April 12, 2007. "Known as the "City of Five Flags," Pensacola has been under the rule of the Spanish, the British, the French, the Confederacy and the United States since the first conquistadors landed in America in 1559." Plant City Strawberry Capital of the World Winter Strawberry Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Agriculture , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. Port St. Lucie PSL A City for All Ages St. Petersburg Always in SeasonSt Petersburg , accessed April 12, 2007. The Burg Sunshine CityClaims to Fame - Weather , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. St. PeteThe City of St. Petersburg, Official Website of the City of St. Petersburg - stpete.org , accessed January 27, 2011.Jenny Deam, Clearwater Times (St. Petersburg Times), accessed January 27, 2011 Sarasota – We Live Where You Vacation Sebring – City on the Circle Spring Hill - Spring Hell Stuart – Sailfish Capital of the WorldLaura Bergheim, An American Festival of World Capitals: From Garlic Queens to Cherry Parades (1997). John Wiley & Sons: p. 39.Douglas Waitley, Best Backroads of Florida: Coasts, Glades, and Groves (2001). Pineapple Press: p. 35. Tallahassee TallyChoose Tallahassee, Facts about Tallahassee TallanastyAlicia Deer, 'Tallanasty' no more: What Tallahassee's beautification means , FSUView (Nov. 20, 2013).Nicholas Gonzalez, Busting the myth of Tallanasty , FSU News (Jan. 9, 2012). Tampa The Big GuavaBarry Popik, The Big Guava , April 3, 2005, discussion of nicknames' history Cigar CityBarry Popik, Cigar City , August 15, 2006, discussion of nickname's historyYbor City: Cigar Capital of the World , National Park Service, accessed April 12, 2007. Lightning Capital of the WorldPorter, Arthur. "Looking back on fond years in Tampa Bay as the green, green grass of home beckons" , Tampa Bay Business Journal, January 26, 2007, accessed April 12, 2007. "I will have been in Tampa for four years in May, and I remember my first day -- one of the typical Tampa days in May.... "Welcome to the lightning capital of the world," my new colleagues declared." Champa Bay, after multiple local pro sports franchises won championships in 2020 and 2021 Tarpon Springs – Sponge Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Products , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007. Venice – Shark Tooth Capital of the World West Palm Beach – Orchid CityCynthia Thuma, Palm Beach in Vintage Postcards (2001), p 32.

See also List of city nicknames in the United States List of cities in Florida List of coasts of Florida

References

External links a list of American and a few Canadian nicknames U.S. cities list