This partial list of city nicknames in South Carolina compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities in South Carolina 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. Many of the unofficial nicknames listed here have been in use for a long time or have gained wide currency. Abbeville Pretty. Near. Perfect. "The Birthplace and Deathbed of the Confederacy" Aiken "A Place Like No Other" The Winter Colony Aynor Little Golden Town Anderson – The Electric CityAppreciate the arts , Editorial in Anderson Independent Mail, accessed April 13, 2007. "Head on down North Main to the courthouse square to visit the statue of William Church Whitner, the man who put the "electric" in the Electric City. He holds his pocket watch and looks at a street light that is about to light up for the first time, marking the first long-distance transmission of electricity in the South." Barnwell – Gateway to the Low Country Blacksburg – The Iron CityIron City leaders to be sworn-in , The Gaffney Ledger, March 30, 2007, accessed April 13, 2007. "Blacksburg Mayor David Hogue and councilmen Joe Ross and Mike Patterson will be sworn in Sunday to new four-year terms at 3 p.m. at Iron City Place, 101 S. John St., Blacksburg." Bluffton – Heart of the Lowcountry Calhoun Falls- “A Town of Opportunity” Lil Miami, C Town Charleston Chucktown The Chuck The Big Sweet Grass BasketU.S. City Monikers , Tagline Guru website, accessed January 5, 2008 The Holy CityCharleston, South Carolina , SciWay (South Carolina's Information Highway) website, accessed February 19, 2010 Cheraw The Prettiest Town in Dixie Chesterfield The Heart of the Carolinas Clemson Tiger Town Title Town Cow Town Columbia The Capital of Southern Hospitality Cola City/Town River City Soda City Capital City Elgin – Home of the Catfish Stomp Paris of the Midlands Florence Flo-Town Magic City Greenville Textile Capital of the WorldG'vegas On the Retirement of Bill Workman, Senator Lindsey Graham transcript of floor speech, accessed April 13, 2007. "Over the past few decades, Greenville and upstate South Carolina have slowly been transformed from being a textile capital of the world to a much more diversified economy."Greenville, South Carolina , RelocateAmerica website (accessed January 10, 2008) (formerly) G-Vegas/Green Vegas GVL Greenwood – The Emerald CityCity Manager , accessed April 13, 2007. "Have a great time exploring and learning about our wonderful City and about the special quality of life that we have all come to know as Greenwood, the Emerald City." Hilton Head Island - Snow Island Irmo Home of the Okra Strut Gateway to Lake Murray Lancaster – The Red Rose City , accessed October 5, 2018. Myrtle Beach – Golf Capital of the World North Augusta – South Carolina's Riverfront Orangeburg – The Garden City Sciway, accessed 13 March 2015. Pageland – The Watermelon Capital of the World Rock Hill – The Gateway to South Carolina Ruby Jewel City of the South Spartanburg The Hub CityFlynn, Sean P. "Classic cars to rumble through Spartanburg en route to West" , Spartanburg Herald Journal, April 6, 2007, accessed April 13, 2007. "The Great American Race is coming to the Hub City." Sparkle CityPutting sparkle back in the "Sparkle City" , WHNS, March 26, 2007, accessed April 13, 2007. "As more people invest, they are putting the sparkle back in "Sparkle City." Sumter – The Gamecock City The (Sumter, SC) Item. February 1, 2015. Walterboro - "The Front Porch of the Lowcountry" Winnsboro – Rock City York - The White Rose City
See also List of city nicknames in the United States
References SC City Nicknames Guide , SciWay (South Carolina's Information Highway) website, accessed July 6, 2011