This partial list of city nicknames in Virginia compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities in the U.S. state of Virginia 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 establish a civic identity, help outsiders recognize a community, attract 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. This 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. Ashland – The Center of the Universe Bristol – The Birthplace of Country Music (shares this nickname with Bristol, Tennessee)Birthplace of Country Music website Charlottesville – Cville Colonial Beach – Oyster Capital of the Potomac Falls Church – The Little City Fredericksburg F'Burg America's Most Historic City Where History Never Gets OldTagline Guru City Branding Survey , Tagline Guru website, accessed Aug 18, 2009 Harrisonburg – The Friendly City Harrisonburg At-A-Glance website, accessed June 30, 2016 Honaker – Redbud Capital of the WorldTown of Honaker website, accessed July 30, 2008 Lexington The Paris of Southwest Virginia Lexington Virginia website Home of Hamric House Streets of Lexington book Lynchburg City of Seven Hills Lynchburg Online website The Hill CityBarry Popik, Smoky City , barrypopik.com website, March 27, 2005 Newport News – Bad News Norfolk Life, Celebrated Daily Mermaid City, USA Portsmouth – P-Town website Radford – The New River City Official nickname on website Richmond Capital of the South The River CityRiver City Magazine websiteHistory: River City Observed , Discover Richmond website RVA Dirt City Roanoke Magic CityCase 54: Roanoke, Virginia , Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies website, accessed January 5, 2008. "The City of Roanoke, once known as the 'Magic City' due to the speed of the city’s growth, was chartered in 1884." Star City of the SouthThe Roanoke Star , City of Roanoke website, accessed January 5, 2008. The nickname refers to a large lighted star on a mountainside overlooking the city, installed in 1949 and originally intended as a Christmas decoration. "It was over 50 years ago Roanoke earned the nickname, 'Star City of the South,' and the star has been a part of the landscape of Mill Mountain ever since." Virginia Beach Neptune City The Resort City VA Beach Williamsburg The Burg The Colonial Capital Thrilliamsburg Billysburg Winchester – Apple Capital of the World
See also List of city nicknames in the United States
References