This partial list of city nicknames in West Virginia compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities in West 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 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.[1] Nicknames and slogans that successfully create a new community "ideology or myth"[2] are also believed to have economic value.[1] Their economic value is difficult to measure,[1] but there are anecdotal reports of cities that have achieved substantial economic benefits by "branding" themselves by adopting new slogans.[2]

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.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Muench, David "Wisconsin Community Slogans: Their Use and Local Impacts" Archived 2013-03-09 at the Wayback Machine, December 1993, accessed April 10, 2007.
  2. ^ a b Alfredo Andia, Branding the Generic City :) Archived 2008-05-21 at the Wayback Machine, MU.DOT magazine, September 10, 2007
  3. ^ Welcome to Bluefield, West Virginia!
  4. ^ a b U.S. City Monikers, Tagline Guru website, accessed January 5, 2008
  5. ^ Grant County Chamber of Commerce Archived 2008-10-02 at the Wayback Machine website ("Petersburg is known as the 'Home of the Golden Trout', which is a color mutation of the regular rainbow and was developed using selective breeding at the Petersburg hatchery.")
  6. ^ City of Weirton Homepage
  7. ^ Iron and Steel Archived 2011-09-26 at the Wayback Machine, Ohio County Public Library website ("The city comes fairly by her sobriquet, 'The Nail City.' Here are cut more nails than in any other city in the world.")
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