List of city nicknames in New Mexico

This partial list of city nicknames in New Mexico compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities in New Mexico 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.

• Albuquerque
  • Burque^[3][4]
  • The Duke City^[5]
  • The Q^[4][6]
• Anthony - Leap Year Capital of the World (shared with Anthony, Texas)^[7]
• Carlsbad - Cavern City^[8]
• Gallup - Drunk Driving Capital of America^[9][10]
• Hatch - Chile Pepper Capital of the World^[11][12]
• Las Vegas - Meadow City^[13]
• Los Alamos - Atomic City^[14]
• Rio Rancho - City of Vision^[15]
• Rodeo - New Mexico's most western town^[16]
• Roswell
  • Alien Capital of the World^[17][18]
  • The Aliens Aren't the Only Reason to Visit^[10]
• Santa Fe - The City Different^[10][19]
• Santa Rosa - The Scuba Capital of the Southwest^[20]
• Taos - Soul of the Southwest^[10]

See also

• List of city nicknames in the United States

References

1. Muench, David "Wisconsin Community Slogans: Their Use and Local Impacts", December 1993, accessed April 10, 2007.
2. Alfredo Andia, Branding the Generic City :), MU.DOT magazine, September 10, 2007
3. http://www.whatsupburque.com/ What's Up Burque
4. Leslie Linthicum, Albuquerque Journal - "Here's a Q-tip - ¡Viva Burque!", January 8, 2009
5. Frequently Asked Questions About Albuquerque, Sandia National Laboratories. "Why is Albuquerque nicknamed the Duke City? In memory of the Duke of Albuquerque, the city is affectionately called the "Duke City." There is still a Duke of Albuquerque residing in Spain. From time to time, he visits his namesake city."
6. http://www.cabq.gov/albuquerquegreen/green-goals/recycling-waste/reuse-in-the-q/ Reuse in the Q
7. World Wide Leap Year Birthday Club in Anthony TX/NM the Leap Year Capital of the World
8. Cavern City Air Terminal
9. U.S. City Monikers, Tagline Guru website, accessed January 5, 2008
10. Tagline Guru City Branding Survey, Tagline Guru website, accessed Aug 18, 2009
11. Claims to Fame - Food, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
12. The World Capital of Whatever, The New York Times by Harold Faber, September 12, 1993.
13. http://www.lasvegasnm.gov/
14. Atomic City Transit
15. official Web site of the City of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, accessed April 5, 2007. "We invite you to visit our "City of Vision" as we take Rio Rancho into an energetic and exciting new future."
16. Rodeo, New Mexico website, accessed November 26, 2011
17. Roswell Chamber of Commerce website, accessed February 27, 2008
18. Aliens: a conspiracy out of this world, BBC News, 2 October 1998
19. Santa Fe, New Mexico, accessed April 5, 2007. "Nestled at 7000 feet in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Santa Fe, New Mexico, the "City Different", is America's oldest capital city and claims a long history and rich cultural heritage."
20. Unique and Hidden Destinations, accessed April 5, 2007. "But in Santa Rosa, an unassuming small town 114 east of Albuquerque on I-40, you can dive year-round in the clear blue waters of a spring-fed well billed as "the scuba capital of the Southwest."