List of city nicknames in Rhode Island

This partial list of city nicknames in Rhode Island compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities, towns, and villages in Rhode Island 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. Many of the unofficial nicknames listed here have been in use for a long time or have gained wide currency.

• Galilee (in the town of Narrangansett) - Tuna Capital of the World.^[3]
• Newport
  • America's First Resort^[4]
  • Sailing Capital of the World^[5]
• Pawtucket - The Bucket^[6][7]
• Providence
  • America's Renaissance City or The Renaissance City^[8][9]
  • Beehive of Industry^[9]
  • The Creative Capital^[10]
• Warwick - Crossroads of Rhode Island^[11]
  • Woonsocket - Woony

See also

• List of city nicknames in the United States
• List of municipalities in Rhode Island

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. The World Capital of Whatever, The New York Times by Harold Faber, September 12, 1993.
4. Slogan appears on the masthead of the Newport Daily News and on some of the city's letterhead stationery (for example, on this document).
5. Watersport Locations, VisitRhodeIsland.com website, accessed August 7, 2009
6. Pawtucket the real winner in annual Dragon boat race, Providence Journal, September 11, 2005. The Pawtucket Bucketeers, a local team participating in this race, derived its name "from their city's less-than-gracious nickname."
7. thebucketri.com: "'The Bucket', intended as a derogatory knick-name for the city of Pawtucket, has been embraced by locals..."
8. City of Providence, Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation website, accessed January 5, 2008. "Providence has taken on the name 'The Renaissance City' in the 1990s as new office buildings, apartments, hotels, the Rhode Island Convention Center, Waterplace Park, and the Fleet Skating Rink liven the Downcity District."
9. Providence needs a new brand name by Mark Faverman, Providence Journal, December 24, 2006, accessed January 5, 2008. "Previous names like the Beehive of Industry and Renaissance City have not captured the public’s imagination and have failed to convey the right tone or uniqueness."
11. Warwick, VisitRhodeIsland.com website, accessed August 7, 2009