Nicknames of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States of America, has been known by a variety of nicknames, aliases, sobriquets and slogans, both officially and unofficially, now and in the past. 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]

While official nicknames are often intended to be positive, unofficial nicknames can be either both positive or derisive in nature. The unofficial nicknames included on this list have been in use for a long time or have gained widespread usage.

The nickname "DMV", for "District - Maryland - Virginia" has also been used as a nickname for the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Muench, David "Wisconsin Community Slogans: Their Use and Local Impacts", December 1993, accessed April 10, 2007.
  2. 1 2 Alfredo Andia, Branding the Generic City :), MU.DOT magazine, September 10, 2007
  3. ↑ John Michael Vlach, The Quest for a Capital, Ruth Ann Overbeck Capitol Hill History Project, retrieved April 15, 2012, One of the early nicknames for the District of Columbia was "the American Rome."
  4. ↑ U.S. City Motto & Moniker List, Tagline Guru, retrieved April 15, 2012. Lists the slogan "Washington – It’s a Capital City!"
  5. 1 2 3 P.J. Orvetti (July 30, 2010), Welcome to the DMV, 4 NBC Washington (NBCUniversal, Inc.), retrieved April 15, 2012
  6. ↑ Broder, David S. "Nation's Capital in Eclipse as Pride and Power Slip Away", The Washington Post, February 18, 1990. Accessed June 13, 2007. "In the days of the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan and the creation of NATO, [Clark Clifford] said, we saved the world, and Washington became the capital of the world."
  7. ↑ Giles, Dari. "Sweet Times in Chocolate City - visiting Washington, D.C", Essence (magazine), April 1999. Accessed June 13, 2007. "For business or pleasure, you'll be hardpressed to do it all in just one visit, but try anyway with our selection from the many things to do and see in the Chocolate City, named, some say, because of its large African-American presence."
  8. ↑ Barry Popik, Smoky City, barrypopik.com website, March 27, 2005
  9. ↑ "Washington: Symbol and City". National Building Museum. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  10. ↑ Clark, Allen C. (1935). "Origin of the Federal City". Records of the Columbia Historical Society (The Historical Society of Washington, D.C.) 35–6: 1–97.
  11. ↑ "Who says Washington is "Hollywood for ugly people"?: We trace a cliche back to its origins". The Washington Post. December 6, 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  12. ↑ Eberstadt, Nicholas. "Why babies die in D.C - District of Columbia", Public Interest, Spring 1994. Accessed June 13, 2007. "Across the country and around the world, Washington is notorious as the "murder capital of America" -- the city with the highest homicide rate of any major U.S. urban center."
  13. ↑ Farhi, Paul (July 30, 2010). "After initial obscurity, 'The DMV' nickname for Washington area picks up speed". Washington Post. Unless the earnest and obvious "Nation's Capital" is your idea of a cool handle, Washington and its environs have never gotten very far in the civic nickname game
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