This partial list of city nicknames in Indiana compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities and towns in Indiana 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. Nicknames and slogans that successfully create a new community "ideology or myth" are also believed to have economic value. Their economic 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.
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. Albion – Gateway to the Chain O' Lakes Auburn - Home of the Classics Bedford – Stoner City Bloomington B-Town University City Bloom Bluffton Asphalt City Parlor City Carmel – Roundabout Capital of the World Chesterton – Gateway to the Dunes Churubusco – Turtle Town, U.S.A. Clay City – Mayberry of the Midwest Columbus – Athens of the PrairieU.S. City Monikers, Tagline Guru website, accessed January 5, 2008 Crawfordsville – Athens of Indiana Elkhart City of Musical Doings RV Capital of the World Elwood – Gem City of the Gas Belt or Buckle of the Gas Belt Evansville Crescent City Pocket CityCatherine Traylor Gregory, Evansville, Indiana Business Magazine, Sunday, June 1, 1997. Nickname refers to city's location on "a horseshoe-shaped section of the Ohio River." River City Stoplight City Heavensville Evansvegas Fort Wayne City of Churches City That Saved Itself Magnet Wire Capital of the World Summit City Gary City of the Century Magic City Steel City Goshen – Maple City Greensburg – Tree City Hobart - The Friendly City Huntington – Lime City Indianapolis Amateur Sports Capital of the World Circle City Crossroads of America Indy India-no-place Naptown Railroad City Jeffersonville – Jeff Kokomo – City of Firsts LaFayette - Star City La Porte City of Lakes Maple City Logansport City of Bridges City of Churches Marion – Queen City or Queen City of the Gas Belt Martinsville City of Mineral Water Goldfish Capitol of the World Medaryville Tatertown Mudville Mishawaka Peppermint Capital of the World Princess City Muncie Funcie Middletown Little Chicago Peru Barbecue City Circus Capital of the World Richmond Quaker City of the West Rose City Rockville – Covered Bridge Capital of the World Roselawn – Naked City South Bend Lotion City Metropolis of Northern Indiana Wagon City Speedway – Racing Capital of the World Terre Haute Queen City of the Wabash Crossroads of America (National Road/U.S. Route 40 and Dixie Bee Rd/U.S. Route 41 met in downtown) Prairie City (eastern edge of the Great Plains/prairies) Pittsburgh of the West (historical: city was an early steel center) Valparaiso Vale of Paradise Valpo Van Buren – Popcorn Capital of the World Vincennes – Indiana's First City Warsaw Lake City Orthopedic Capital of the World