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]
• Cloudcroft - A Pasture for the Clouds ^[9]
• Farmington – F Easy
• Gallup – Native American Capital of the World ^{[10] [11]}
• Hatch – Chile Pepper Capital of the World ^{[12] [13]}
• Las Cruces
  • The City of the Garden of Crosses ^[14]
  • Stinktown ^[15]
• Las Vegas – Meadow City ^[16]
• Los Alamos – Atomic City ^[17]
• Rio Rancho – City of Vision ^[18]
• Rodeo – New Mexico's most western town ^[19]
• Roswell
  • Alien Capital of the World ^{[20] [21]}
  • The Aliens Aren't the Only Reason to Visit ^[11]
• Santa Fe – The City Different ^{[11] [22]}
• Santa Rosa – The Scuba Capital of the Southwest ^[23]
• Taos – Soul of the Southwest ^[11]

See also

• List of city nicknames in the United States

References

1. 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. Alfredo Andia, Branding the Generic City :) Archived 2008-05-21 at the Wayback Machine , MU.DOT magazine, September 10, 2007
3. "Home | Whats up Burque - by locos for locals!". Archived from the original on 2011-02-08. Retrieved 2011-11-03. What's Up Burque
4. Leslie Linthicum, Albuquerque Journal - "Here's a Q-tip - ¡Viva Burque!" Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine , January 8, 2009
5. Frequently Asked Questions About Albuquerque Archived 2008-02-24 at the Wayback Machine , 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. "Reuse in the Q - City of Albuquerque". Archived from the original on 2010-05-28. Retrieved 2011-11-03. Reuse in the Q
7. World Wide Leap Year Birthday Club in Anthony TX/NM the Leap Year Capital of the World Archived 2007-12-28 at the Wayback Machine
8. "Cavern City Air Terminal". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
9. "Cloudcroft History – Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce". Archived from the original on 2021-01-24. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
10. U.S. City Monikers Archived 2014-03-15 at the Wayback Machine , Tagline Guru website, accessed January 5, 2008
11. Tagline Guru City Branding Survey Archived 2011-11-15 at the Wayback Machine , Tagline Guru website, accessed Aug 18, 2009
12. Claims to Fame - Food Archived 2017-04-01 at the Wayback Machine , Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
13. Faber, Harold (1993-09-12). "The World Capital of Whatever". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 2008-04-18. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
14. "Las Cruces History". Archived from the original on 2018-07-19. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
15. "What's That Smell! Oh, It's Las Cruces". Albuquerque Journal. 14 April 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
16. "City of Las Vegas, New Mexico USA". Archived from the original on 2011-02-24. Retrieved 2015-10-08.
17. Atomic City Transit Archived 2015-12-21 at the Wayback Machine
18. official Web site of the City of Rio Rancho, New Mexico Archived 2015-10-16 at the Wayback Machine , 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."
19. Rodeo, New Mexico website Archived 2011-11-11 at the Wayback Machine , accessed November 26, 2011
20. Roswell Chamber of Commerce website, accessed February 27, 2008
21. Aliens: a conspiracy out of this world Archived 2012-11-10 at the Wayback Machine , BBC News, 2 October 1998
22. Santa Fe, New Mexico Archived 2006-12-01 at the Wayback Machine , 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."
23. Unique and Hidden Destinations Archived 2007-10-18 at the Wayback Machine , 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."