US Cities, Towns, and Village Sobriquets 2 Quiz

Answer: Spencer

Spencer, population 38, has an opal mine in the area.

Wallace is the "Silver Capital of the World" whose mines are the richest in the United States.

Of course, being Idaho, there has to be a "Potato Capital of the World". Blackfoot claims this title...

...but Ashton is the "Seed Potato Capital".

Answer: Marseilles

The Marseilles Dam was started in 1921 but not completed until 1933. It controls the flow of the Illinois River.

Joseph Glidden in 1873 is given credit for the invention of barbed wire and established the Barb Fence Company, so De Kalb claims the title of "Barb Wire Capital of the World".

In the era of prohibition, Peoria was one the largest bootlegging cities in the United States, having at one time twenty-two distilleries, hence Peoria sobriquet of "Whiskey City".

The presence of the John Deere Corporation explains Moline's "Plow Capital of the World".

Answer: Terre Haute

Before the interstate system came into being, Route 41 called the Dixie Highway and Route 40 called the National Road crossed at Third Street and Wabash Avenue in Terre Haute, IN. The Dixie Highway ran on various routes starting in Northern Michigan and ending in Florida and was started in 1914. The National Highway ran from Atlantic City NJ to San Francisco, CA. As a child I lived at 310 Ohio Street, a block and a half from that corner.

Each October Brazil has a "Popcorn Festival" to honor Orville Redenbacher who was born there.

Elkhart is the "Band Instrument Capital of the World" as it has been a center for the manufacture of various instruments.

Peru is the "Circus Capital" as it was the winter quarters for Ringling Brothers and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and others. The International Circus Hall of Fame is in Peru.

Answer: Villisca

Villisca is the site of nearly a hundred year old mystery. In 1912 neighbors found nine murdered bodies in the house which included two parents, five of their children and two children who were visiting. The crime was never solved but two books have been written about the axe murders: Roy Marshall's "Villisca" and Stephen Bowman's "Morning Ran Red". Likewise, two films Tammy Rundle's "Villisca: Living with a Mystery" (2004) and "Haunting Villisca" (2008) by Serpento and Busbee.

Des Moines is the "Hartford of the West" after Hartford, CT because of several insurance companies headquartered there.

Grinnell boasts that it is the "Jewel of the Prairie".

Sioux City was often called "Little Chicago" as it had the largest live stock market between Chicago and the West Coast. The aroma from the stock yards gave it another name Sewer City. Do you remember 'Sioux City Sue'?

"Sioux City Sue, Sioux City Sue,
Your hair is red. Your eyes are blue.
I'd swap my horse and dog for you.
Sioux City Sue, Sioux City Sue,
There ain't no gal as true as my sweet Sioux City Sue."

Answer: Dodge City

Dodge City relies on cattle ranching and meat packing today but was at one time the fringe of the so-called wild west. People come to visit Boot Hill and remnants of the old Santa Fe Trail. Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and Doc Holliday roamed its streets as well as the fictional Matt Dillon of "Gunsmoke".

Lenexa is the "Spinach Capital of the World". Belgian farmers moved into the area and made spinach a prime product. A spinach festival is held each year in September when a contest is held for unique spinach recipes. Lenexa is also known for its caves which are used to preserve historical records. For instance, evidence from the Kennedy assassination is stored there.

Windom, population 130, is known as the "Covered Dish Capital". Each year in December the volunteer firemen of Windom hold a covered dish fund raiser. In addition other organizations have a soup supper, a pancake breakfast, and a mountain oyster feed for those so inclined.

Pittsburgh has keen competition among the eight fried chicken restaurants in the area which have been featured on the Food Channel. Annie's and Mary's are the most well known but Gethardt's and Barto's might dispute that. It is the "Fried Chicken Capital".

Answer: Dubach

A Dog-Trot house consists of two cabins with a narrow space between for ventilation. It is just enough space for 'a dog to trot through'. This architectural style was developed to improve cooling prior to the age of air conditioning. Dubach has many such examples.

Rayne is the "Frog Capital of the World". Its "Frog Festival" each November features a number of fun and cultural events. The town has several frog murals.

Gonzales is noted as "Jambalaya Capital of the World" and draws many visitors to its annual Jambalaya Festival.

One source listed twenty-four nicknames for New Orleans. I think I will say the "Big Easy" and leave it at that.

Answer: Farmington

Chester Greenwood in 1873 was 15 years old and was tired of getting his ears cold when he went ice skating. With the help of his mother, he invented earmuffs. The Maine legislature in 1973 proclaimed each December 21st as Chester Greenwood Day for his invention of a vital winter protection.

Rockland is the "Lobster Capital of the World". In addition to several restaurants that specialize in lobster in the area, it is the scene of an August Lobster festival.

It may seem ironic but Cherryfield, Maine bills itself as the "Blueberry Capital of the World". The town was named for the wild cherry trees that grew in the area but blueberries have become very important to the local economy.

"Toothpick Capital of the World" belongs to Strong, Maine. Strong Wood Products Company once produced twenty million toothpicks a day.

Answer: Berea

Berea was named for a Macedonian city where the people "received the Word with all readiness of mind." Berea attempts to preserve the Appalachian craft traditions. The city is a mecca for all types of folk art and craft stores.

Monticello is the "Houseboat Capital of the World" due to several houseboat designers and manufacturers in the area. Monticello is close to Lake Cumberland which has a large number of houseboats serviced by these firms.

A number of communities claim to have the best barbecue, but Owensville goes beyond beef, pork, and chicken and is the "Barbecued Mutton Capital of the World". The secret apparently lies in its vinegar brown sauce.

Distilleries in the Bardstown area produce Jim Beam and Maker's Mark among others. The area is so rich in Bourbon tradition that it is the "Bourbon Capital of the World" and is included in 1000 things to see before you die.

Answer: Baltimore

Baltimore became "Bodymore, Murderland," for it had become one of the deadliest city in the nation, with more than 300 murders a year, for ten years running. Much of these can be traced to drugs and other inner city issues.

Cumberland adopted "Queen City" as its brand and many local businesses carry this title. Cumberland was considered the gateway to western expansion in early American history.

We know Annapolis as the home of The United States Navel Academy. However, the abundance of crabs in the area and several fine restaurants that serve them has lead to the term "Crabtown".

Takoma Park, although technically in Maryland, functions as a suburb to Washington D.C. It is known for its liberal politics and is known for its trees and is often referred to as "Azalea City".

Answer: Kauai

Kauai is the "Garden Isle".
Oahu is the "Gathering Place".
Hawaii is the "Big Island".
Maui is the "The Valley Isle".
Kahoolawe is "The Target Isle".
Lanai is the "The Pineapple Isle".
Molokai is the "The Friendly Isle".
Niihau is the "The Forbidden Isle".