US Cities, Towns, and Village Sobriquets 4 Quiz

Answer: Gallup

New Mexico has had a high drunk driving rate for years. Gallup is the center as it has in the past been liberal in allowing drivers accused of DUI or DWI to 'plead down' to a lesser traffic offense.

Roswell is the "Alien City" due its reputation as the center of UFO activity in the US. Media, paranoia, and even a television series have created the myth of Roswell and the town has capitalized on its fame.

Hatch enjoys the distinction of being the "The Chili Pepper Capital of the World". Chilies are best prepared by roasting over an open flame, so during chili season the streets are lined with vendors.

The Atomic Age was ushered in by the "Atomic City", Los Alamos, where much of the research and development occurred on atomic energy as a weapon.

Answer: Cooperstown

Although Abner Doubleday has been discredited with being the 'inventor' of baseball, his name lingers on a symbol of the game's early beginnings. Cooperstown is the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame and attracts about 400,000 visitors a year.

Schenectady was the birthplace of General Electric, regarded as the second largest company in the world and employing over 300,000. Thomas Edison moved his operation to Schenectady in 1890 and through merger with other companies became GE and Schenectady became the "Electric City".

Orlando Montague wanted a clean white shirt. The shirts were clean except for the collar. According to legend, his wife cut off his collars so he could have a clean collar on demand. From 1820 for nearly a century, Troy produced shirts with detachable collars until they ran out of fashion as the buggy whip and the covered wagon. It still calls itself the "Collar City".

Florida claims to be the "Onion Capital of the World" but so does Elba, NY. And Middleburg, Ohio. And Vidalia, Georgia.

Answer: Durham

Bull Durham was a once very popular tobacco that was used primarily for "roll-your-owns". The Bull Durham Tobacco factory began in Durham. Bull Durham is also the name of the local minor league baseball team and the name of the 1987 film "Bull Durham", a successful film about baseball.

There are over two hundred types of fireflies or lightening bugs with about forty found around Boone which is the "Firefly Capital of the World". This insect luminous has fascinated scientists. It led the poet Robert Frost to write:

"Here come real stars to fill the upper skies,
And here on earth come emulating flies
That, though they never equal stars in size
(And they were never really stars at heart),
Achieve at times a very star-like start.
Only, of course, they can't sustain the part".

Cape Hatteras points out into the Atlantic and its swift moving waters are a lure for ocean-going vessels to utilize and speed journeys. But the speed is sacrificed for danger and the cape is often a final resting place, hence the name "Graveyard of Ships".

Maggie Valley is the "Clogging Capital of the World". Clogging is a folk dance that combines European, African, and Native American aspects. The "Clogging Hall of Fame Workshop" is held twice a year in Maggie Valley where National Champions are crowned.

Answer: Jamestown

Jamestown is the home of the world's largest Buffalo made of cement. Jamestown is also host to the National Buffalo Museum. It houses White Cloud, an albino buffalo, considered sacred by Native Americans.

Drayton "Rod and Reel" celebration features a catfish fishing contest on nearly Red River. Many "trophy catfish" have been caught making Drayton the "Catfish Capital of the North".

The center of social activity in Ray is the Grain Palace, so Ray is the "Grain Palace City" which has been marked by a celebration in July each year since 1912.

Being in the middle of ranching territory, Towner is the "Cattle Capital of North Dakota". I was amused by Glen Elert's blog on Towner (2010):

"It's about 7:00 PM when I pull into Towner, "The Cattle Capital of North Dakota". Haven't seen many cows lately, but Towner has a cheese factory. The first since Tillamook 1400 miles ago. Saw some canola fields. Acres of yellow flowers. Towner is a small town forest in the middle of the prairie. It's a cute place, but where is everybody? The place is completely shut down. There's food at the gas station on the highway, which is open 24 hours. I am the only customer at a 6-unit motel. The owner is looking to sell it. The bathroom sinks are antique looking. The whole place is well preserved, however. Everything looks 30 years old. Somebody else just checked in. Later that night a trucker arrives. Maybe they cater to the 'we gotta find a motel soon' crowd."

Answer: Hamilton

For over one hundred years Hamilton was the "Safe Capital" as it manufactured at one time fifty percent of the safes made in the world. The firm diversified and got into atomic energy but was placed on a danger list due to radioactivity in the plant site.

The Hooven-Allsion Plant in Xenia produced twine and rope so Xenia still calls itself the "Twine City". Xenia has the distinction of being the largest city over 5000 that begins with X.

Akron, being the home of Goodyear Tire and Rubber, holds the title of "Rubber Capital of the World". The economy is diversified and the city is the home of the annual Soap Box Derby.

Sandusky is the "Roller Coaster Capital of World". Sandusky at Cedar Point Amusement Park has the largest collection of operating roller coasters on one site. It is a tourist destination.

Answer: Glenpool

In 1905 oil was struck on the property of Ida Glenn. This 'pool' of oil resulted in an oil boom in the area, hence the name Glenpool. Nearby Tulsa, however, took the lead in oil exploration so Glenpool took a back seat and is now more of a 'bedroom' community to Tulsa.

Inola is the "Hay Capital of the World" because of it being a major crop in the area and its marketing. Inola, after a long court battle, was able to defeat a nuclear power plant being built in the area.

Purcell in a suburb of Oklahoma City and is the "Quarter Horse Capital of the World". Quarter horses are short and stocky and are noted for fast starting, turning, stopping ability, short-distance speed, and intelligence. Although probably developed in Virginia, the quarter horse has more of a western identification.

Beaver is in the panhandle of Oklahoma and hosts the "World Cow Chip Throwing Contest" hence it name "Cow Chip Capital of the World". From a collection of cow chips, the contestant is given a limited time to select a chip at least six inches across. The participant gets two tosses. There are foul lines. If a chip falls apart in flight, the piece that traveled the greater distance counts.

Answer: Eugene

Eugene, with its mild winters and mild summers, has greenery most of the year, therefore "Emerald City". It is the home of the University of Oregon and Oregon's second largest city.

The "City of Roses" is Portland. Portland has a reputation for being one of the 'greener' large cities. At the International Rose Test Garden you can see some 9,000 roses of 590 varieties on just a four-acre spot.

Albany is the "Seed Grass Capital of the World" as it is a major exporter of this crop. Other crops produced include corn, beans, mint, strawberries, and hazelnuts.

The motto of Talent is "Our Name Speaks for Itself". We will not add to that.

Answer: Hershey

Originally called Derry Church, Hershey is the home of the Hershey Chocolate Company, whose odor permeates the town. As one of the largest candy-making companies, Hershey is a destination point for tourists and vacationers.

Because seven pretzel bakeries and factories are located in Reading, it is known as the "Pretzel City".

In 1937 a wooden star was erected on near-by South Mountain. The City of Bethlehem has restored it and updated it as needed but has shown every night since except during World War Two. It has become the symbol of Bethlehem and can be seen for twenty miles.

Anyone who has seen the 1993 film "Groundhog Day" in which Bill Murray lives the day over (And over. And over.) will appreciate Punxsutawney s claim to be the "Weather Capital of the World" and the charm of the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. Ironically, the movie was filmed in Woodstock, Illinois and Indiana, PA.

Answer: Galilee

Galilee as several fishing charter boats that specialized in deep sea fishing including other fish in addition to tuna.

Providence in the 1970s and 1980s with the help of over six hundred million dollars attempted to restore the city so it was called the "Renaissance City". In spite of efforts, Providence has maintained one of the highest rates of people living in poverty in a major city.

Newport claims to be the "First Resort in America". It is the site of many historical buildings and summer homes (really mansions) of the rich and famous of history.

Warwick provides access to most of Rhode Island's major roadways has led to its nickname, the "Crossroads of Rhode Island". Its many shopping malls and specialty stores make it a mecca for shoppers.

Answer: Charleston

In colonial days Charleston was noted for its many churches with steeples that fill the low-rise skyline. This "Holy City" was known as a haven for religious tolerance for Christian protestants.

Greenville is the "Textile Capital of the World" and has seven cloth weaving companies. It is likewise the American home of BMW autos.

In 1890 iron ore was found in the area of Blackburg and for awhile it was a boom town. Blackburg still calls itself "Iron City".

It is a little hard to believe but the area of Myrtle Beach has 250 golf courses. Golf and related businesses rake in a billion tourist dollars each year. Little doubt that this is the "Golf Capital of the World".