List of city nicknames in Virginia

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This partial list of city nicknames in Virginia compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities in the U.S. state of Virginia 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 establish a civic identity, help outsiders recognize a community, attract people to a community because of its nickname, promote civic pride, and build community unity.Muench, David [http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cced/economies/communityindicators/communityslogans.pdf "Wisconsin Community Slogans: Their Use and Local Impacts"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309175857/http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cced/economies/communityindicators/communityslogans.pdf |date=2013-03-09 }}, December 1993, accessed April 10, 2007. Nicknames and slogans that successfully create a new community "ideology or myth" are also believed to have economic value. This 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.Alfredo Andia, [http://www.monu.org/monu7/Branding.pdf Branding the Generic City :)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521163526/http://www.monu.org/monu7/Branding.pdf |date=2008-05-21 }}, MU.DOT magazine, September 10, 2007

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.

• Ashland – The Center of the Universe{{Cite web |last=Drake |first=Victoria |date=2020-04-28 |title=The Center of the Universe |url=https://virginialiving.com/towns/the-center-of-the-universe/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Virginia Living |language=en-US}}
• Bristol – The Birthplace of Country Music (shares this nickname with Bristol, Tennessee)[http://www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/ Birthplace of Country Music] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027220412/http://www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/ |date=2011-10-27 }} website
• Charlottesville
• Cville
• Colonial Beach – Oyster Capital of the Potomac{{cite web|first1=Wanda|last1=McKinney|url=http://www.southernliving.com/southern/features/southerners/article/0,28012,1044912,00.html|title=Our Favorite Town Slogans|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107124712/http://www.southernliving.com/southern/features/southerners/article/0%2C28012%2C1044912%2C00.html|archive-date=2007-11-07|work=Southern Living|date=April 2005}}
• Fredericksburg
• F’Burg
• America's Most Historic City{{cite book |title=Fredericksburg: America's Most Historic City |last=Goolrick |first=John. T. |year=2006 |publisher=Kessinger Publishing, LLC |isbn=978-1-4286-5422-8 }}
• Where History Never Gets Old[http://www.taglineguru.com/citymottosmonikers.html Tagline Guru City Branding Survey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115153902/http://www.taglineguru.com/citymottosmonikers.html |date=2011-11-15 }}, Tagline Guru website, accessed Aug 18, 2009
• Harrisonburg – The Friendly City[https://www.harrisonburgva.gov/at-a-glance] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315110719/http://www.harrisonburgva.gov/at-a-glance|date=2016-03-15}} Harrisonburg At-A-Glance website, accessed June 30, 2016
• Honaker – Redbud Capital of the World[http://www.honakerva.com/ Town of Honaker] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617134055/http://www.honakerva.com/ |date=2008-06-17 }} website, accessed July 30, 2008
• Lexington
• The Paris of Southwest Virginia [https://lexingtonvirginia.com/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123131059/https://lexingtonvirginia.com/|date=2018-11-23}} Lexington Virginia website
• Home of Hamric House [https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Streets_of_Lexington_Virginia.html?id=FCkTAAAAYAAJ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501023616/https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Streets_of_Lexington_Virginia.html?id=FCkTAAAAYAAJ|date=2019-05-01}} Streets of Lexington book
• Lynchburg
• City of Seven Hills[http://www.lynchburgonline.com/aboutlynchburg.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123214018/http://www.lynchburgonline.com/aboutlynchburg.html|date=2010-01-23}} Lynchburg Online website
• The Hill CityBarry Popik, [http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/summary12/ Smoky City] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706222013/http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/summary12 |date=2017-07-06 }}, barrypopik.com website, March 27, 2005
• Newport News
• Bad News
• Norfolk – Life, Celebrated Daily
• Mermaid City, USA
• Portsmouth – P-Town[https://www.pilotonline.com/news/columns/article_1728ae0c-9e83-5d36-b1d5-ca1e5a12e36e.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121044640/https://www.pilotonline.com/news/columns/article_1728ae0c-9e83-5d36-b1d5-ca1e5a12e36e.html|date=2021-01-21}} website
• Radford – The New River City{{cite web |url=http://www.radford.va.us/ |title=Radford City |access-date=2004-12-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041130092801/http://www.radford.va.us/ |archive-date=2004-11-30 }} Official nickname on website
• Richmond
• Capital of the South{{cite web|title=Civil War Richmond – The South's Capital|url=http://www.virginia.org/Listings/SuggestedItinerary/CivilWarRichmondTheSouthsCapital/|website=Virginia.org|access-date=2013-08-21|archive-date=2016-01-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111050807/http://www.virginia.org/Listings/SuggestedItinerary/CivilWarRichmondTheSouthsCapital/|url-status=live}}
• The River City[http://www.rivercityrichmond.com/ River City Magazine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906134859/http://www.rivercityrichmond.com/ |date=2011-09-06 }} website[http://www.discoverrichmond.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_DRMGArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784096701&path=!theme&parentid=1149189681664 History: River City Observed] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113172625/http://www.discoverrichmond.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_DRMGArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784096701&path=!theme&parentid=1149189681664 |date=2009-01-13 }}, Discover Richmond website
• RVA{{Cite web |url=http://www.richmondgov.com/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-03-18 |archive-date=2012-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103103032/http://www.richmondgov.com/ |url-status=live }}
• Dirt City
• Roanoke
• Magic City[http://www.calea.org/Online/newsletter/No89/aw54.htm Case 54: Roanoke, Virginia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070728210201/http://www.calea.org/Online/newsletter/No89/aw54.htm |date=2007-07-28 }}, Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies website, accessed January 5, 2008. "The City of Roanoke, once known as the 'Magic City' due to the speed of the city’s growth, was chartered in 1884."
• Star City of the South[http://www.roanokeva.gov/85256A8D0062AF37/vwContentByKey/N25DWPNC572LWODEN The Roanoke Star] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028014836/http://www.roanokeva.gov/85256a8d0062af37/vwContentByKey/N25DWPNC572LWODEN |date=2011-10-28 }}, City of Roanoke website, accessed January 5, 2008. The nickname refers to a large lighted star on a mountainside overlooking the city, installed in 1949 and originally intended as a Christmas decoration. "It was over 50 years ago Roanoke earned the nickname, 'Star City of the South,' and the star has been a part of the landscape of Mill Mountain ever since."
• Virginia Beach
• Neptune City
• The Resort City
• VA Beach
• Williamsburg
• The Burg{{cite web|url=http://law.wm.edu/about/ourtown/index.php|title=William & Mary Law School - Our Town - the 'Burg!|website=law.wm.edu|access-date=2011-11-03|archive-date=2011-10-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005231614/http://law.wm.edu/about/ourtown/index.php|url-status=live}}
• The Colonial Capital{{cite web|url=http://www.history.org/Almanack/places/hb/hbcap.cfm|title=Capitol of Colonial Williamsburg|website=www.history.org|access-date=2011-11-03|archive-date=2015-03-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327081853/http://www.history.org/almanack/places/hb/hbcap.cfm|url-status=live}}
• Thrilliamsburg
• Billysburg
• Winchester – Apple Capital of the World{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9F0CE6DC1430F931A2575AC0A965958260|title=The World Capital of Whatever|work=The New York Times|first1=Harold|last1=Faber|date=1993-09-12|access-date=2018-11-15|archive-date=2008-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418221645/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9F0CE6DC1430F931A2575AC0A965958260|url-status=live}}