List of city nicknames in Montana

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This partial list of city nicknames in Montana compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that cities in Montana 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.

  • Billings
    • The Magic City[3]
    • Montana's Trailhead[4]
    • Montana's City[5]
    • Star of the Big Sky Country[6]
    • B-Town. A recently-trending, popular unofficial nickname for Billings is "B-Town". Although the names of three of Montana's largest cities, Billings, Bozeman, & Butte all start with "B", Billings is the city associated, especially on social media, with the nickname "B-town". Another example of Billings' interesting monopoly of the letter "B" in its monikers can be found in reference to MSU-B, née Eastern Montana University, the largest college or university in Billings, which merged, as part of the 1994 reorganization of Montana's state university system, with Montana State University, founded over 100 years prior in Bozeman, Montana. "Eastern" as her alumni nicknamed their alma mater, was then renamed and now known under her current name of Montana State University Billings, or MSUB, retaining mascot Yellowjackets while the original MSU in Bozeman retains original mascot (Golden)Bobcats, or "Cats", as popularly known. (see Cat-Griz/Griz-Cat game, Brawl of the Wild.)
  • Bozeman – Bozangeles,[7] The Bozone[8]
  • Butte
  • Cut Bank – Coldest Spot in the Nation[12]
  • Glasgow – The middle of nowhere[13]
  • Glendive – Good People Surrounded by Badlands[14]
  • Great Falls – The Electric City[15]
  • Helena – Queen City of the Rockies[16]
  • Kalispell – Hub of the Valley[17]
  • Libby – City of Eagles[18][19]
  • Missoula – The Garden City,[20] Zootown[21]


See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b Alfredo Andia, Branding the Generic City :) Archived 2008-05-21 at the Wayback Machine, MU.DOT magazine, September 10, 2007
  3. ^ Billings The Magic City Archived 2011-09-30 at the Wayback Machine, Billings Public Schools website, accessed June 2, 2010. "Billings got its nickname, The Magic City, because it seemingly grew overnight into the largest distribution center in Montana."
  4. ^ "Home". brandbillings.com.
  5. ^ "Employment Opportunities & Procedures | City of Billings, MT - Official Website". Archived from the original on 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
  6. ^ "City of Billings, MT - Official Website | Official Website". Archived from the original on 2018-07-14. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  7. ^ "We should take caution from 'Bozangeles' tag". Archived from the original on 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  8. ^ In the Bozone. Sunset, October 2005. Retrieved 2008-02-14. Archived October 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ John Emeigh (December 9, 2015). "Butte book highlights Mining City's Irish neighborhoods". KXLF. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  10. ^ "Mining City Christmas program help requested". The Montana Standard. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  11. ^ Butte page on Montana State Travel Information Site Archived 2005-03-06 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Claims to Fame - Weather Archived 2011-10-07 at the Wayback Machine, Epodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
  13. ^ "NBC News visits the 'middle of nowhere' — Glasgow, Montana". The Billings Gazette. Archived from the original on 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  14. ^ Glendive Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture Archived 2011-10-21 at the Wayback Machine website
  15. ^ "Great Falls page on Montana State Travel Information Site". Archived from the original on 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
  16. ^ Helena page on Montana State Travel Information Site Archived 2007-09-25 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ Kalispell page on Montana State Travel Information Site Archived 2011-10-20 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ "Libby City of Eagles: New Mineral Avenue Gateway Sculpture". LibbyMT.com. July 8, 2007. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  19. ^ "Libby, Montana: City of Eagles". Roadside America. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  20. ^ Missoula page on Montana State Travel Information Site Archived 2011-10-20 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ Herrera, Charene. "Why is Missoula Called Zootown?". 94.9 KYSS FM. Archived from the original on 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
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