List of disparaging nicknames for settlements in the United States

This is a list of disparaging nicknames for settlements in the United States, including states, cities, towns, universities and schools. These pejorative nicknames may be coined for a variety of reasons. Some may be a straightforward desire to slander or disparage the city, while others may be examples of self-deprecating humor. While residents of the cities may see such nicknames as offensive, they may also be reclaimed as positive, even affectionate terms. Still other nicknames may simultaneously serve to attack the city from the outside and as a point of pride for its residents, especially those criticizing local politics.

Etymology of these terms varies. Some are simple portmanteaus of the city name and profanity; others may reference a specific aspect of the city, such as an unfortunate incident in its past.

States, territories and federal districts

 * California: Land of fruits and nuts
 * Illinois: Illnoise, Suburban Chicago, Land'o'Lincoln (considered disparaging in the pre-Civil Rights South)
 * Louisiana: Loserana
 * Massachusetts: Taxachusetts
 * Michigan: That State Up North
 * Missouri: Misery
 * Texas: Texass, The Big Tumbleweed, South of Sane, Land of the Giant Spiders
 * Washington, DC: Hollywood for Ugly People, Murder Capital of America

Alabama

 * Birmingham: The Tragic City

Alaska

 * Anchorage: Los Anchorage
 * Fairbanks: Squarebanks

California

 * Berkeley: Berzerkeley, The People's Republic of Berkeley, Twerkeley
 * Davis: People's Republic of Davis
 * Los Angeles: La-La Land
 * Palo Alto: Shallow Alto
 * Redwood City: Deadwood City
 * Sacramento: Suckramento
 * San Francisco: San Franpsycho, San Franshitsco
 * Santa Monica: People's Republic of Santa Monica

Colorado

 * Boulder: The People's Republic of Boulder
 * Lafayette: Laugh at It

Florida

 * Fort Lauderdale: Fort Liquordale
 * Gainesville: Rainesville
 * Jacksonville: Murder Capital of Florida
 * Tallahassee: Tallanasty

Georgia

 * Columbus: Killumbus

Illinois

 * Chicago: Beirut by the Lake, Chiberia, Chi-raq, Second City, Shitcago

Indiana

 * Indianapolis: India-no-place

Iowa

 * Sioux City: Sewer City

Kansas

 * Dodge City: The Wickedest Little City in America

Louisiana

 * New Orleans: The Big Sleazy

Maryland

 * Baltimore: "Bodymore, Murderland", The City That Bleeds, Harm City, Mob Town
 * Takoma Park: The People's Republic of Takoma Park

Massachusetts

 * Cambridge: The People's Republic of Cambridge
 * Somerville: Slummerville
 * Worcester: Wormtown

Nevada

 * Las Vegas: Lost Wages

New Hampshire

 * Concord: The City in a Coma

New Jersey

 * Asbury Park: The Dark City
 * Dumont: The Dirty D

New Mexico

 * Gallup: Drunk Driving Capital of America

New York

 * Albany: Smallbany
 * Amsterdam: Amsterico
 * Auburn: The Prison City
 * New York City: Hymietown, The Modern Gomorrah, New York Shitty
 * Staten Island: The Forgotten Borough
 * Rochester: Rottenchester
 * Utica: The City That God Forgot
 * Yonkers: Junkers

North Carolina

 * Fayetteville: Torture Town
 * Greensboro: Greensboring

North Dakota

 * Minot: Mindrot

Ohio

 * Cincinnati: Cincinasty
 * Cleveland: The Sleepy City, The Mistake on the Lake
 * Dayton: Little Detroit
 * Youngstown: Murdertown

Oregon

 * Astoria, Oregon: ASS-toria
 * Portland: Little Beirut, Porn-land

Pennsylvania

 * Philadelphia: Filthadelphia, Filthydelphia, or Killadelphia
 * Pittsburgh: Shittsburgh

Texas

 * Dallas: Dallass, South Oklahoma
 * El Paso: Hell Paso
 * Houston: Baghdad on the Bayou

Utah

 * Salt Lake City: Smog Lake City

Vermont

 * Burlington: The People's Republic of Burlington

Washington

 * Tacoma: Tackyoma

Wisconsin

 * Kenosha: Kenowhere
 * Racine: Ratzine

Universities

 * Florida Atlantic University: Find Another University
 * Illinois State University: I Screwed Up
 * Indiana University Bloomington: Loosiers
 * Kent State University: Kent Read, Kent Write
 * Purdue University: Purdon't, Turdue
 * University of California, Irvine: University of Chinese Immigrants
 * University of California, Los Angeles: University of Caucasians Lost Among Asians
 * University of California, San Diego: UC Socially Dead
 * University of Massachusetts Amherst: ZooMass
 * University of Michigan: That Team Up North (TTUN)
 * University of North Florida: University of No Football
 * University of Oklahoma: Chokelahoma, Jokelahoma, Mobilehoma
 * University of Southern California: University of Spoiled Children, University of South Central