Why New York Is Called "The Big Apple" and How 8 Other Famous Cities Got Their Nicknames: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Photos

Sydney Opera House

New York, New York

Palace of Nations

The CN Tower rises 1,815 feet,555 metres,above the rest of the Toronto skyline. The communications tower is the world's tallest freestanding structure.

Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Aerial view of the Las Vegas Strip at dusk, with brightly lit hotels and casinos lining the main road, city lights stretching into the distance, and mountains on the horizon.

Sydney Opera House

See All Images →

Topics

city nickname Who Founded Chicago?Why Is Missouri Called the Show Me State?St. Louis: 10 Claims to Fame Why is Utah called the Beehive State?urban sprawl Largest Cities in Latin America Why Is Boston Called “Beantown”?Olympic Games host cities Why is New York called the Empire State?Seattle: 10 Claims to Fame