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BS: Town Claims
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BS: Town Claims |
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Subject: BS: Town Claims From: Ed T Date: 21 Dec 11 - 09:49 AM We often see signs in small towns, or even large cities, like "The Lobster Capital of the World,Potato Capital of the World,Sweet Potato Capital of the World, French Fry Capital of the World",Soccer Capital of the World, Hockey Capital of the World, "Bear River, the Switzerland of Nova Scotia, etc. Many of these don't have much information to back them up, (and you often scratch your head to see why it is called that)but it is a source of local pride, and often interests tourists. I post an odd one below. Have you seen any odd or funny ones to contribute? State your claim Old paper |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: Ed T Date: 21 Dec 11 - 09:51 AM BTW, it was in the old paper, which has interesting stuff, where I learned of Clinton's claim to world fame. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: pdq Date: 21 Dec 11 - 10:54 AM Castroville: Artichoke Capital of the World Gilroy: Garlic Capital of the World |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: bobad Date: 21 Dec 11 - 11:05 AM Crappie Capital of the World |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: Jack the Sailor Date: 21 Dec 11 - 11:45 AM This town does not claim to be the capitol of anything. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: Little Hawk Date: 21 Dec 11 - 12:29 PM Ah, yes...glorious Dildo, Newfoundland! I've always thought they should erect some sort of towering monument there at the entrance to town, a sort of obelisk, something that would attract visitors from near and far, maybe even get luminaries like Madonna to pose beside it for publicity shots. It could be painted a nice shade of pink. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: Ed T Date: 21 Dec 11 - 02:00 PM Ever been to a bacon camp? Bring on the bacon! Bacon Aficionados? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: Jim Dixon Date: 21 Dec 11 - 02:17 PM Dyersville, Iowa used to be known as the "Farm Toy Capital of the World" when the Ertl Company did all its manufacturing there, but I think they downplay that title now that Ertl has outsourced all its manufacturing to overseas plants, and only maintains a warehouse and outlet store locally. Ertl is now owned by a Japanese company. It's kinda sad. Ertl was for a time the maker of all the Thomas the Tank Engine toys, in addition to its traditional toy tractors, plows, harvesters, etc., but I think someone else is doing that now. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: Jim Dixon Date: 21 Dec 11 - 02:29 PM Hey, there are so many of these that probably no one person could collect them all, but if we divvy them up, we possibly could. I suggest this: Everyone Google "capital of the world" (in quotes) along with the name of your state, province, county, or whatever, collect what you find in one message, and post it here. I'll do Minnesota, but I gotta go elsewhere right now. I'll report back later. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: Bettynh Date: 21 Dec 11 - 02:32 PM Here's a random list |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: Ed T Date: 21 Dec 11 - 07:16 PM Gilroy 'the garlic capital of the world' Yuba City 'the prune capital of the U.S.A. Pismo Beach (California)-Clam Capital of the World. (The Chamber of Commerce now says 'Pismo Beach was "once called The Clam Capital of the World", since clam production significantly dropped quiote a few years ago). Cordova (Alaska) was known as the "razor clam capital of the world" until 1964, when an earthquake wiped out the razor clam industry. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: Ed T Date: 21 Dec 11 - 07:28 PM There are too may places to mention who claim to be Buleberry capitol of the world Sumner, Washington, and Leola, South Dakota claim to be the Rhubarb Pie Capital of the World And, then there is Michigan: Capitol of pretty much everything |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: GUEST,999 Date: 21 Dec 11 - 07:36 PM Destination Bizarre Great American claims to fame by John Gettings If you're going to plan a road trip in America, why not be original? Anybody can visit the "gambling capital of the world" (Las Vegas), the "movie capital of the world" (Hollywood), and the "automotive capital of the world" (Detroit), but don't you want to dig a little deeper? Don't you want to get a little bit more out of your vacation? Well, you've come to the right place. Here is a closer look at ten of America's most interesting (self-proclaimed) "capitals of the world." Red Flannel Capital of the World Cedar Springs, Michigan Legend has it that a harsh winter in 1936 inspired a New York columnist to lament America's apparent shortage of red flannels. But editors from a local paper, who passed merchants in Michigan's lumberjack country selling the popular full-length woolen undergarments every day, knew otherwise. They responded with an editorial, which was picked up by a national news service. Orders flooded in, and three years later Cedar Springs celebrated the first Red Flannel Day. The tradition continues today with a festival that begins the last weekend in September. Cow Chip Throwing Capital of the World Beaver, Oklahoma What Wimbledon and Broadway are to aspiring tennis players and actors, this tiny panhandle town is to those who dream of hurling hardened cow dung great distances. Established as a tribute to the unique natural fuel source of the town's early settlers, Beaver has hosted the World Cow Chip Throwing Championship every April since 1969. According to the Hosiery Association, the industry's leading trade association, one out of every eight Americans who put on a pair of socks this morning will be wearing a pair made in Fort Payne/DeKalb County. Troll Capital of the World Mount Horeb, Wisconsin Mount Horeb is ground zero for this country's troll and mustard communities. One can start the day with a "Troll Stroll" down The Trollway, site of the country's largest collection of life-sized troll sculptures, which are carved into trees along the town's main drag. Then finish the day with a visit to the Mount Horeb Mustard Museum, featuring more than 3,500 mustards. Sock Capital of the World Fort Payne, Alabama According to The Hosiery Association, the industry's leading trade association, one out of every eight Americans who put on a pair of socks this morning will be wearing a pair made in Fort Payne/DeKalb County. The area's first sock mill, the W.B. Davis Hosiery Mill (1907), is no longer producing socks but still houses an antique mall with artifacts left over from the mill's past—and, understandably, lots of lint. Cereal Capital of the World Battle Creek, Michigan The birthplace of our favorite breakfast food still snaps, crackles, and pops with excitement. Today you can visit Kellogg's Cereal City USA, an interactive museum in Battle Creek that pays tribute to cereal and shows its impact on our culture. Visitors can observe a re-creation of a cereal production line, meet their favorite Kellogg's cereal-box celebrities, and buy a box of cereal with their face on it. Loon Capital of the World [I was sure Washington, DC held the title!] Mercer, Wisconsin In addition to being a favorite fishing spot for notorious gangster Al Capone, this northern Wisconsin town, which boasts of more than 200 lakes within a 20-mile radius, features the world's largest loon. A 16-foot-tall, 2,000-pound fiberglass waterfowl has stood on the lawn of the chamber of commerce since 1981. Mushroom Capital of the World Kennett Square, Pennsylvania No U.S. state produces more mushrooms than Pennsylvania. So it makes sense that here, in the heart of mushroom country, one would find the Phillips Mushroom Museum. Established in 1972, the museum chronicles three generations of the mushroom-farming Phillips family beginning with Pennsylvania mushroom pioneer William W. Phillips, a man who really knew his shiitake. Decoy Capital of the World Havre de Grace, Maryland Situated on the banks of the Susquehanna River, this Maryland community has been home to the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum since 1986. It features the country's largest collection of wooden duck decoys, most carved between 1930 and 1990. Bratwurst Capital of the World Sheboygan, Wisconsin Sheboygan's celebration of America's most mysterious pork sausage is called Bratwurst Days. The two-day festival of music and bratwurst is held annually on the first weekend in August. Connoisseurs come from all over to experience some of the industry's newest brats, such as taco bratwurst, Cajun bratwurst, and jalapeno and cheddar bratwurst. Incidentally, Sheboygan's Memorial Hospital is the "angioplasty capital of the world." Just kidding. Read more: America's "Capitals of the World" — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/spot/roadtrip1.html#ixzz1hDeQTxKh |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: Bert Date: 21 Dec 11 - 09:08 PM Then there is the Bust, Colorado sign that used to boast Pop Zero. But I see since that it has been upgraded to Pop 2. Now I've heard of parthenogenesis but that is ridiculous. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: JennieG Date: 21 Dec 11 - 09:43 PM World capitals are a bit related to big things, aren't they? This is one of the claims to fame where I live. Cheers JennieG |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: Ed T Date: 21 Dec 11 - 09:57 PM ""Decoy Capital of the World"" I would have wagered that one was Washington DC :) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: ChanteyLass Date: 21 Dec 11 - 10:21 PM Pawtucket, RI, is supposed to be The Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution because that's where Samuel Slater built his mill in 1793. You can read more about it here. http://www.slatermill.org/museum/about/ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: Jim Dixon Date: 22 Dec 11 - 01:28 PM In my research, I was impressed that some communities do apparently pay attention to statistics. I infer this from their statement that they formerly held the title of such-and-such, thereby implying some other town has beaten them out. Also, I found instances where some private web site—one belonging to a vacation resort, for example—claimed that their community held the title of "Something-or-other Capital of the World," but when I checked the official website of the town, I found the actual claim was something more modest, such as "...Capital of the Midwest." Here's my list for Minnesota: [For each town, the first link goes to a Wikipedia article, which sometimes reports the claim—and the second goes to the town's own official web site or to some other organization that makes the claim.] Anoka, Minnesota – Halloween Capital of the World Askov, Minnesota – Former title: Rutabaga Capital of the World (Forest Grove, OR and Cumberland, WI now claim it) Askov acknowledges that their title lapsed when the rutabaga warehouse burned down! Austin, Minnesota – Spamtown, USA, a.k.a. Spam Capital of the World. (They're referring to the canned meat, not the junk email.) Baudette, Minnesota – Walleye Capital of the World – Port Clinton, OH also claims the title. Braham, Minnesota – Homemade Pie Capital of Minnesota. They cite the state legislature as their authority. Clontarf, Minnesota – Former title: Hay Capital of the World – now claimed by Inola, OK and Gilbert, AZ. Cloquet, Minnesota – Former title: White Pine Capital of the World – now claimed by Marinette, WI. Dorset, Minnesota – Restaurant Capital of the World. I assume they base their claim on the number of restaurants per capita since it is a very tiny town. Ely, Minnesota – Canoe Capital of the World Ely, Minnesota – Sled Dog Capital of the World – They've never heard of Alaska, apparently. Fountain, Minnesota – Sinkhole Capital of the World – also claimed by Palmyra, PA. They're referring to the geological phenomenon. Hibbing, Minnesota – Former title: Iron Capital of the World – "Iron Capital of America" is claimed by Warren, MI. Hopkins, Minnesota – Raspberry Capital of the World Lake Benton, Minnesota – "Original" Wind Power Capital of the Midwest. I assume the "original" means it has been surpassed. Lanesboro, Minnesota – "thought of by many as" Amish Capital of the World. Those "many" have never visited Ohio or Indiana, apparently. Lanesboro, Minnesota – Rhubarb Capital of Minnesota – more defensible than "Amish capital". Longville, Minnesota – Turtle Racing Capital of the World Madison, Minnesota – Lutefisk Capital USA. The world capital would have to be in Norway, I suppose. Minneapolis, Minnesota – Former title: Flour Milling Capital of the World (I think all the mills are closed now.) Montgomery, Minnesota - Kolacky Capital of the World Moose Lake, Minnesota – Agate Capital of the World Mountain Iron, Minnesota – Taconite Capital of the World Olivia, Minnesota – Corn Capital of the World Pine Island, Minnesota – Former title: Cheese Capital of the World. Have they never heard of Wisconsin? Preston, Minnesota – Minnesota's Trout Capital Taylors Falls, Minnesota – Pothole Capital of the World. They're referring to the natural geological formation, not the breakdown of pavement. Winona, Minnesota – Stained Glass Capital of the United States Worthington, Minnesota – Turkey Capital of the World - Actually, Worthington has an annual competition with Cuero, TX for the right to call itself Turkey Capital of the World—the winner is decided by a turkey race! Some web sites I ran across in my search: http://www.offices.net/city-slogans.htm http://www.epodunk.com/slogans/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_city_nicknames_in_the_United_States http://www.usacitiesonline.com/mottos.htm http://american-worldcapitals.blogspot.com/ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: Bill D Date: 22 Dec 11 - 04:17 PM Greensburg, Kansas - world's largest hand-dug well |
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Subject: RE: BS: Town Claims From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 22 Dec 11 - 06:18 PM Vegreville, Alberta. Home of the largest pysanka- Ukrainian decorated Easter egg. Photo here: http://www.vegrevillechamber.com/pysankastory.htm This part of Alberta has a large Ukrainian population and is sometimes referred to as "Little Ukraine." This pysanka has been illustrated on a Canadian postage stamp. |
