You may have seen yesterday’s Free Lance editorial, which
pondered slogan options for Hollister
– from
”
Birthplace of the American biker
”
to
”
Hometown USA.
”
You may have seen yesterday’s Free Lance editorial, which pondered slogan options for Hollister – from “Birthplace of the American biker” to “Hometown USA.”
If you ask me what the town slogan is, the first thing that comes to mind is “Earthquake capital of the world,” which was the phrase of choice when I was growing up here. Shortly after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, Hollister’s moniker frequently came up in national media reports.
Since then, however, Parkfield – in southern Monterey County – has usurped the slogan and left us to figure out what, if anything, Hollister should be known for.
The biker references make sense, though since the city is choosing to shutter itself during the Independence Day weekend this year, it doesn’t seem appropriate.
A quick Google check reveals hundreds of interesting town slogans across the country and around the world.
Who knew that Sturgis, Michigan, is the curtain rod capital of the world? I hear that city is expecting window blind manufacturers to descend on the town this summer, so it won’t officially roll out the red carpet for them.
If you’re planning a vacation around a destination spot, consider Wiggins, Colorado, the center pivot irrigation capital of the world. Fascinating. The T-shirt business must be crazy there.
Towns in middle America seem to like slogans.
There’s Washington, Missouri, the corn cob pipe capital of the world, and Collinsville, Illinois, the horseradish capital of the world.
Down South, Fort Payne, Alabama, is the sock capital of the world; Beaver, Oklahoma, is the cow chip throwing capital of the world (Don’t throw a pie before it’s dry); Warwick, Georgia, is the grits capital of the world; and Dalton, Georgia, is the carpet capital of the world.
Personally, I’m dying to visit Farmington, Maine, the ear muff capital of the world. They must have a crazy festival each winter.
Farmington tourist to local resident: “Hi, can you direct me to a good place to eat?”
Ear muff-wearing local to tourist: “Huh? Can you speak up?”
What a party.
If Hollister needs a slogan – and for the sake of argument, let’s say it does – here are some suggestions:
Mexican food and pizza place capital of the world.
Sewer moratorium that may never end capital of the world.
Illegal fireworks capital of the world.
Big truck capital of the world.
Stewed tomato smell capital of the world.
Everybody knows everybody else’s business capital of the world.
Downtown parade capital of the world.
Country cruise capital of the world.
Afternoon wind capital of the world.
Tri tip capital of the world.
With apologies to Golden, Colorado, “The Coors Light capital of the world.”
Tree service business card left at the front door capital of the world.
Ice cream vendor on a bicycle capital of the world.
And if all else fails, we could call ourselves the “We can’t figure out what we’re famous for capital of the world.”
Adam Breen teaches journalism and yearbook at San Benito High School. He is former editor of The Free Lance.
