Discovering the Origins of New York City’s Nickname ‘The Big Apple’

New York City has been the background of many series and movies in which it has been given different nicknames, such as ‘the city that never sleeps’ or ‘Gotham’. However, the most popular is undoubtedly ‘the Big Apple’ (The Big Apple, in English). Where does this name come from?

Although New York State is the second largest producer of apples in the United States, New York City’s nickname has nothing to do with fruit production.

Why is New York called ‘The Big Apple’ and where does the name come from?

The nickname ‘the Big Apple’ originates from horse racing. Sportswriter John Fitz Gerald was the one who started using it. Gerald wrote a column for the New York Morning Telegraph on horse racing and racetracks in New York.

In accordance with History.comaround 1920, the journalist overheard some African-American stable boys in New Orleans saying that they were going to ‘the big Apple’, a reference to New York City. This is because the racetracks in NYC were considered important places.

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The term can also be related to another aspect of horse racing. A “big apple” referred to the best prize money. Because of this, all the competitions in New York City began to be referred to as “the Big Apple”, since in this place the biggest prizes were delivered.

Fitz Gerald soon began using the term ‘the Big Apple’ in his columns.

‘The Big Apple’ and tourism in New York City

The term became relevant again until early 1970sas part of a tourist campaign to improve the image of New York. At the time, NYC was experiencing economic problems and high crime rates.

Charles Gillett was the man credited with creating the ad campaign. Gillet was president of the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau. Besides, he knew that ‘the Big Apple’ had once been a nickname that brought respect to the city. This time, the name stuck and continues to this day.