Why is New York called ‘The Big Apple’? This is how the city got the nickname

New York City is one of the top tourist destinations in the United States. For years, it has been known as ‘the city that never sleep’ or ‘Gotham’; However, the most popular nickname is ‘The Big Apple’, but how did this name originate? Read on and we will share its origins with you.

Why is New York called 'The Big Apple'?

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

The nickname 'the Big Apple' has its origins in horse racing. Sports journalist John Fitz Gerald, who wrote a column for the New York Morning Telegraph about horse racing and racetracks in New York, was the one who started using it.

According to History.com, around 1920, the journalist heard some African-American stable hands in New Orleans say they were going to ’the Big Apple,’ in reference to the racetracks in New York City being considered important venues.

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On the other hand, a “big apple” meant the best prize money. This is how all the competitions in New York City began to be referred to as “the Big Apple”, because there the biggest prizes were awarded. Becoming familiar with these terms, Fitz Gerald soon began using the term ‘the Big Apple’ in his columns.

The term also began to be used among jazz musicians as the city became the city with the top venues in which to perform.

The resurgence of 'The Big Apple'

Although the term fell somewhat aside, it became relevant again in the early 1970s as part of a tourism campaign to improve the image of New York, which was experiencing economic problems and high rates of crime.

Charles Gillett was the man credited with creating the advertising campaign. Gillet was president of the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau. Furthermore, as a fan of jazz knew that ‘the Big Apple’ had once been a nickname that gave the city respect as a place where you’d made it to the big time.

He began using it to promote the city, first handing out ‘Big Apple’ lapel stickers before it spread in popularity with high-profile people donning them and passing them out including New York Knicks star Dave DeBusschere. Then it was put on other promotional items and this time, the name stuck and continues to this day.