Why is NY called Big Apple?

New York City is one of the most recognizable and influential cities, not just the United States, but across the entire world. People flock from all classes and races to be a part of this electrifying city that always seems to have the buzz going on no matter what time of the day or night it may be. One of the more famous references to the city that has actually been used since the early 1920′s, is the Big Apple. It symbolizes what the city is all about and is a huge marketing ploy as well.

The term, ‘Big Apple,, originated in the 1920′s when newspapers and other media outlets were trying to draw people to New York. It was actually used to define the prizes and big payouts that people could win at the horse race tracks that seemed to be all over the city. These tracks were huge draws to some of the more influential people to the big city and later led to more and more common folks coming in and spending their hard earned cash at the tracks. Everyone wanted a piece of the ‘Big Apple’ and this marketing ploy worked wonders for the suddenly booming economy.

Eventually, the city of New York adopted the term because of the success it brought to the city and which has been called by that name since then. A big boost to this reference actually came from the many Jazz musicians that would play in the hundreds of clubs that filled New York City. This notoriety pretty much solidified the nickname and the city has never looked back ever since.

I always regarded the reference as a very cheerful and inviting one for the city. With this, I would certainly be drawn to such an electrifying city that uses such an upbeat symbol to define itself. The usage of the term, ‘Big Apple’, has helped the city explode into the multimedia conglomerate that it is today.