BRINGING OUT THE DEMONYMS

BY DAN MILLER
May 18, 2006

Here's a little expansion on my previous essay.

Demonyms are names that refer to the inhabitants of a city, state or country.
Examples: Nashvillians.... Tennesseans.... Kentuckians, etc....

Since posting my last blog, I've learned more about some places than I probably needed to know.

Dennis Ferrier pointed out to me.... and I checked this out.... that the people of Durango, Colorado refer to themselves as "Durangotangs".
Well, it's their choice.

And, for whatever it's worth, I read that the preferred name for people in Colorado is "Coloradoans", not "Coloradans".

And did you know that for a while, in 1993, the town of Ismay, Montana legally changed its name to "Joe, Montana".
They were hoping to attract some tourists.
And they could use them.... Ismay (or Joe) is the smallest town in Montana with only 26 residents.

A few others nuggets.....
Citizens of Wyoming are called "Wyomingites"...
In Dallas they're "Dallasites"....
People in Erie, Pennsylvania call themselves "Erieites"....

"St. Louisans" live in St. Louis....
In Baltimore, they're either "Baltimoreans" or "Baltimorons" (I'd stick with the former).

Here's one I didn't realize.... citizens of Phoenix are "Phoenicians".

Most in Connecticut call themselves "Connecticuters", but others like to be called "Nutmeggers".

In Michigan, a man is called a "Michigander"... while a woman is called a "Michigoose".

Folks, I wouldn't make this stuff up...... well, OK, I did make up that part about women in Michigan.

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