You have probably asked yourself this question more than once and the truth is that there are different theories in ¿Why New York Is Nicknamed "The Big Apple"? Each of them with a certain truth. It appears that city authorities did not officially adopt the nickname until 1971, despite the fact that many residents and visitors have been using the term since the 1920s. The 1971 campaign to popularize New York City as "the big apple ”included volunteers carrying apples and handing them out to tourists.
The first reference to New York City as the Big Apple is believed to have appeared in 1909. A man named Martin Wayfarer criticized the disproportionate amount of money from the nation that New York received every year. He compared the economy of a country to a tree with many branches, but the "big apple" (New York City), received a fairly large amount. New York residents have likely accepted such a reference with pride, as living in the "big apple" meant enjoying the benefits of a robust economy.
There is also a fairly popular theory involving New York sports commentator John J. Fitzgerald, who wrote about horse racing during the 1920s - horse racing is believed to have taken place in and around New York , they were known as apples, perhaps in reference to the winners' prizes. Fitzgerald took a trip to a stable in New Orleans in 1920 to sell one of his horses. It was there that he spoke to different riders, who referred to the New York horse racing scene as "the big apple." Later, Fitzgerald called his regular column in the newspaper "Notes from around the Big Apple," largely inspired by the words of the New Orleans horsemen.
There are many other theories and as you can see, each one of them has some truth. Would you like to visit the Big Apple?