The nickname “Forest City” conjures images of towering trees, shaded avenues, and deep civic pride in a community’s natural canopy. Far from belonging to a single place, this evocative title has been bestowed on several cities across North America — each earning it through unique blends of horticultural enthusiasm, urban planning, and geography.
This article uncovers every major city called by the nickname, traces its origins, and explores why the name has endured as a badge of green identity.
The nickname “Forest City” is used by several cities, including Cleveland, Ohio; London, Ontario; and Rockford, Illinois. Cleveland was the first to adopt the name in the 1840s, London made it an official city slogan, and Rockford’s dense urban forest gave it the popular moniker. Several other towns are literally named Forest City, but the nickname itself is historically tied to these urban centers with deep tree-canopy heritage.
Fact
Detail
Nickname
Forest City
Meaning
A city distinguished by abundant trees, forested landscapes, or a strong tree-planting culture
Number of Cities (Nickname)
At least 3 major cities (plus several places named Forest City)
Most Famous City
Cleveland, Ohio
First Known Usage
Cleveland, 1840s
What Does “Forest City” Mean?
At its simplest, “Forest City” describes a city that is either exceptionally wooded, intensively landscaped with trees, or deeply committed to urban forestry. The phrase was never a fixed official term in its early days — it emerged from the observations of writers, horticulturists, and visitors who saw something remarkable in a city’s relationship with its trees.
The origin of the phrase is American, rooted in the 19th-century horticultural movement that swept across the United States and Canada. Urban boosters and civic organizations often promoted tree planting as a moral and aesthetic good, and calling a place by the nickname became a powerful shorthand for natural beauty, healthfulness, and civic virtue. The label could refer to a town literally carved out of a forest, a city that planted thousands of street trees, or a community that fiercely protected its wooded river valleys.
Why Do So Many Cities Share This Nickname?
Multiple cities being called the Forest City isn’t a coincidence — it reflects a common 19th-century desire to stand out as a green oasis in an industrializing world. Several factors explain why the nickname spread:
Horticultural societies and civic pride: In the mid-1800s, tree-planting campaigns were a popular form of city beautification. Cleveland’s horticultural society explicitly promoted the label.
Geography and natural cover: London, Ontario sat within a vast Carolinian forest, making the name an obvious descriptor. Rockford’s bluffs and riverbanks supported a dense natural canopy.
Newspaper promotion: Local editors often coined or popularized the phrase. In Cleveland and London, newspapers played a central role in embedding the nickname into public consciousness.
Tourism and boosterism: By the late 19th century, cities used the title in promotional literature to attract residents and investment, further cementing its use.
The result is a shared nickname, but each city’s story is distinctly its own.
City
State/Country
Status
Why It Uses the Nickname
Cleveland
Ohio, USA
Popular / Historical
Originated with the Cleveland Horticultural Society and tree-planting efforts in the 1840s; celebrated by the Plain Dealer newspaper.
London
Ontario, Canada
Official
Dense natural forest cover and over 6 million trees; officially branded “The Forest City” by the municipality.
Rockford
Illinois, USA
Popular
Earned the title from its heavily wooded riverbanks and extensive park system, beginning in the 1870s.
Forest City
Arkansas, USA
City Name
Originally named Forrest City, then incorporated as Forest City; not a nickname, but the literal municipal name.
Forest City
Iowa, USA
City Name
Founded in an area of heavy timber; the name reflects the surrounding forest, not a nickname.
Forest City
North Carolina, USA
City Name
Name chosen at incorporation in 1877; it is the municipality’s actual name, not a secondary moniker.
Top Cities Explained
Cleveland, Ohio — The Original City of Forest
Cleveland’s claim as the Forest City is the oldest and most historically documented. According to the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, the term was first applied to the city in the 1840s. The secretary of the Cleveland Horticultural Society, William Case, and later newspaper editor Joseph William Gray of the Cleveland Plain Dealer were instrumental in popularizing it. Gray, struck by the beauty of the city’s tree-lined streets after visiting a wooded area, used the nickname in print to describe Cleveland, and the name stuck.
The nickname was more than poetic — it reflected a real, organized movement. The Cleveland Horticultural Society, founded in 1846, encouraged citizens to plant trees across the rapidly growing lakefront city. By the 1860s, it was appearing on maps, business names, and even sports teams. In the late 19th century, Cleveland’s professional baseball club was officially named the Forest Citys. Today, the legacy persists: the massive real estate development firm Forest City Enterprises (later acquired by Brookfield) took its name directly from the city’s historic moniker. Though Cleveland doesn’t officially designate it today, the nickname remains woven into the city’s identity, visible in street names, businesses, and historical markers.
London, Ontario — Canada’s Official Forest City
London, Ontario, is likely the city most formally attached to the Forest City title. The nickname emerged around 1856, when the London Free Press described the settlement as a “city in the forest.” Unlike Cleveland, where the term was tied to a horticultural society, London’s descriptor was purely geographic — the town sat within a dense expanse of Carolinian forest, with towering oaks, maples, and walnuts. Early maps and travel accounts consistently emphasized the remarkable tree cover.
The city officially embraced the nickname in the 20th century. Today, the municipality brands itself as “The Forest City,” and the tagline appears on official websites, tourism materials, and welcome signs. London is home to more than 6 million trees and a celebrated urban canopy that covers roughly 23% of the city. Its annual Forest City Tree Festival and extensive network of parks (including the vast “Forest City” trail system) keep the name vibrant. London’s association is so strong that the term is essentially part of the city’s legal branding, used by city council and economic development agencies alike.
Rockford, Illinois — The City of Forest of the Midwest
Rockford’s Forest City identity emerged in the 1870s, when visitors and newspaper correspondents marveled at the city’s natural beauty along the Rock River. The forested bluffs, heavily wooded river islands, and extensive groves of oak and hickory gave the city a sylvan appearance unusual for an Illinois manufacturing town. The Rockford Daily Register-Gazette and early promotional literature consistently referred to Rockford as the “Forest City,” a compliment to the community’s commitment to preserving its natural landscape.
Unlike Cleveland and London, Rockford’s nickname never became official, but it remains a powerful cultural touchstone. Local businesses, parks, and neighborhood associations still invoke the Forest City name. The Rockford Park District, one of the oldest and largest in Illinois, protects thousands of acres of forested parkland, including the Sinnissippi Gardens and the Klehm Arboretum. The nickname endures as a reminder that even a bustling industrial hub can maintain a deep bond with its woodland roots.
Year
Event
1846
The Cleveland Horticultural Society is founded, promoting widespread tree planting and the “Forest City” image.
1840s
Cleveland’s *Plain Dealer* editor Joseph William Gray coins or popularizes the “Forest City” nickname in print.
1856
The *London Free Press* describes London, Ontario, as a “city in the forest,” seeding its future official nickname.
1870s
Rockford, Illinois, begins to be widely called the Forest City due to its wooded riverbanks and abundant parklands.
20th–21st century
London, Ontario, officially adopts “The Forest City” as its civic brand; Cleveland’s Forest City Enterprises becomes a national real estate firm.
Cleveland, Ohio
London, Ontario
Rockford, Illinois
Official status
Popular / Historical
Official civic brand
Popular
Origin
Horticultural Society, 1840s
Newspaper description of dense forest, 1856
Newspapers and boosters, 1870s
Meaning
A city intensively planted with trees; civic beautification
A city within a vast natural forest
A city defined by wooded river bluffs and parks
Historical significance
Oldest documented use; linked to horticultural movement
Only city to formally adopt the nickname as legal branding
Symbol of industrial city’s commitment to green space
Current usage
Business names, cultural references, sports heritage
Official tourism, city events, municipal branding
Local business names, park identity, community pride
Interesting fact
The name inspired the real estate giant Forest City Enterprises
Over 6 million trees; annual Forest City Tree Festival
Rockford Park District manages one of the largest urban forest preserves in the Midwest
Myth
Reality
London, Ontario, was the first city called the Forest City.
Cleveland, Ohio, had already been using the nickname since the 1840s, more than a decade earlier than London’s first printed reference.
Only cities with “Forest City” as an official slogan can use the name.
The nickname is used both officially (London) and unofficially but historically (Cleveland, Rockford). It’s not a regulated term.
Any city with many trees can claim the title today.
While many cities are green, the nickname has specific historical origins in each community that adopted it. It is not simply a descriptive label for any tree-filled place.
Cleveland, Ohio, is widely considered the original Forest City. The nickname was first recorded in the 1840s in connection with the Cleveland Horticultural Society and the Plain Dealer newspaper.
How many cities are called the Forest City?
Three major cities use the nickname: Cleveland, London, and Rockford. Additionally, several small towns in the U.S. are literally named Forest City.
Is Forest City an official nickname for Cleveland?
No, Cleveland has never officially designated it as a municipal slogan, but the nickname has deep historical roots and remains a popular identifier.
Why is Rockford, Illinois, called the Forest City?
Rockford earned the nickname in the 1870s because of its dense tree cover along the Rock River, its heavily wooded bluffs, and its early commitment to parkland preservation.
Are there cities actually named Forest City?
Yes, several incorporated places in the U.S. are named Forest City, including towns in Arkansas, Iowa, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Florida. They are named that way, not nicknamed.
What is the most famous Forest City?
Cleveland, Ohio, has the greatest historical recognition due to the nickname’s early origin, its link to a major league baseball team, and its influence on business naming.
Conclusion
The Forest City nickname is a living testament to the 19th-century desire to weave nature into urban life. From the tree-planting fervor of Cleveland to the official branding of London and the river-valley pride of Rockford, each city shaped the name in its own image.
While today many cities boast impressive canopies, these three — along with a handful of similarly named towns — carry a historical title that speaks directly to their green heart. For more deep dives into the world of city nicknames, explore the guides above.
