PENNSYLVANIA - The city of Reading, Pennsylvania, holds a delicious and crunchy claim to fame, best known by its most famous nickname: "The Pretzel City."
Pretzel City, USA: The Story Behind Reading, Pennsylvania's Famous Nickname
This moniker is a direct reflection of Reading's long and dominant history in the production of pretzels. For over a century, the city and surrounding Berks County have been home to numerous pretzel bakeries, including large, historic companies like Bachman, Tom Sturgis, and Dieffenbach's. At one point, the area was producing more pretzels than any other city or region in the country, earning it the title "The Pretzel Capital of the World." While other nicknames, such as "Baseballtown" (due to its long baseball history), exist, "The Pretzel City" remains the most enduring and widely recognized symbol of Reading's unique industrial and culinary heritage.
Sources:
- Berks County Historical Society
- Local news archives and historical publications (e.g., Reading Eagle)
- Company histories of local pretzel bakeries
