City on the Grow Slogan

In 1963, the Washington Association of Commerce thought that the city’s old slogan, “Model Little Residence City of Illinois,” first used in the 1930s, had become stale and had fallen out of use. They decided to hold a contest to find a new slogan.

The rules were simple. The slogan needed to be seven words or less and submitted by a Washington resident. The winner of the contest would receive a $25 savings bond.

After the first publicity about the contest, only three submissions were received.  Another push in the local newspaper brought in around twenty more. In the end, 74 slogans were submitted by Washingtonians for the contest.

The contest winner with the submission “Washington—the City on the Grow” was 9-year-old Glen Calvert. Paul Stark Jr.'s “City of Work, Worship, and Wonderful Living” and Ed Oehler's “Where People Live with Pride—Washington” were the runner-up submissions.

“City on the Grow” remained Washington’s slogan into the 1970s, but its use faded. In 1981, Washington shifted gears to a new slogan: “Try Washington First.”