The United States is full of capital cities, but not just state capitals like Albany, New York, or Salem, Oregon. In addition to these seats of local government, there are numerous locations that are so well known for a particular food or cultural phenomenon, they've been dubbed a national "capital," from SoCal’s “Citrus Capital of the World” or “America’s Polka Capital” in Ohio.

Many American towns have embraced their niche, transforming a hyper-specific concept into a point of regional pride. Certain cities have rebranded as the must-visit destination to come and try a specific type of food or listen to a certain genre of music. Here are six “capital” cities around the United States you should check out.

Citrus Capital of the World - Santa Paula, California

Located just 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles, the California town of Santa Paula sits firmly within the lush agricultural haven known as the Santa Clara River Valley. But long before it was known as the “Citrus Capital of the World,” Santa Paula was actually nicknamed the “Queen of the Silver Screen,” as it was California’s pre-Hollywood film capital during the early 1900s. Later, as Hollywood transformed into the epicenter for cinema that it is today, Santa Paula pivoted and built a new regional identity around fruit.

This rebrand sought to highlight the town’s many orange and lemon groves. (Santa Paula is also known for its lush avocado fields, though that falls outside the realm of citrus.) One company known as Limoneira played a pivotal role in Santa Paula’s early history, as it was founded in 1893, nine years before the city was officially incorporated. Limoneira helped popularize the local cultivation of lemons and Valencia oranges, an industry that still thrives today. The city continues to be a major nationwide distributor of citrus products, and celebrates their proud heritage with a Citrus Festival each July.

America’s Polka Capital - Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland may be home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but that’s not the only genre of music beloved by city residents. In fact, another music hall of fame sits just a few miles northeast — the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame. This museum pays tribute to a specific style stemming from Slovenia, and though it was founded in 1987, it proudly recognizes the decades-old heritage of polka music within the city.

Polka music made its way to America by way of European immigrants throughout the 1840s, and in 1845, local musician Jackson Leland famously penned a polka dance for his beloved Cleveland Brass Band. In the mid-1900s, another local musician named Frankie Yankovic was heralded as the Polka King, further deepening the connection between Cleveland and polka. Given Cleveland’s large eastern European immigrant population, the genre persisted for decades to come, earning Cleveland the rightful title of “America’s Polka Capital.”

Horse Capital of the World - Marion County, Florida

Few places are more proud of their equine heritage than Marion County, Florida, specifically the city of Ocala. This north-central Florida location has been deemed the “Horse Capital of the World,” and for good reason. From farms to racetracks and training centers, Ocala is the place where horse owners flock with grand aspirations to either live among the horses, or transform a horse of their own into a champion.

Ocala boasts a plethora of horse farms, totalling over 1,200 farms that offer guided tours and carriage rides to curious tourists. Furthermore, there are countless racetracks and training centers in Ocala — as horseracing is a major part of the city’s identity — including the country’s largest equestrian complex. These facilities have produced multiple horseracing champions emanating from the city, including two Triple Crown winners: Affirmed and American Pharoah. With over 35,000 horses and nearly double the amount of horse-loving humans, Ocala truly is the Horse Capital of the World.

Barbecue Capital of the World - Lexington, North Carolina

A lot of places are known for their regional styles of barbecue, and you’d be hard pressed to get every pitmaster to agree on what style is the best. But that hasn’t stopped the town of Lexington, North Carolina, from boldly claiming to be the “Barbecue Capital of the World.” It’s impossible to deny Lexington’s passion for slow-cooked meat, as the city’s 19 BBQ joints serve just 19,000 residents, giving it the most barbecue restaurants per capita of any world city.

Carolina-style barbecue is all about pulled pork, and you can experience some of that delicious shredded meat for yourself by traversing down Lexington’s Historic Barbecue Trail. Beginning with the Skylight Inn and ending at Herb’s Pit Bar-B-Que, hungry diners who set out on the trail get to experience both distinct barbecue styles — one that utilizes whole hog and the other just the pork shoulder — that are native to the Tar Heel State. The best time of the year to visit Lexington is late October, as the city holds an annual barbecue festival that attracts over 100,000 attendees. All you need to bring is an empty stomach.

Insurance Capital of the World - Hartford, Connecticut

For most people, dealing with their insurance can be a headache. But if you ask any resident of Hartford, Connecticut, they’d proudly confirm that their hometown isn’t just the state capital, but also the “Insurance Capital of the World.” With over 150 companies that operate offices out of Hartford, insurance is a multi-billion dollar industry for the city, providing tens of thousands of residents with jobs. But this isn’t just a recent phenomenon, as insurance actually made its way to Hartford several centuries ago.

Hartford began its association with insurance back in 1810, when local residents formed the Hartford Fire Insurance Company to protect warehouses against fires. That same company grew into an early insurance giant, even insuring Abraham Lincoln’s family home in Illinois. The company also worked to help various cities recover from tragedies such as the Chicago Fire of 1871 and 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Nowadays, major insurance providers such as Aetna and Travelers call Hartford home, reaffirming its place at the epicenter of the industry.

Rodeo Capital of the World - Cody, Wyoming

There’s no place that loves wrangling up cattle quite like Cody, Wyoming. This “Rodeo Capital of the World” has a long rodeo history dating back to the early 1900s. Traveling showman Buffalo Bill Cody — who helped found the city — brought his famed Wild West Show to the town for a final performance in front of the Prince of Monaco, who just so happened to be traveling through the region. Though Buffalo Bill passed away in 1917, efforts to commemorate his legacy began shortly thereafter, and the Cody Stampede was officially born in 1919.

This massive citywide event has been held every summer since 1919 in early July, though fear not if you can’t make it that time of year. The town of Cody is the only place in America that offers nightly rodeo performances. This “capital” has won countless accolades including “Best Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year,” solidifying its reputation as a place to visit for cowboys and rodeo lovers alike.