How German Sausage Towns Became an American Hot Dog Staple

• In materials suggesting that the hot dog term was first published in 14-year-old 1884 in Evansville Courier & Press.
• According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Germans named 19 regional varieties of hot dogs, and in the 1890s they began explaining them with their own parks.
• Researchers have linked the origins of hot dogs with New York, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Flint, and also with a 65-foot-long sculpture project at Times Square in 2024.

In the materials, it is explained that the hot dog term is said to have originated in the United States: the material states that in 1884 Evansville Courier & Press published a phrase about “hot dog” in its “hot dog” sense.

The publication says that Germans, in particular, have Weisswurst, Bockwurst, and Blutwurst at the time, and that they were described in American culture. According to the author of the book “Hot Dog: A Global History” Bruce Kraig, in the 1890s hot dogs were explained with their own parks.

However, it is believed that the origin of the hot dog in the German-American context is linked to the United States. According to the author of the book, the hot dog term was first used in 1884 in Evansville Courier & Press. It is also said that the Germans named 19 regional varieties of hot dogs, including those from Cleveland “Polish boy” to Sonoran dog, and Chicago dog, which are described as being made using traditional sauces.

The text also says that, according to the U.S. National Archives, hot dogs figured in diplomatic encounters between foreign countries, which is why “hot dog diplomacy” is mentioned in the materials. For example, it says that George VI and Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom visited the United States, and Nikita Khrushchev came to the United States.

Regional branding also includes the use of different ingredients in different places. New York sells hot dogs called “dirty water dogs,” while the traditional pairing is with sauerkraut, spicy brown mustard, and Onion Sauce. Chicago, meanwhile, serves hot dogs with a variety of toppings, including pickles, onions, tomato sauce, and ketchup.

The materials also note that the Cincinnati hot dog comes with chili, shredded cheese, and a topping of diced onions, while the Detroit hot dog comes with Coney dogs made with chili without beans. It also describes the Sonoran hot dog with bacon-wrapped hot pinto beans, regional sauces, and in the case of Zahidni Virzhiniya—“slaw dogs.”

Overall, the publication’s conclusion is that, in 2024, Times Square displayed 65-foot-long hot dog sculptures, and in 2023, the same author Jamie Loftus presented the book “Raw Dog: The Naked Truth about Hot Dogs.”

Tags: USA/Culture