How did Boston earn the nickname Beantown?

Boston is sometimes referred to as "Beantown," but the exact origins of the nickname aren't a matter of reliable historical record. There are a few different theories that seek to explain how the Beantown nickname came to be, a few of which focus on the association of baked beans with the city of Boston.

There are a few different variations on the baked-bean theme, including the fact that many people in the Boston area traded locally distilled rum for molasses, which is a common ingredient in baked beans. Tourism slogans may also be responsible, including one that apparently told would-be visitors that one doesn't "know beans" until they've made a visit to Boston.