Hog Island and the debated origin of the word 'hoagie'

One commonly cited etymology for the Philadelphia term 'hoagie' links it to Hog Island, a World War I–era shipyard and community on the Delaware River near the site of today's Philadelphia International Airport. According to this theory, workers at Hog Island ate sandwiches that became known as 'Hog Island' sandwiches and later 'hoagies'; this explanation is documented in local histories but remains debated among linguists and food historians. The Hog Island connection is a frequent element of local discussions about the sandwich's origin.