Cincinnati

Cincinnati is the biggest city in Hamilton County, Ohio, in the United States. It is also the county seat. People started living there in 1788. The city sits near where the Licking and Ohio rivers meet. The Ohio River marks the border between Ohio and Kentucky. With about 309,317 people as of the 2020 census, Cincinnati is the third-most populous city in Ohio, after Columbus and Cleveland.

For much of the 1800s, Cincinnati was one of the ten biggest cities in the United States. It grew as an important place for shipping goods by steamboats. Many German-speaking immigrants moved there and helped create many of the city's cultural places. Later, the city became known for making things in factories. Because of its old and beautiful buildings, people sometimes called it the "Paris of America."

Today, Greater Cincinnati has a big economy. It is home to many large companies, including Kroger, Procter & Gamble, and GE Aerospace. Important schools like Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati are there. Cincinnati also has professional sports teams, such as the Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Reds, and FC Cincinnati.

History

Main article: History of Cincinnati

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Cincinnati.

Etymology

Two years after the settlement began as "Losantiville", Arthur St. Clair, the governor of the Northwest Territory, changed its name to "Cincinnati". He was president of the Society of the Cincinnati, a group of Continental Army officers from the Revolutionary War. The society was named after Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, a leader of ancient Rome who helped the city during a hard time and then stepped down, becoming a symbol of good leadership.

Early history

Cincinnati started in 1788 when Mathias Denman, Colonel Robert Patterson, and Israel Ludlow landed at the northern bank of the Ohio River opposite the Licking River and decided to settle there. The original surveyor, John Filson, named it "Losantiville", meaning "town opposite the mouth of the Licking". In 1790, St. Clair changed the name to honor the Society of the Cincinnati.

In 1811, steamboats began operating on the Ohio River, improving trade with places like St. Louis, Missouri, and New Orleans. Cincinnati became a city in 1819 and grew as a center for pork processing. Its population nearly tripled between 1810 and 1830.

Construction began on the Miami and Erie Canal in 1825, connecting Cincinnati to Middletown by 1827 and reaching Toledo by 1840. Railroads followed, with the Little Miami Railroad starting in 1836 to connect Cincinnati with the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad.

Residents of Cincinnati were active in helping enslaved people escape to the North. Tensions rose between those who supported freedom and those who did not, leading to difficult times in the city.

Industrial development and Gilded Age

See also: Cincinnati in the American Civil War

Cincinnati's location between free Ohio and slave-state Kentucky made it an important place for people escaping slavery. Many who worked against slavery lived there, and it was a key stop on routes to freedom.

In 1859, Cincinnati added six streetcar lines pulled by horses. By 1872, people could travel within the city and to nearby areas. In 1889, the city switched from horse-drawn cars to electric streetcars.

In 1875, Cincinnati hosted a major meeting of a group that promoted temperance, or not drinking alcohol.

In 1880, the city built a railway to Chattanooga, Tennessee, which was the only one owned by a city in the United States until 2024.

In 1884, a sad event happened after a court decision. Over three days, many people were hurt or lost their lives, and the leader of the city at that time lost his position.

20th century

At the start of the 20th century, Cincinnati had over 325,000 people. The city built many important buildings, including the Ingalls Building in 1903. During the Great Depression, the city did better than many others because river trade continued.

A big flood in 1937 caused damage along the Ohio River, and the city built flood walls to protect itself.

After World War II, the city made plans to update its center. The population reached its highest point in the 1950s at almost 510,000 people. Later, many people moved to the suburbs, and changes in industry led to hard times for some.

21st century to present

Paycor Stadium opened in 2000 and Great American Ball Park opened in 2003.

In 2018, FC Cincinnati joined a major soccer league. TQL Stadium opened in 2021. The 2020 census showed that Cincinnati's population had grown for the first time since 1950. In 2022, Aftab Pureval became the city's mayor.

Nicknames

Cincinnati has many nicknames, including Cincy, The Queen City, and "Porkopolis".

"The City of Seven Hills" comes from an old description of the city's landscape.

"Queen City" comes from a newspaper article and a poem.

"Porkopolis" came from the city's history with pork. A park built in 1988 included sculptures called the "Flying Pigs", which inspired the city's Flying Pig Marathon and other traditions.

New nicknames like "The 'Nati" are also used today.

Geography

The city of Cincinnati is growing with new buildings and parks. The Banks project includes apartments, shops, and offices, stretching from Great American Ball Park to Paycor Stadium. Smale Riverfront Park is one of the newest parks in the city. Lots of money has been invested in developing Cincinnati and the area around it.

Cincinnati sits between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Cairo, Illinois, near where the Licking River meets the Ohio River. The city covers many hills and bluffs along the Ohio River. It includes parts of Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. Three small villages—Norwood, Elmwood Place, and Saint Bernard—are surrounded by the city.

Cityscape

Main article: Cityscape of Cincinnati

See also: List of tallest buildings in Cincinnati

Cincinnati has many famous spots like Union Terminal, Carew Tower, Great American Tower, Fountain Square, Washington Park, and Great American Ballpark. The city also has tall buildings and historic places such as Carew Tower, the Scripps Center, the Ingalls Building, Cincinnati Union Terminal, and the Isaac M. Wise Temple. Queen City Square, the tallest building in Cincinnati, opened in 2011.

Neighborhoods

Main article: List of Cincinnati neighborhoods

Cincinnati has fifty-two neighborhoods. Some were once separate villages, like Walnut Hills and Mount Auburn. Westwood is the largest neighborhood, while others include CUF, home to the University of Cincinnati, and Price Hill. Downtown Cincinnati is the central business area, with neighborhoods such as Over-the-Rhine, Pendleton, Queensgate, and West End. Over-the-Rhine is a historic area with many old buildings built by German immigrants.

Climate

Cincinnati has a humid continental climate, with hot, humid summers and cold winters. Summer temperatures often reach above 90 °F, while winter lows can drop below freezing. The city gets rain, snow, and sometimes thunderstorms, with occasional tornadoes. The coldest temperature ever recorded was −25 °F, and the hottest was 108 °F.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Cincinnati

Cincinnati had a population of 309,317 in 2020, marking the first increase in population since 1950 after many years of decline. The city is home to a diverse group of people, with about half identifying as White and another large portion as African American. Smaller groups include Asian and Hispanic or Latino residents.

Most people in Cincinnati live alone or with roommates rather than in traditional families. The city has many young adults, with a median age of 32.5 years. The surrounding area includes many counties in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, making it a larger community of over 2 million people.

Economy

See also: List of companies in Greater Cincinnati

Metropolitan Cincinnati has a big economy, ranking twenty-eighth in the United States and fifth in the Midwest. In 2016, it was growing faster than any other Midwestern area. The value of goods and services made there was $127 billion in 2015. Many important companies have offices in Cincinnati, including Kroger, Procter & Gamble, and Fifth Third Bank. These companies provide many jobs for local people.

Arts and culture

See also: Culture of Cincinnati

Society

Tall Stacks, held every few years between 1988 and 2006, celebrated the city's riverboat history.

Dancers perform at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati.

Cincinnati was built by American settlers, including Scotch Irish, frontiersmen, and keelboaters. For over 150 years, it was the most important city in Ohio, earning the nickname "chief city of Ohio." The city leaders were from Anglo-American families. Early Methodism was also important. By 1879, there were 162 churches in the city. Protestantism has always played a big role in Cincinnati. Christ Church Cathedral continues this legacy. One of Cincinnati's biggest supporters of Methodism was James Gamble, who with William Procter founded Procter & Gamble.

Cincinnati was a crossroads town by the river, trading with slave states south of the Ohio River. Many black people settled in Ohio after the Civil War, coming from Kentucky and Virginia. Tensions rose between those who supported slavery and those who did not, leading to riots in 1829 and later years. Germans were among the earliest newcomers. By 1900, over 60 percent of the population had Prussian roots. Traditions and celebrations from these immigrant groups continue today, including Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, Bockfest, and the Taste of Cincinnati.

Cincinnati's Jewish community was developed by people from England and Germany. A large part of the community, led by Isaac M. Wise, developed Reform Judaism. Rabbi Wise was a founding father of the Reform movement and had a big influence on Jewish faith in Cincinnati and the United States.

The Potter Stewart United States Courthouse is a federal court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is located across the street from the East Fourth Street Historic District.

Museums

See also: List of museums in Cincinnati

Founded in 1881, the Cincinnati Art Museum has one of the most complete collections in the Midwest.

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center honors Cincinnati's role in the history of the Underground Railroad.

The Cincinnati Art Museum is an art museum in the Eden Park neighborhood. Founded in 1881, it was the first art museum built west of the Allegheny Mountains. Its collection of over 67,000 works spanning 6,000 years of history makes it one of the most complete in the Midwest. The Contemporary Arts Center was established in 1939 as one of the first contemporary art institutions in the country. The Art Academy of Cincinnati also has three public galleries, along with the Taft Museum of Art collection.

The Cincinnati Museum Center complex operates out of the Cincinnati Union Terminal in the Queensgate neighborhood. Within the complex are the Cincinnati History Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science, Robert D. Lindner Family Omnix Theater, Cincinnati History Library and Archives, and Duke Energy Children's Museum. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center opened in 2004 along the riverfront, recognizing the city's role in helping slaves escape to freedom. U.S. president and chief justice William Howard Taft's childhood home, now the William Howard Taft National Historic Site, features exhibits on Taft's life and accomplishments.

The American Sign Museum displays over 200 signs and objects from the late nineteenth century to the 1970s.

Music

Music events include the Cincinnati May Festival, Bunbury Music Festival, and Cincinnati Bell/WEBN Riverfest. Cincinnati hosted the World Choir Games in 2012 with the motto "Cincinnati, the City that Sings!"

Cincinnati has been home to many popular musicians and singers, including Lonnie Mack, Doris Day, Odd Nosdam, Dinah Shore, Fats Waller, Rosemary Clooney, Bootsy Collins, The Isley Brothers, Merle Travis, Hank Ballard, Otis Williams, Mood, Midnight Star, Calloway, The Afghan Whigs, Over the Rhine, Blessid Union of Souls, Freddie Meyer, 98 Degrees, The Greenhornes, The Deele, Enduser, Heartless Bastards, The Dopamines, Adrian Belew, The National, Foxy Shazam, Why?, Wussy, H-Bomb Ferguson, Sudan Archives and Walk the Moon, and alternative hip hop producer Hi-Tek. Andy Biersack, the lead vocalist for the rock band Black Veil Brides, was born in Cincinnati.

The Cincinnati May Festival Chorus is a professional choir that has existed since 1880. The city is home to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Boychoir, and Cincinnati Ballet. Metro Cincinnati also has several regional orchestras and youth orchestras, including the Starling Chamber Orchestra and the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra. Music Director James Conlon and Chorus Director Robert Porco lead the Chorus through classical music. The May Festival Chorus is the main part of the oldest continuing choral festival in the Western Hemisphere. Cincinnati Music Hall was built to house the May Festival.

Cincinnati was an early music recording center and home to King Records, which helped start the career of James Brown, as well as Jewel Records, which helped start Lonnie Mack's career, and Fraternity Records. Cincinnati had a lively jazz scene from the 1920s to today. Louis Armstrong's first recordings were done in the Cincinnati area, at Gennett Records, as were Jelly Roll Morton's, Hoagy Carmichael's, and Bix Beiderbecke's, who lived in Cincinnati for a time. Fats Waller worked at WLW in the 1930s.

Theater

Professional theatre has operated in Cincinnati since the 1800s. Companies based in the city include Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, the Know Theatre of Cincinnati, Stage First Cincinnati, Cincinnati Public Theatre, Cincinnati Opera, The Performance Gallery and Clear Stage Cincinnati. The city is also home to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, which hosts regional premieres, and the Aronoff Center, which hosts touring Broadway shows each year via Broadway Across America. The city has community theatres, such as the Cincinnati Young People's Theatre, Cincinnati Music Theatre, and the Showboat Majestic (the last surviving showboat in the United States), and the Mariemont Players.

Since 2011, Cincinnati Opera and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music have worked together to sponsor the Opera Fusion: New Works project. The Opera Fusion: New Works project helps composers or librettists develop an opera during a 10-day residency. This program is led by the Director of Artistic Operations at Cincinnati Opera, Marcus Küchle, and the former Head of Opera at CCM, Robin Guarino.

In 2015, Cincinnati hosted the USITT 2015 Conference and Stage Expo at the Duke Energy Convention Center, bringing over 5,000 students, university teachers, theatrical designers and performers, and other staff to the city. The USITT Conference is the main conference for Theatre, Opera, and Dance in the United States.

Film and literature

A Rage in Harlem was filmed in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Over the Rhine because it looks like 1950s Harlem. Movies partly filmed in Cincinnati include The Best Years of Our Lives, Ides of March, Fresh Horses, The Asphalt Jungle, Rain Man, Miles Ahead, Airborne, Grimm Reality, Little Man Tate, City of Hope, An Innocent Man, Tango & Cash, A Mom for Christmas, Lost in Yonkers, Summer Catch, Artworks, Dreamer, Elizabethtown, Jimmy and Judy, Eight Men Out, Milk Money, Traffic, The Pride of Jesse Hallam, The Great Buck Howard, In Too Deep, Seven Below, Carol, Public Eye, The Last Late Night, and The Mighty.

The Cincinnati skyline was shown in the opening and closing of the CBS/ABC daytime drama The Edge of Night from 1956 to 1980, when it was replaced by the Los Angeles skyline; the cityscape stood in for the show's setting, Monticello. Procter & Gamble, the show's producer, is based in Cincinnati. The sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati and its sequel/spin-off The New WKRP in Cincinnati featured the city's skyline and other outside shots in its credits, although it was not filmed in Cincinnati. The city's skyline also appeared in an April Fool's episode of The Drew Carey Show, set in Carey's hometown of Cleveland. 3 Doors Down's music video "It's Not My Time" was filmed in Cincinnati, showing the skyline and Fountain Square. Also, Harry's Law, the NBC legal drama created by David E. Kelley and starring Kathy Bates, was set in Cincinnati.

The Hollows series of books by Kim Harrison is an urban fantasy set in Cincinnati. American Girl's Kit Kittredge sub-series also takes place in the city, although the film based on it was shot in Toronto.

Cincinnati has its own chapter of The Sons of the Desert (The Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society), which meets several times a year.

Cuisine

Along with American food, Cincinnati has flavors from around the world. Frisch's Big Boy, Graeter's ice cream, Kroger, LaRosa's Pizzeria, Montgomery Inn, Skyline Chili, Gold Star Chili, Aglamesis Bro's and United Dairy Farmers are Cincinnati restaurants that sell their products in grocery stores and gas stations. Glier's goetta is made in the Cincinnati area and is a popular local food. The Maisonette in Cincinnati was Mobil Travel Guide's longest-running five-star restaurant in the United States, holding that title for 41 years until it closed in 2005. Its former head chef, Jean-Robert de Cavel, has opened four new restaurants in the area since 2001.

One of the oldest and most famous bars in the United States, Arnold's Bar and Grill in downtown Cincinnati has won awards from Esquire magazine's "Best Bars in America", Thrillist's "Most Iconic Bar in Ohio", The Daily Meal's "150 Best bars in America" and Seriouseats.com's "The Cincinnati 10".

The Filet-O-Fish was created in 1962 by Lou Groen, the owner of the first McDonald's franchise in the Cincinnati area, to serve Catholic customers who did not eat meat on Fridays.

Traditional local foods include opera creams and nectar soda, both served at Graeter's and Aglamesis Bro's ice cream shops. Grippo's and Pringles potato chips also started in the area, the latter made by local company Procter & Gamble. Other local foods include Frank's RedHot sauce and Slush Puppies.

Cincinnati chili

Cincinnati chili, a spiced sauce served over noodles, usually topped with cheese and often with diced onions or beans, is the area's most famous local food. Different recipes are served by restaurants, including Skyline Chili, Gold Star Chili, and Dixie Chili and Deli, plus independent chili restaurants including Camp Washington Chili, Empress Chili and Moonlight Chili. It was first made by Macedonian immigrant restaurant owners in the 1920s. Cincinnati has been called the "Chili Capital of America" and "of the World" because it has more chili restaurants per person than any other city in the United States or in the world.

Goetta

Main article: Goetta

Goetta is a meat-and-grain sausage or mush of German inspiration. It is mainly made of ground meat (pork, or pork and beef), pin-head oats and spices.

Mock turtle soup

Main article: Mock turtle soup

Mock turtle soup was a dish made popular by German immigrants in the late 19th century. Originally made with offal, today Cincinnati-style mock turtle soup is made with ground beef, hard-boiled eggs, and ketchup. The only remaining commercial canner of the soup, Worthmore, has made it in Cincinnati since 1918.

Dialect

The people of Cincinnati speak in a General American dialect. Unlike the rest of the Midwest, Southwest Ohio shares some vowel sounds with northern New Jersey English. Most local speech features float as Midland American. There is also some influence from the Southern American dialect found in Kentucky. Some residents use the word please when asking someone to repeat something. This comes from German, where bitte (a short form of "Wie bitte?" or "How please?") is used to ask someone to repeat.

Sports

Main article: Sports in Cincinnati

Cincinnati is a great city for sports! It has three major league teams: the Cincinnati Reds in baseball, the Cincinnati Bengals in football, and FC Cincinnati in soccer. The Reds, named after America's first professional baseball team, have won five World Series titles. The Bengals have played in the Super Bowl three times but haven’t won a championship yet. FC Cincinnati joined Major League Soccer in 2019 and plays at TQL Stadium.

The city also has many college teams, like the Cincinnati Bearcats and Xavier Musketeers in basketball. There’s also a yearly marathon called the Flying Pig Marathon and a big tennis tournament called the Cincinnati Open.

Parks and recreation

See also: List of parks in Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Park Board takes care of all the parks in Cincinnati. It started in 1911 when it bought 168 acres, and now it looks after more than 5,000 acres of parkland. Some famous parks include the 19th-century Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, Eden Park, and Mount Storm Park. The city also has public golf courses, such as the historic Avon Fields Golf Course.

Downtown Cincinnati features Fountain Square, a public square where events happen. It was redone in 2006. The city sits along 22 miles of riverfront on the northern banks of the Ohio River, reaching from California to Sayler Park.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden in Avondale is the second-oldest zoo in the United States. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The zoo is home to over 500 species of animals, 1,800 animals, and 3,000 types of plants. It has also run many breeding programs over the years and is often called one of the best zoos in the country.

Government and politics

Cincinnati has a city council with nine members who are elected by all voters in the city. Before 1924, council members were chosen from different parts of the city, but this system was changed to make elections fairer. Today, the council hires a professional manager to help run the city's daily activities.

The city has had many changes in how leaders are chosen over the years. In 1957, the way people voted for council members changed again to make it easier for everyone to have a say. In 1999, Cincinnati started electing its mayor separately from the council. The mayor now has more direct power to lead the city.

Cincinnati is also home to an important court that helps make decisions for several nearby states.

Police and fire services

Cincinnati has its own fire department, which was the first paid professional fire department in the United States, starting in 1853. The fire department works to keep people safe from fires and other emergencies.

The city also has a police department with over 1,000 officers who work to keep the community safe. The police department has appeared on television shows, sharing how they help solve serious cases.

Education

Main article: Education in Cincinnati

Cincinnati has many schools and universities. The city’s public school system, Cincinnati Public Schools, includes 18 high schools that students from all over the city can attend. One of its top schools is Walnut Hills High School, which offers many advanced classes. There are also special schools focused on the arts and others that follow the Montessori method of learning.

The city is home to several universities, including the large University of Cincinnati, founded in 1819. It is well known for subjects like architecture, engineering, music, and nursing. Another university is Xavier University, which follows traditions started by the Jesuits. There are also smaller colleges and technical schools in the area, offering many different kinds of training and education.

Cincinnati also has many libraries, with the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library being one of the biggest in the country.

Media

Main article: Media in Cincinnati

Cincinnati has many places where people get news and watch shows. The main newspaper is called The Cincinnati Enquirer, which started in 1841. There are also other papers and magazines in the city.

Cincinnati is a big place for TV. It is the 36th biggest area for TV in the United States. There are twelve TV stations that show shows from places like NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, and more. One TV station, WCET, is the oldest public TV station in the United States.

The city is also known for its radio. As of September 2022, Cincinnati is the 33rd biggest area for radio in the United States. There are many radio stations, and some can be heard far away at night. These include stations like WLW and WCKY. There are also stations for news and classical music.

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Cincinnati

Cincinnati has many ways to get around, including sidewalks, roads, public buses, bike paths, and airports. The city's hilly landscape makes it different from other cities, with streets that don’t form neat grids.

Most people in Cincinnati drive cars. While many trips are made by car, some people use public transportation or bikes. The city has more households without cars compared to the national average.

The city has a streetcar line called the Connector that started running in 2016. It travels through downtown and a neighborhood called Over-the-Rhine. Cincinnati is also served by several bus systems, including SORTA and TANK, which help people move around the city. There are also many stairs built into the hills that make great paths for walking.

Cincinnati has many roads, including several major highways that connect it to nearby areas and other cities. The city also has a large bus station used mostly for sports events and school trips.

The main airport is Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, which offers flights to many places in North America and Europe. It is busy with cargo flights as well. There is also a smaller airport called Cincinnati Municipal Lunken Airport that has charter flights.

Healthcare

Main article: Healthcare in Cincinnati

Cincinnati has many places where people can get medical help, making it a strong center for health care in the area. These hospitals and clinics care for people living in Cincinnati and nearby places, helping everyone stay healthy.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Cincinnati

Cincinnati has been home to many famous people throughout history. Some of these individuals have made important contributions in areas like entertainment, sports, and the arts. The city continues to inspire and support people who achieve great things in various fields.

Sister cities

Cincinnati has special friendships with cities around the world. These sister cities include:

• Amman, Jordan
• Gifu, Japan
• Harare, Zimbabwe
• Kharkiv, Ukraine
• Liuzhou, China
• Munich, Germany
• Mysore, India
• Nancy, France
• New Taipei, Taiwan