Founding

Cincinnati was founded in 1788, following the Revolutionary War, when Colonel Robert Patterson led a group of 11 families and 24 men to a spot of land opposite the mouth of the Licking River. The name “Cincinnati” was coined two years later by Arthur St. Clair, the first Governor of the Northwest Territory. The name was inspired by the Society of Cincinnati, a group of Revolutionary War veterans, of which St. Clair was a member.

Cincinnati has earned many nicknames over the years, including Cincy, The Nati, The Queen City, The Queen of the West, The Blue-Chip City, and The City of Seven Hills.

Just A Few of Cincinnati’s Highlights

• Oktoberfest Zinzinnati showcases the rich German heritage of Southwest Ohio, as well as tasty samples of German-style music, food and beer. First held in 1976, the event has grown to be America’s largest Oktoberfest with more than 575,000 people attending each year.
• The Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon is an annual charity race, which “flies” along the streets of Cincinnati, Covington, Newport, Mariemont, Fairfax and Columbia Township, presenting a well-balanced, diverse tour of some the best neighborhoods in the area.
• Every Labor Day weekend, nearly a half-million people gather for an all-day affair with music, food, and a choreographed firework soundtracked by Cincinnati’s WEBN (102.7 FM).
• Findlay Market, Ohio’s oldest continually operating open-air outdoor market is home to 30 merchants selling meat, cheese, produce, etc. with 900,000 people visiting the market each year.
• Cincy-Cinco is a non-profit venture designed to share Latin American culture with the Cincinnati community in a fun, family-oriented festival. The annual event offers a way to learn about the rich heritage of Latino music, dance, and the best Latino food in town.
• Reds Opening Day in Cincinnati has been a special tradition, and an unofficial holiday, for over 150 years. Prior to the first pitch, the city gathers downtown to celebrate with the annual Findlay Market Parade.
• Located in Downtown Cincinnati, the Fountain Square Ice Rink was voted one of the Top 10 Ice Rinks in the Nation by TripAdvisor.
• The city is located within one hour’s flight or a day’s drive of 60% of the U.S. population.
• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is served by 10 passenger airlines and is North America’s 8^th largest cargo airport.
• The urban historic district of Over-the-Rhine hosts the nation’s largest collection of 19th-century Italianate architecture and made the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
• Recognized by the US Department of the Interior for its distinctive Venetian Gothic architecture, Music Hall was named a National Historic Landmark in 1975.