Established in the late 18th Century as a county seat in the Northwest Territory as the town of Losantiville, the prime location on the banks of the Ohio quickly elevated the city to one of the most important in, what was then considered, the west. The name changed in 1790 to Cincinnati and the rest is history.

 

The 19th Century saw unprecedented growth, as the city became a major supply center and jumping off point for exploration and settlement further into the west. It became the nations center of the meat packing industry for a short time, and even carried the nickname “Porkopolis.” The city became a major point of the abolitionist movement, as people from around the state made their way there to make their argument for the end of slavery across the river in Kentucky.

 

As the industrial sector in the United States began to slow, growth has slowed, but that has not kept the city on the backburner. New stadiums, museums, restaurants, and developments are fine-tuning the city to a better and brighter image. Famous natives include author Harriot Beecher Stowe, talk show host Jerry Springer, singer and entertainer Nick Lachey, president William Howard Taft, director Steven Spielberg, businessman and entrepreneur Ted Turner, and baseball players Pete Rose and Ken Griffey Jr.