Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city located in southwest Ohio on the northern bank of the Ohio River, near the Kentucky border. As of 2021, the population of Cincinnati was 309,317 making it the 65th most populous city in the United States. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County.
History
Cincinnati was founded in 1788 by John Cleves Symmes and Colonel Robert Patterson. It was named after the Society of the Cincinnati, an organization of Revolutionary War veterans. Due to its location on the Ohio River, Cincinnati quickly became an important trade hub and center of commerce in the early 19th century. It grew rapidly into a major city due to its port location and access to the Ohio River.
Some key moments in Cincinnati’s history include:
- 1802 – Cincinnati is chartered as a village
- 1819 – Cincinnati incorporates as a city
- 1869 – Cincinnati Red Stockings become the first professional baseball team
- 1870 – Cincinnati Zoo opens, one of the oldest zoos in the country
- 1918 – Cincinnati Reds win their first World Series title
- 1937 – Historic Union Terminal train station opens
- 1990 – Marge Schott becomes the first woman to purchase a Major League Baseball team, the Cincinnati Reds
To learn more about the history of Cincinnati, visit the Cincinnati page on Wikipedia.
Population
As mentioned earlier, Cincinnati has a population of 309,317 as of 2021. It is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area which has a population of over 2.2 million. Cincinnati reached its peak population in 1950 when over 500,000 people lived in the city.
The racial makeup of Cincinnati is 49.3% White, 42.7% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 2.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.4% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. 4.5% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Over 91% of Cincinnati residents have a high school diploma and 34.8% have a bachelor’s degree or higher. The median household income in Cincinnati is $40,840.
Economy and Major Employers
Major industries in Cincinnati include healthcare, finance, education, manufacturing, consumer goods, and information technology. Many major corporations are headquartered in Cincinnati or have a large presence in the city. Here are some of the top employers in Cincinnati:
- City of Cincinnati – Address: 801 Plum St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 – Phone: (513) 352-3232
- Cincinnati Public Schools – Address: 2651 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45219 – Phone: (513) 363-0000
- The Christ Hospital – Address: 2139 Auburn Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45219 – Phone: (513) 585-1000
- TriHealth – Address: 619 Oak St, Cincinnati, OH 45206 – Phone: (513) 569-5000
- University of Cincinnati – Address: 2600 Clifton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45221 – Phone: (513) 556-6000
- Kroger – Address: 1014 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 – Phone: (513) 762-4000
- Macy’s – Address: 201 E Fourth St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 – Phone: (513) 579-7000
- PPG Industries – Address: 3800 West 143rd Street, Cleveland, OH 44111 – Phone: (888) 974-3674
Major companies headquartered in Cincinnati include Kroger, Macy’s, Procter & Gamble, Fifth Third Bank, Western & Southern Financial Group, Dunnhumby, and Cintas among others. The city has a diverse economy with strengths in many sectors.
To learn more information about Cincinnati’s economy, visit the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce website.
Attractions and Tourism
Cincinnati offers many attractions and things to do for visitors and residents alike. Some of the top attractions in Cincinnati include:
- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden – Address: 3400 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45220 – Phone: (513) 281-4700
- Cincinnati Art Museum – Address: 953 Eden Park Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45202 – Phone: (513) 721-2787
- Cincinnati Museum Center – Address: 1301 Western Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45203 – Phone: (513) 287-7000
- Newport Aquarium – Address: 1 Levee Way, Newport, KY 41071 – Phone: (859) 815-1441
- Riverbend Music Center – Address: 6295 Kellogg Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45230 – Phone: (513) 232-6220
- Cincinnati Reds – Address: 100 Main St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 – Phone: (513) 765-7000
- Cincinnati Bengals – Address: 1 Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH 45202 – Phone: (513) 621-3550
Popular neighborhoods to visit include Over-the-Rhine with its historic architecture, Eden Park for scenic views, and Fountain Square in the city’s downtown. Cincinnati has a great food scene with many top restaurants. Music and sports fans have plenty of entertainment options as well.
For more ideas on things to do, visit the Cincinnati USA Tourism website.
Transportation
Public transportation in Cincinnati is provided by the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA). SORTA operates over 80 bus routes throughout Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. In addition, Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcars service key destinations like the riverfront and Over-the-Rhine.
The main airport serving Cincinnati is the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) located in Hebron, Kentucky. It provides non-stop flights to many major cities in the United States.
Cincinnati is served by two interstate highways: I-75 and I-71. In addition, I-74, I-275, and I-471 serve outer parts of the metro area. Cincinnati is also a hub for freight rail traffic from Norfolk Southern and CSX.
Education
Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) provide public education in the city. CPS has over 34,000 students enrolled in preschool through 12th grade at 55 schools. In addition, there are many private and parochial schools located within Cincinnati.
For higher education, the University of Cincinnati is located in the city along with other schools such as Xavier University, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, and Mount St. Joseph University among others.
County and Local Government
Cincinnati is located within Hamilton County in the state of Ohio. The Hamilton County website provides information on county government services and resources for residents. The county seat is Cincinnati and the Hamilton County Administration Building is located at 138 E Court St #602, Cincinnati, OH 45202. The phone number is (513) 946-4400.
Cincinnati has a mayor-council form of government. The current mayor of Cincinnati is Aftab Pureval who took office in 2022. The Cincinnati government website at cincinnati-oh.gov provides information on city departments, services, programs, and more.
Sports Teams
Cincinnati has two major professional sports teams:
- Cincinnati Reds – Major League Baseball team competing in the National League Central division.
- Cincinnati Bengals – National Football League team playing in the AFC North division.
Both teams play home games at stadiums located along the Cincinnati riverfront. The Reds play at Great American Ball Park and the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium.
In addition, Cincinnati has minor league and college teams. The Cincinnati Cyclones are a minor league hockey team playing in the ECHL. For college sports, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats compete in NCAA Division I athletics.
Famous Cincinnati Landmarks
Here are some of Cincinnati’s most famous landmarks:
- John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge – GPS: 39.0971517, -84.5183824 – Address: E Mehring Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202
- Carew Tower – GPS: 39.1065123, -84.5125063 – Address: 441 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
- Tyler Davidson Fountain – GPS: 39.109066, -84.512448 – Address: 511 Walnut St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
This embedded Google Map shows the locations of some famous landmarks in Cincinnati.
Additional Local Resources
Here are some other useful local resources if you live in or plan to visit Cincinnati:
- Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County – Address: 800 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 – Phone: (513) 369-6900
- Cincinnati Art Museum – Address: 953 Eden Park Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45202 – Phone: (513) 721-2787
- Cincinnati Bell Connector Streetcar
- The Cincinnati Enquirer – Local newspaper
- City of Cincinnati Facebook page