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Cincinnati History continued...
Long before white settlers were in the area that is now Cincinnati, Native Americans occupied the region. In fact, the Native American presence in Cincinnati dates back some 2700 years. Europeans began coming to the area in the late 1700's. With the Atlantic coast becoming more and more crowded, settlers by the thousands began sailing down the Ohio River, in search of a new frontier.
Cincinnati originally began as a fort in 1789. The fort was called Fort Washington, in honor of George Washington. However, the name was soon changed to Losantiville. Not much is known on the origin of the name Losantiville. Then, in 1790, Arthur St. Clair, the first governor of the Northwest Territory, renamed the area Cincinnati. This name comes from a group of Revolutionary War officers. The group formed a society called the Society of Cincinnati, to which George Washington belonged. Cincinnati was the first seat of the legislature of the Northwest Territory and soon became a commercial town.
It was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow who originally coined the city “the Queen City of the West”. Longfellow was apparently unaware of the 2,000 miles of land between Ohio and California.
In 1811, the steamboat Orleans arrived in Cincinnati. This was an important event because the boat linked Cincinnati with a chain of trade that led to the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. Cincinnati was actually incorporated as a city in 1819. In 1832, the Ohio and Erie Canal opened, increasing the city's trade capabilities. By the middle of the 1800's, Cincinnati was the pork-packing center of the United States and a thriving metropolis. During this time, people began referring to the city as “Porkopolis”.
Thousands of German and Irish immigrants settled in the city, giving it a northern European flavor. The city became known for corruption, crime and unrest. Prior to Emancipation in 1863, thousands of African-Americans passed through the city. In fact, Cincinnati was a major stop on the Underground Railroad. During the Civil War, although the city was largely divided, Cincinnati sided with the Union. In 1869, Cincinnati started the first professional baseball team in the country. Originally known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the team eventually shortened its name to the Cincinnati Reds.
Like many other major cities in the United States, Cincinnati is home to many corporations. Most of these corporations began in the late 1800's. William Proctor and James Gamble established what is known today as Proctor and Gamble. Originally, the company made Star Candles. The candles were shipped to the Ohio River by dray, which was a form of wagon. Each box was marked with a star inside of a circle. This logo eventually evolved into the moon and stars logo that was recently removed from their products because people thought the logo was Satanic. Actually, the logo featured a moon and 13 stars, one for each of the original colonies. William Proctor was known to be extremely patriotic.
Along with Proctor and Gamble, Barney Kroger began a bakery that eventually grew into the Kroger supermarket chain, which now has stores in almost every state. In 1885, Bicycle Playing Cards were introduced by the United States Playing Card Co. In 1892, Bee Brand cards were introduced. In 1927, Aviator brand cards were introduced to honor Charles Lindbergh after he made his historic flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Every few years, Aviator updates its boxes to reflect the changes in aviation.
During the early 1900's, the excess fat from all of the slaughterhouses gave birth to the local soap industry. Also during this time, a beer industry began to take shape in the city. The city's dependence on the beer industry hurt it during Prohibition of the 1920's. However, due to World War II, Cincinnati bounced right back on its feet.
During the 1960's, Cincinnati saw some of the worst rioting in the country. This was a time when most of the major cities in the United States were experiencing some sort of civil unrest due to the civil rights movement. During the next few decades, Cincinnati launched several new major public works projects. One of these projects was Riverfront Stadium and its system of downtown skywalks. This caused Cincinnati's skyline to soar. The city celebrated its bicentennial in 1988.
Today, Cincinnati continues to be a thriving metropolis. The city is full of cultural and educational institutions. Cincinnati is also a city that loves its professional sports, as the city hosts several major teams.
Among the many cultural and educational institutions in Cincinnati are the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Cincinnati Fire Museum, the Cincinnati Observatory Center and the Drake Planetarium. Cincinnati has several major colleges and universities. Among the institutions of higher learning in the city are the University of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and Xavier University.
Cincinnati also is the home to many fine tourist attractions. Among the city's most popular attractions are the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Coney Island of Cincinnati, and King's Island. Visitors to the city can also enjoy a performance by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Cincinnati is also home to the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball. The Reds are the modern-day version of the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the oldest professional baseball team in the United States. Football fans in the city enjoy the home games of the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL.
With all of its history, tourism, cultural institutions and professional sports teams, Cincinnati truly is a city that has it all.
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