8 Things Every Cincinnatian Should Know But Probably Doesn't
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Andrea Limke
Author
Even if you’ve lived in Cincinnati your entire life, you probably don’t know everything there is to know about our city. At well over 200 years old, Cincinnati has an interesting history and plenty of weird facts that you may or may not know. Perhaps you eat goetta on a regular basis but have no idea why it is so popular here. Or maybe you’ve wondered why we have the Flying Pig Marathon. If you need some answers about Cincinnati, check out these eight things that every Cincinnatian should know, but probably doesn’t.
We are guilty of using the name Cincinnati to describe our entire tri-state area. But, the city is actually made up of 52 unique and vibrant neighborhoods, shown on the map above. Take a look and see if you actually live in the city limits.
Opening Day is a special day in Cincinnati, but why do we always get to start at home? Have you ever wondered this? You can thank the fact that Cincinnati was home to the very first professional baseball team. The sport runs deep in the veins of this town, and thankfully Major League Baseball respects that. Except, of course, for those years that rain or a lockout affected the beginning of the season.
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Oh yes, the legend of "Who Dey." This phrase is heard relentlessly at Bengals games, but also around the city any time of year. Where did the saying come from? Most know that it's short for the chant, "Who dey, who dey, who dey think gonna beat dem Bengals?" So, where did that come from? Admittedly, we do not have a definite answer. There are many theories out there, one of them suggesting that the saying came from the popular Hudepohl beer, and another that it stemmed from a Ford dealership commercial. We'd love to hear any other theories you know of!
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Everyone knows that there's a clear difference between the west side and the east side of Cincinnati, but what is the actual invisible line that divides the two? It's actually not invisible at all, as I-75 is commonly considered "The Great Divide." Take a look at the map above and where I-75 cuts through the city. Do you agree?
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You may assume that one of the bigger chili chains in Cincinnati was the first to bring it to the Queen City, but that is actually not the case. Macedonian immigrants Tom and John Kiradjieff began selling their unique creation atop hot dogs and spaghetti in the early 1900s. Empress Chili was born and thus began the delicious tradition of coneys and 3-ways in Cincinnati. Interestingly enough, both Skyline and Gold Star have ties to this original chili haven, which does still have local restaurants today.
You obviously know that our city is named Cincinnati, and you may even know that it used to be called Losantiville, but why was it changed? In 1790, the Governor of the Northwest Territory, Arthur St. Clair, established Hamilton County. At that time, he decided he did not like the name Losantiville, so he changed it to Cincinnati, after the Roman citizen-soldier, Cincinnatus. I think we can all thank him for the change.
You can thank our city's rich German heritage for this one. Goetta was likely brought to our area by immigrants from northwestern Germany and was originally a breakfast food, used to stretch meat out among meals as far as it would go. It's a common misconception that goetta is still enjoyed in Germany today. In fact, most Germans have no clue what it is, as it disappeared over time. Thankfully, Cincinnatians knew a good thing and have continued this "mystery food" tradition for generations.
Cincinnati has long been associated with pigs, as we were once the world leader in the pork industry. Our nickname is even Porkopolis! But where did the flying part come from? In 1988, Cincinnati celebrated its 200th birthday with a brand new riverfront park, Bicentennial Commons. The city chose a sculpture design by Andrew Leicester, which included winged pigs. He explained that it was common to put wings on animals in artwork and that they could represent the spirit of the animals who helped build the city's industry. If you were around in 1988, you may remember that this caused quite the controversy. However, the flying pigs stayed and are now a beloved symbol of Cincinnati.
There’s so much to know about Cincinnati, so this list just scratches the surface! How did you do with these trivia questions? Are you a well-versed local? If you have any other weird or interesting facts about Cincinnati, please share them with us in the comments!
For more Cincinnati love and why it will always be home, check out our previous article here.
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