U.S. Congressman Steve Chabot 1st District of Ohio

History


The First District of Ohio is situated in the southwest corner of Ohio, along the banks of the Ohio River. For the last decade, the district included most of the city of Cincinnati and its western suburbs. Following the 2000 Census and state redistricting, the First District was expanded to include all of western Hamilton County, additional communities in northern and eastern Hamilton County and portions of southwest Butler County.

Founded in 1788 as a river settlement, Cincinnati was originally named Losantiville by the first settlers. In 1790, while touring the newly established federal government garrison of Fort Washington, Arthur St. Clair, the governor of the Northwest Territory, re-named the town Cincinnati. The name was in honor of an association of Revolutionary War officers that Governor St. Clair founded known as the Society of Cincinnati. The Society originally derived its name from the former Roman farmer Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus, who left his home and fields to volunteer for the Roman army.

Cincinnati remained a military town and trading post until 1795, when the Treaty of Greenville ended much of the Indian warfare on the frontier. Fort Washington was soon closed and Cincinnati became a thriving commercial center with most of the town's business and trade tied to the Ohio River. Cincinnati was officially incorporated as a city in 1819.

The steep hillsides surrounding the Ohio River valley initially discouraged Cincinnati's outward growth. Most development was confined to the level area between the Ohio River and the partial ring of hills around the city. With the introduction of more modern means of transportation like inclines, streetcars, and automobiles, the city's population spread beyond the river basin and established neighborhoods such as Price Hill, Mount Airy, Mount Adams, and Mt. Auburn.

Over the years, Cincinnati has had an important place in U.S. history. For many years, Cincinnati was known as the "Gateway to the West" because of its position on the western frontier. As the nation was ripped apart during the Civil War, many Cincinnatians became increasingly involved in the abolitionist movement . These Cincinnatians helped escaping slaves flee Southern slave states by guiding them across the Ohio River and into Northern free states. The area still contains many homes, churches and hideouts that were part of a network of "stations" for slaves escaping north along the Underground Railroad. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is currently being built in Cincinnati and is expected to open in 2004.

Throughout the years, Cincinnati has become the home to people from a variety of cultural backgrounds. The city has a strong German heritage which is evident throughout the community and remembered each year during the festive Oktoberfest celebration. Cincinnati also was once the home of many famous historical figures such as President William Howard Taft, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and President William Henry Harrison. A number of extraordinary athletes like Oscar Robertson, Pete Rose, and Roger Staubach have also called Cincinnati their home.

In addition to the city of Cincinnati, First District neighborhoods include all or part of: Addyston, Amberley Village, Arlington Heights, Bridgetown, Cheviot, Cleves, Colerain Township, College Hill, Covedale, Crosby Township, Delhi Township, Dent, Elmwood Place, Evendale, Finneytown, Forest Park, Glendale, Golf Manor, Greenhills, Green Township, Groesbeck, Hanover Township, Harrison, Harrison Township, Lincoln Heights, Lockland, Mack, Miami Township, Monfort Heights, Morgan Township, Mount Healthy, Mount Healthy Heights, North Bend, North College Hill, Northbrook, Northgate, Norwood, Pleasant Run, Pleasant Run Farm, Reading, Reily Township, Ross Township, Springdale, Springfield Township, St. Bernard, White Oak, Whitewater Township, Woodlawn, and Wyoming.
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