"When asked, residents often describe Cincinnati as a 'big city with a small-town feel.' In fact, small towns, villages and townships--more than 200 in all--are everywhere in and around what most people consider Cincinnati's city limits. Many of Cincinnati's residential neighborhoods date from the early 19th century and contain charming brick row houses with spectacular views of the Ohio River.
"In many ways, when you live in Cincinnati you get to experience the best of both worlds - the pleasantness of a rural setting and the convenience of a metropolitan area. It is much like a small town, with nice neighborhoods and friendly residents, but it is also an urban city with significant cultural, business-related and entertainment-oriented perks. For example, the City of Cincinnati has initiated a downtown 'renaissance' that includes a state-funded theatrical complex, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, new professional baseball and football stadiums, a new central riverfront park and many new eateries and entertainment spots. When it comes to dining out, Cincinnati restaurants offer a wide range of foods from all over the world and for every taste.
"Cincinnati's main drawing points are a low crime rate, moderate cost of living and country roads and scenery just minutes away from the metropolitan area." (www.grad.uc.edu)
Corporate-types are also attracted to Cincinnati because of its centrality in American industry. In the 2005 ranking of the Fortune 500, Cincinnati was home to two of the top 30 American companies, including The Kroger Corp. (#19) and Proctor & Gamble (#28).
FOOD
Cincinnati is known for its chili. Famous for it, actually. This most American of dishes, after all, reaches its culinary apex right here in the Queen City of the West. Of course, the folks down in Texas might have a thing or two to say about that, but loyal lovers of Cincinnati-style chili will fiercely defend their hometown concoction as the best.
In Cincy, the chili is made from "tomato and ground beef...[and is] seasoned with cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, chocolate and coffee. Cincinnati chili is traditionally served on a bed of spaghetti and topped by a thick blanket of shredded mild cheddar cheese. This is 'three-way' chili. To turn it into 'four-way' or 'five-way' chili, top [it] with kidney beans and/or chopped onions. Serve this multi-tiered Cincinnati specialty with oyster crackers or soda crackers on the side." (www.allrecipes.com)
The website www.cincyusa.com estimates that there are 140 chili restaurants in Cincinnati, and that locals consume "more than 2 million pounds of chili each year topped by 850,000 pounds of shredded cheddar cheese." There is no mention of how much antacid they consume afterward.
Aside from chili, Cincinnati residents also enjoy Graetner's ice cream (which has been using the same recipe for more than 100 years), Izzy's corned beef (which turned 100 in 2005), and barbecue (yet another reason to engage in culinary feuding with the Texans).
(www.cincyusa.com