Cincinnati, located in southwestern Ohio on the Ohio River, was founded in 1788 and incorporated as a city in 1819. It was named after the Society of the Cincinnati, which honored George Washington, whom they likened to the Roman General Cincinnatus. The city saw dramatic growth in the mid 1830s with the development of steamships and the completion of the Ohio and Erie Canal. It soon became a major shipping center, primarily for the pork industry. Cincinnati’s location on the Ohio River has contributed not only to its prosperity but also its scenic charm. Today, Cincinnati is home to major corporations that include Procter & Gamble, Kroger and Federated Department Stores, the parent company of Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s. With a metro area that includes parts of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, Cincinnati has a unique personality that crosses midwestern industrial city with a southern country feel.