The 52 Families

An introduction to Mount Washington.

The Cincinnati City neighborhoods.

Mount Washington is the easternmost part of the City of Cincinnati, which is comprised of 52 distinct neighborhoods. It was annexed in 1911 because the town, which operated independently, suffered from inadequate public services. It was also prime real estate for water infrastructure due to its elevation. Thus, the Art Deco water tower, built as part of the Works Progress Administration, completed in 1940.

The water tower is the neighborhood’s recognizable landmark, a beacon for nearby Lunken Airport, and it’s on the neighborhood’s official flag.

Yes, each neighborhood has its own flag. I’ve also incorporated the water tower and flag colors into the theme of this site.

Truthbetold, when I first saw the tower, I kind of thought it was ugly. But hey, anything’s better than Washington’s much-maligned Brutalism, am I right? It grew on me as we drove through Mt. Washington on our way to visit people from our hotel before we decided to move there. One night, the sunset hit it just right and I changed my mind: #TeamWaterTower

I liked the little downtown, reminding me a bit of the neighboring Cleveland Heights on my childhood. Nice houses, a little commerce, and leafy streets.

Mt. Washington is home to about 20,000 people, according to the 2020 Census.

Cleveland, where I grew up, was part of the “Western Reserve” part of the Northwest Territory. Mt. Washington is on the western edge of the “Virginia Military District.” According to the Mount Washington Comprehensive Plan:

Mt. Washington was originally located in Anderson Township, the only portion of Hamilton County in the Virginia Military District (VMD). The VMD was bounty land granted by Commonwealth of Virginia to soldiers in payment for service in the Revolutionary War and the Indian Wars. Settlers first came to the Mt. Washington area to farm in the 1790s. At least one house survives from the settlement era; the Stephen Sutton House at 1712 Longbourne, an original log cabin built in 1795.

Last but not least, Mt. Washington is home to Gold Star Chili, which is headquartered at the bottom of the “Mount” near Lunken Airport. The Skyline competitor got its start there in 1964, when the “Daoud brothers, Dave, Charlie, Frank, and Basheer” acquired a restaurant called “Hamburger Heaven” on Beechmont. I’ve had it canned and used the spice mix, but I’ve never been in one. I’m a fan and look forward to trying it.