Histories of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio, are available in libraries or online. See list of Cincinnati and Hamilton County histories for detailed information on accessing them.

Every Name Index to Ford’s History of Cincinnati

In 2005, the Hamilton County Genealogical Society (HCGS) created an Every-name Index to History of Cincinnati, Ohio with over 6,500 entries sorted alphabetically by surname. The History of Cincinnati, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches was published in 1881. Written by several authors and compiled by Henry Allen Ford and Kate B. Ford, the full text is available online at the Internet Archive or the book may be available at a library near you.

Neighborhood Histories for Cincinnati and Hamilton County

Many books have been published about neighborhoods and towns in Cincinnati and Hamilton County. See neighborhood histories for Cincinnati and Hamilton County which has been extracted in part from an original compilation by Carol E. Mahan, which appeared in A Guide to Genealogical Resources in Cincinnati & Hamilton County, Ohio. The Guide is available for purchase from the HCGS Shop.

City and County Directories

See the City & County Directories web page for details on accessing Cincinnati and Hamilton County directories online and at local repositories.

Local Historical Newspapers

The Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library (CHPL) has an extensive Magazines and Newspapers Department. Some historical newspapers are available on microfilm. See list of local historical newspapers for details on access and which newspapers have been indexed by HCGS.

Early Hamilton County boundaries before 1803

Hamilton County underwent multiple boundary changes before Ohio became a state in 1803. In 1792, Hamilton County, Northwest Territory, covered most of the western third of the current state of Ohio and part of Michigan to the Canadian border. From 1798 to 1803, several counties in southeastern Indiana were also part of Hamilton County. Read Early Hamilton County Boundaries, compiled by John Tholking, for further details and maps.

Rare Books and Special Collections

The collection in the Cincinnati Room at CHPL is particularly strong in Cincinnati and Ohio River Valley history and culture. Unique materials include the Inland Rivers Library and a large postcard collection, among many other items in closed stacks. For example, the Cincinnati Room has every issue of Der Deutsche Pionier (The German Pioneer) from March 1869 to 1938. This publication lists the members and obituaries of German immigrants in Cincinnati, many of which have been indexed in The Tracer and other publications. Additionally, some old and rare books are available as downloadable e-books.

page modified: May 2024