NKY is a place where regions and cultures collide

By David E. Schroeder, executive director of the Kenton County Public Library

I have always been fascinated by the past, particularly Northern Kentucky history. Discovering who came before us and how the region has changed over time never fails to excite me. Like all regions, Northern Kentucky is unique. We are part of the original western expansion of the nation, a blend of the Midwest and South, a region that has been enriched through the diversity of its residents.

Too often we rely on others to define who we are. Those in other parts of Kentucky see us as a mere extension of Cincinnati. On the other hand, many in Cincinnati view us as “others”—those on the south side of the divide.

So, what is Northern Kentucky? People have been debating this for generations. Economically we are an important part of the Greater Cincinnati region. Our historic roots in manufacturing and the fact that the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is located on the south side of the Ohio River, places Northern Kentucky in the economic Midwest. Adding to the Midwest flavor is our strong German and Irish immigrant past. Northern Kentucky attracted immigrants in the 19th century unlike most Southern cities. I don’t know about you, but my high school yearbook reads like a German telephone directory with a few added Irish, English and Italian names to spice things up.

On a religious note, Northern Kentucky is home to a large number of Roman Catholics. In fact, Catholics make up the largest denomination in our region. If you have ever taken visitors on a tour of Northern Kentucky, you will often hear the questions, “Why are there so many Catholic churches and schools here?” or “Why are you so obsessed with the latest fish fry reviews?” This is a Midwest thing.

Turn the page and you can definitely see a Southern influence in Northern Kentucky. History is clear, slavery was part of our economy and culture. The Ohio River was the key to freedom, and many found that passage right here in our own backyard. The story of Margaret Garner, immortalized in the Toni Morrison novel Beloved, provides a detailed account of the brutality of slavery in the region. The trauma Garner, and many other enslaved people experienced, is as much a part of our history as the 19th century waves of immigrant settlers.

The Southern Influence can also be seen in our architectural heritage. Take a stroll down Riverside Drive in Covington and you will be transported to Charleston or Savannah. Not to mention our other Southern-inspired architectural icon, the Florence Y’ALL water tower, and our Florence Y’ALLs Frontier League baseball team.

Food plays a significant role in Northern Kentucky’s identity crisis. Northern Kentuckians love their Cincinnati-style chili, cottage ham, and German goetta and have a fondness for good beer. On the flipside, we enjoy a good chunk of Southern cornbread slathered in butter, love a slice of chess pie and have a growing thirst for the Commonwealth’s drink of choice—bourbon. Northern Kentucky is where Southern and Midwestern culinary cultures collide in a delicious way.

Concerning sports, Northern Kentuckians are diehard Cincinnati Reds and Bengals fans. Yet, when it comes to basketball our allegiance quickly turns South to the University of Kentucky Wildcats or Northern Kentucky University Norse.

Speaking of NKU, was the choice of mascot a coincidence? What do the Vikings have to do with the NKY? Well, the answer has nothing to do with Valhalla and everything to do with geography. When NKU was established in 1968 (the last major urban center in Kentucky to receive a state sponsored university—not that we are bitter) school officials chose the Norse mascot to make sure everyone in the Commonwealth knew the university was indeed located in Northern Kentucky. Incidentally, those of us who earned degrees from Thomas More University just like to remind the rest of the region that our school has existed since 1921—just saying. Did I mention rivalry is also a part of our NKY heritage?

So, what is the identity of Northern Kentucky? In multiples ways, we are tied to Cincinnati. Our economy, culture and future are linked. We are a region that rises or falls together. The Tristate area (yes Indiana is part of the mix—don’t get me started) has a long history of unity and cooperation. I dare say, the most appropriate symbol of the region is the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. Two towering stone anchors holding up a delicate latticework of iron cables linking the North and South high above the Ohio River (which by the way is mostly owned by the Commonwealth of Kentucky). Northern Kentucky is where regions collide, meld and become something new. Northern Kentucky is not solely tied to the Midwest or South but to both. It is not perfect, but ultimately, Northern Kentucky is home, and that is just the way I like it.