Queen of the west, as it is most affectionately called, Cincinnati was founded in the late eighteenth century by John Cleves Symmes. The city was established as a town in 1802 and as a city in 1819. By mid nineteenth century, Cincinnati had grown considerably due to Steam Navigations being introduced on the Ohio River and the opening of the Miami and Erie Canal. The city had close to one hundred and fifteen thousand residents by 1850. Cincinnati was a hog packing center, with several pigs roaming the streets aimlessly. Due to this the city was given the name "Porkopolis." The underground railway that assisted slaves to escape from the south had a very important stop in Cincinnati. Cincinnati paired up in comparison with several United States cities, in the following fields; Immigration, Pioneer ship, Riverboat and Canal-Era. Winston Churchill once noted Cincinnati as being the most beautiful of United States inland cities. Cincinnati has a population of 317,361 residents. If traveling to Cincinnati, you will have a handful, with all the sporting events, Museums, theaters and buildings. Here are a few of the various attractions in and around the city; Star Tower, The Design Consortium Gallery, The Contemporary Arts Center, National Signs of the Times Museum, Weston Art Gallery, New Edgecliff Theater, Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival, Cincinnati Fire Museum and Carew Tower. Accommodations are available at Cincinnati hotels, lodges and inns. They are; Comfort Inn & Suites East, Comfort Inn & Suites Northeast, Garfield Suites Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn Sharonville North, Hyatt Regency, Millennium Hotel, Residential Suites Hotel, Vernon Manor Hotel and Terrace Hotel. The sports franchises based in the city of Cincinnati are; Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (American Hockey League), Cincinnati Bengal's (National Football League), Cincinnati Kings, United Soccer League) and Cincinnati Bengal's (National Football League).