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See also: Ohio
CINCINNATI, OHIO
During the 19th century, Cincinnati was nicknamed 'Porkopolis' due to the opening of the first slaughterhouse in Ohio and the amount of salt pork, a U.S. food staple at that time, produced in Cincinnati and shipped to areas all over the country. The city continues to celebrate its porky heritage with the 'Flying Pig' marathon each May.
In 1806 Alexander Wilson (American ornithologist) noted while watching a migratory flight "It was then half past one (when the birds first appeared in the sky). About four in the afternoon, the living torrent above my head seemed as numerous and extensive as ever." Wilson estimated that in less than 3 hours he had seen a little more than 2 BILLION birds. In 1813 Audubon watched a similar 'torrent' of life that lasted for 3 days. The last surviving bird died on September 1,1914 at the Cincinnati Zoo, having been commercially hunted to extinction.
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