Cincinnati is called the "Queen City" because of its historical significance, rapid growth, and cultural prominence in the early 19th century. The nickname was popularized by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his 1854 poem "Catawba Wine," where he called Cincinnati "the Queen of the West," highlighting the city's status as the largest and most prosperous city in the western United States at that time. Cincinnati's strategic location on the Ohio River, booming economy, cultural institutions, and grand architecture contributed to this regal designation. The nickname symbolizes Cincinnati's prosperity, cultural richness, and leadership in the Western frontier during that era.