Established in 1852, Findlay Market is Ohio's oldest public market in continuous operation.
Located just outside of Cincinnati's city limits on land donated by James Findlay, the area was known as the "Northern Liberties" for the social liberties taken there beyond the reach of city jurisdiction, such as prostitution, bootlegging, and thievery. In an effort to protect "the housewives" from shopping there, city officials annexed the Findlay Market area into Cincinnati, but this did little to quell Findlay Market's outlying spirit. This spirit has contributed to its longevity, outlasting every other municipal market in the city, and a rebelliousness that infuse the generations of vendors and shoppers; they have forged strong relationships with one another and continue to demand the City of Cincinnati wrestle with the complex urban challenges surrounding this beloved institution.