The History of Newport

As me and my classmates started our journey of discovering Newport we came across a Mexican restaurant, La mexicana, located on Monmouth Street about half a mile away from Newport on the Levee. On the same stretch of the road, you can find an antique gallery, costume gallery, and many other local and nationwide businesses. These businesses are what have “set the tone for the rest of the city,” said Newport Mayor Jerry Peluso.

The History of Newport- The previous sin city 

The city of Newport is located at the confluence of Ohio and Licking rivers and was established in 1795. Many years later, and especially during the prohibition period (1920-1933), Newport was becoming the “Las Vegas” of that time, known for gambling, crime, and corruption. Newport was commonly known for the illegal businesses of making and transporting alcoholic beverages (bootlegging), which was done by the mobs. After the Prohibition Period, the mobs were not interested in bootlegging anymore and started looking for other sources of revenue. So, their best choice was to start brothels and casinos bringing the corruption to the city of Newport. And for years, Newport gained the name of “Sin City.” However, over the decades, residents felt the need for a change- the need for a better city and more restrictions. That is when the mobs started developing an interest in the large desert of Las Vegas, which later became the “Sin City” of our time. 

Today, Newport is a place for ancient and newly developed businesses with a taste of history that everyone can feel just by walking through its streets.