Nestled at the foot of John A. Roebling’s Covington-Cincinnati Suspension bridge, in the shadows of the RiverCenter office complex and the Ascent condominiums, and rising from riverbanks, is the Historic Licking Riverside neighborhood. Designated as a National Register District in 1975, it is Covington’s oldest neighborhood. This area is noted for its vibrant population, stately architecture, street side dining, city views, and river walks. As Covington is the gateway to the South, Licking-Riverside is the gateway to Covington and Kenton County.

This pioneering neighborhood is anchored to the South by the grounds of the Baker Hunt Art and Cultural Center and reaches to “the Point” at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking Rivers. Its streets are lined by Greek Revival, Federal, Queen Anne, High Victorian, Gothic, Italianate and French Second Empire structures, which are fine examples of the late 19th and early 20th century homes of Covington’s earliest settlers. A lovely mix of row houses, bungalows and multi-unit housing are neatly blended into the neighborhood’s tree-lined streets.

Several restaurants, including the Greenup Café, Chalk Food + Wine, Molly Malone’s, Keystone Grill and Coco’s, provide al fresco dining to neighborhood residents and visitors alike. An active neighborhood association, the Historic Licking Riverside Civic Association, works cooperatively with the city to beautify the area and maintain its historic integrity. George Rogers Clark Park provides a peaceful place to watch the river, listen to the sounds of ballgames, and is the site of weddings and community events.