Rising Sun is a river city with a small-town feel
Rising Sun boomed as an Ohio River port in the early 1800s thanks to its position south of Cincinnati. But when the railroad all but replaced the steamboat industry, the city's growth stalled at just over 2,000 people. Today, the small town still revolves around the river, which is the focus of a quaint downtown district and the home to the floating Rising Sun Casino boat, the area's largest employer.
At just over one square mile in size, Rising Sun is so small that many residents use golf carts to get around instead of cars. "I enjoy living here because it's such a close-knit community," says Cliff Thies, a city councilman and executive director of the Ohio County Historical Society and Museum. "We recently had a severe storm that blew trees over, and before the city could even respond, neighbors were out with chainsaws helping each other. That's just typical of the people here."
Historic district surrounded by modern construction
At the heart of town, the Rising Sun Historic District has structures from the 1800s to the 1950s, with a mix of humble and elaborate architecture in Queen Anne, Federal and Italianate styles. Outside the historic district, it's more common to see ranch-style homes built from the mid-1900s to today. According to Thies, the city plans on adding new condo units in the coming years.
Smaller homes start around $150,000, and prices can reach up to $300,000 for modern construction or freshly remodeled homes. Historic houses or modern properties with several acres can get up to $450,000. The Ohio River has been known to flood, though typical flood zones are outside the city. FirstStreet.org rates the area's flood risk as moderate.
Rising Sun's colorful Main Street has vintage boutiques and taverns
Rising Sun's colorful Main Street has been a bustling hub since the mid-1800s, and some of the vintage boutiques and restaurants have storefronts that date back to that time. Main Street Diner is a favorite for its farm-to-table breakfasts, and Jack's Place has Friday fish fries. Down by the riverfront, King's Landing has live bands and late-night hours, staying open until 3 a.m. Rockies Bar & Grill on the north side of town also stays open late. "The late hours are a tradition that carried over from when these taverns were hotels, because riverboat people would get in at all times of the night and need a place to go," Thies says. For groceries, residents can head to the local IGA Fresh Market.
Fireworks, street fairs and family fun at Riverfront Park
Riverfront Park has an ornate pavilion decorated with the image of a rising sun and offers picnic tables and a walking trail. "The city invested millions of dollars in redeveloping our riverfront," Thies says. "The park runs the whole width of the city and is designed to be a beautiful, family friendly spot." The riverfront and Main Street are connected as a center point for community events, including car shows, fishing tournaments and Fourth of July fireworks. A circus comes through in June, and one of the longest-running traditions is the Navy Bean Festival, where carnival rides and live music accompany cornbread and navy bean dinners.
Dual enrollment courses at Ohio County High School
Ohio County Elementary and Ohio County Middle School are located in the same building. Both schools receive a C-plus grade from Niche. Rising Sun High School is rated B-minus. Rising Sun High is an Early College High School in partnership with Ivy Tech, meaning it has a wide variety of dual enrollment courses that allow students to earn college credits. About 25% of students could graduate with associate degrees in past years.
Activities include a pool, pickleball and a nearby wildlife sanctuary
The Rising Sun County Community Pool is a summertime centerpiece, with a concession stand, water slide and youth swim teams. The pool is part of Shiner Community Park, which features ball fields, a playground and five pickleball courts added in 2024. Over by the river, residents can launch their boats off Riverfront Park's dock or visit the Red Wolf Rehabilitation Center and Raptor Sanctuary for a wildlife tour. The community also gathers at local churches, 4-H showcases at the Ohio County Fairgrounds and the Ohio County Library, which has events for all ages.
The Rising Sun Casino is located inside a functional riverboat
The Rising Sun Casino is a defining part of the city's identity as the largest employer and tourist attraction. The main portion of the casino is located inside a replica riverboat, which floats in the Ohio River. The casino has several restaurants, a nearby RV park and an 18-hole golf course that is open to the public.
Heading up to Greendale to cross the river into Cincinnati
Cincinnati is 40 miles away, about an hour's trip. In order to cross the Ohio River into the city, residents have to head up to Greendale and hop on Interstate 275. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport is closer, just over 25 miles away. The nearest hospital is St. Elizabeth Healthcare Dearborn, just less than 15 miles north. Louisville is about an hour and a half away, and Indianapolis is a two-hour trip.
Written By
Catherine Lashley
