The Ohio River Flows West-Southwest — So No Cities Are "North" of It

The premise of "cities north of the Ohio River" misunderstands the river's orientation. The Ohio flows 981 miles generally west-southwest from Pittsburgh (Allegheny + Monongahela confluence) to Cairo, IL (Mississippi confluence). Its course is longitudinal, not latitudinal.

What "North of the River" Means Here

Because the river runs roughly southwest, its "north side" is actually its right bank (northwest) when facing downstream. The states on this side:

• Ohio (southern border)
• Indiana (southern border)
• Illinois (southern border — only at the very end, near Cairo)

The "south side" (left bank downstream) is:

• West Virginia (entire western border)
• Kentucky (entire northern border)

Major Cities on the "North" (Right) Bank

• Pittsburgh, PA (origin)
• Steubenville, OH
• Wheeling, WV (on island, but north bank)
• Marietta, OH
• Huntington, WV (mostly north bank)
• Portsmouth, OH
• Cincinnati, OH (metro spans both banks)
• Evansville, IN
• Owensboro, KY — wait, KY is south bank! Correction: Owensboro is on the south (Kentucky) side.

Cities on the South (Left) Bank

• Parkersburg, WV
• Ashland, KY
• Louisville, KY (major metro)
• Henderson, KY
• Paducah, KY (near confluence)

So there are cities on the north/northwest bank — but the river doesn't run east-west. The better question: "Which cities lie on the Ohio River's right bank?" Answer: Pittsburgh to Evansville, mostly in Ohio, Indiana, and western Pennsylvania.