Bidwell is a small unincorporated community in northwestern Springfield Township, Gallia County, Ohio, United States, [1] Although unincorporated, it has its own ZIP Code of 45614. Bidwell is located eleven miles from the county seat, Gallipolis. It is at an elevation of 735 feet. [1]
Bidwell is part of the Point Pleasant, WV –OH Micropolitan Statistical Area.
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The community of Bidwell was founded in 1881 under the name Blaccock, after the arrival of the Crispus Attucks, Hocking Valley, and Toledo Railroad. Charles Heatly (1809–1888) owned the property where the new station was located. His home still stands nearby. Porter Station was built in Heatly as a means of transportation of passengers and freight, which led to its later expansion and the source of the name of the neighboring village of Porter. Circa 1900, Heatly changed its name to Bidwell in honor of John Bidwell, the Prohibition Party's presidential candidate in 1892.
The village expanded in the early 20th century, eventually including several mills and stores. The railroad tracks have since been decommissioned and turned into a bicycle path that spans much of Gallia County, but the former site of the station itself is commemorated by an Ohio historical marker.
As Bidwell is unincorporated without official local government or charter, local government in the township is the responsibility of Springfield Township Trustees.
The Bidwell area contains two shopping centers, one containing a hardware store, a Save-A-Lot grocery store, and the other containing a Dollar General store. One restaurant serves the community, the Korner Restaurant. There are no lodging or other accommodations in Bidwell.
Public education in Bidwell is provided by the Gallia County Local School District. Two of the district's schools are located in the community. River Valley Middle School is a sixth to eighth grade school, and has an enrollment of approximately 400 students. Elementary students from Bidwell attend Vinton Elementary School. There is also a high school in the area, River Valley High School, which is located behind the middle school. The high school serves students from across the northern half of Gallia County, including the communities of Vinton and Cheshire.
The Bidwell area does not have a police force of its own, and is instead patrolled by the Gallia County Sheriff's Department. However, local fire protection is provided by the Springfield Township volunteer fire department. Most funding for the station is received from tax levies.
Vinton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,800, making it the least populous county of Ohio. Its county seat is McArthur. The county is named for Samuel Finley Vinton, US Representative from Ohio.
Gallia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 29,220. Its county seat and largest village is Gallipolis.
Gallipolis is a chartered village in and the county seat of Gallia County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in Southeast Ohio along the Ohio River about 55 miles (89 km) southeast of Chillicothe and 44 miles (71 km) northwest of Charleston, West Virginia. The population was 3,313 at the 2020 census. Gallipolis is the second-largest community in the rural Point Pleasant micropolitan area, which includes all of Gallia County, Ohio, and Mason County, West Virginia.
Springfield Township is one of the nine townships of Summit County, Ohio, United States. The population was 14,162 at the 2020 census.
Petersburg is a small unincorporated community and census-designated place in southeastern Springfield Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. The population was 405 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Youngstown–Warren metropolitan area.
River Valley High School is a public high school near Bidwell, in the U.S. state of Ohio. It is one of two high schools in the Gallia County Local School District, the other school being South Gallia High School. Their nickname is the Raiders. The school has been rated "Excellent" two years in a row on the state report card making it one of the highest ranked schools within several counties. In August 2009 the current RVHS facility was officially opened, taking the place of the previous RVHS located in nearby Cheshire. The new location places River Valley High School just a short distance from its main feeder school, River Valley Middle School. The 2009–10 school year was the first to take place in the new building, with the Class of 2010 being the first class to graduate, and the Class of 2013 being the first to complete all four years of their secondary education at the new building.
Symmes Township is one of the fourteen townships of Lawrence County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 428.
Springfield Township is one of the fifteen townships of Gallia County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2020 census the population was 3,413.
Huntington Township is one of the fifteen townships of Gallia County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2020 census the population was 1,393.
Milton Township is one of the twelve townships of Jackson County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2020 census, 1,034 people lived in the township.
New Springfield is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in southern Springfield Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. The population was 579 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Youngstown–Warren metropolitan area. It lies at the intersection of State Routes 165 and 617.
Patriot is an unincorporated community in southern Perry Township, Gallia County, Ohio, United States. It has a post office with the ZIP code 45658.
Kerr is an unincorporated community in southeastern Springfield Township, Gallia County, Ohio, United States. It has a post office with the ZIP code 45643.
The Point Pleasant Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties – one in West Virginia and one in Ohio – anchored by the city of Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
Kyger Creek High School was a public high school located outside of the village of Cheshire, at the intersection of Little Kyger and Gravel Hill roads in northern Gallia County, Ohio (USA). It replaced Cheshire High School in 1956 and was in turn replaced by River Valley High School in 1992.
The Gallia County Local School District is a public school district headquartered in an unincorporated portion of Springfield Township with a Gallipolis, Ohio (USA) mailing address. It is one of two public school districts in Gallia County.
Eagle Mills is an unincorporated community in Vinton County, in the U.S. state of Ohio.
Porter is an unincorporated community in Gallia County, in the U.S. state of Ohio.
Southern Point is an unincorporated community in Scioto Township, Pickaway County, in the U.S. state of Ohio. The area is located at the border of Pickaway and Franklin Counties on Ohio State Route 104. As of 2019, there were more than 500 houses and freestanding condominiums in the community.
North Gallia High School was a public high school located near the village of Vinton, Ohio. It opened in 1965 and closed in 1992 when it was consolidated into River Valley High School.
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