Bidwell, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Bidwell is a small unincorporated village
in northwestern Springfield Township
, Gallia County
, Ohio
, United States
, and is often associated with the nearby community of Porter. Although unincorporated, it has its own ZIP Code
of 45614. Bidwell is located eleven miles from the county seat, Gallipolis
. It is located at an elevation of 682 feet (208 m).
Bidwell is part of the Point Pleasant
, WV
–OH Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
, 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 bike path that spans much of Gallia County, but the former site of the station itself is commemorated by an Ohio historical marker
.
, a FoodLand
grocery store, a video rental/tanning salon, and the other containing a Dollar General
store. Located in between the Foodland Grocery and Bidwell Hardware stores is the newly remodeled Colony Video II and River Valley Tanning store with the later part of the name coming from the newly placed River Valley High School being in close proximity to the business.
Other local stores are an ATV
shop and a gas station. There are no lodging or other accommodations in Bidwell, and most visitors to the community either stay with family or in nearby Gallipolis.
Public education in the community of Bidwell is provided by the Gallia County Local School District
. There is a school located in the area known as River Valley Middle School. It is a sixth to eighth grade school, and has an enrollment of approximately 400 students. Elementary students from Bidwell attend Vinton Elementary School. Students who graduate from Bidwell usually attend River Valley High School
, located in Cheshire
, though other options, such as post-secondary options are available at the nearby University of Rio Grande
.
Following voter approval of a tax levy during the 2005 election year, construction on a new, replacement school for River Valley High School has been started and is due to be completed in 2009. This school is located near Bidwell, and will serve the same population of students that are served by River Valley.
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.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in northwestern Springfield Township
Springfield Township, Gallia County, Ohio
Springfield Township is one of the fifteen townships of Gallia County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 3,181 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the northern part of the county, it borders the following townships:...
, Gallia County
Gallia County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,069 people, 12,060 households, and 8,586 families residing in the county. The population density was 66 people per square mile . There were 13,498 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and is often associated with the nearby community of Porter. Although unincorporated, it has its own ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
of 45614. Bidwell is located eleven miles from the county seat, Gallipolis
Gallipolis, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,180 people, 1,847 households, and 1,004 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,156.2 people per square mile . There were 2,056 housing units at an average density of 568.7 per square mile...
. It is located at an elevation of 682 feet (208 m).
Bidwell is part of the Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Point Pleasant is a city in Mason County, West Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers. The population was 4,637 at the 2000 census...
, WV
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
–OH Micropolitan Statistical Area
Point Pleasant micropolitan area
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....
.
History
The community of Bidwell was founded in 1881 under the name Heatly, after the arrival of the Columbus, Hocking Valley, and Toledo Railroad. Charles Heatly, 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. In or around 1900, Heatly changed its name to Bidwell in honor of John BidwellJohn Bidwell
John Bidwell was known throughout California and across the nation as an important pioneer, farmer, soldier, statesman, politician, prohibitionist and philanthropist...
, the Prohibition Party
Prohibition Party
The Prohibition Party is a political party in the United States best known for its historic opposition to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is the oldest existing third party in the US. The party was an integral part of the temperance movement...
'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 bike path that spans much of Gallia County, but the former site of the station itself is commemorated by an Ohio historical marker
Historical marker
A historical marker or historic marker is an indicator such as a plaque or sign to commemorate an event or person of historic interest and to associate that point of interest with a specific locale one can visit.-Description:...
.
Government
As Bidwell is unincorporated without official local government or charter, local government in the township is the responsibility of Springfield Township.Local life
The Bidwell area contains two shopping centers, one containing a hardware storeHardware store
Hardware stores, sometimes known as DIY stores, sell household hardware including: fasteners, hand tools, power tools, keys, locks, hinges, chains, plumbing supplies, electrical supplies, cleaning products, housewares, tools, utensils, paint, and lawn and garden products directly to consumers for...
, a FoodLand
FoodLand
"FoodLand" is the name of a regional American supermarket chain based in New Stanton, Pennsylvania. The stores' "F" logo are a registered trademark of Minnesota-based SuperValu stores, which serves as the chain's main wholesale distributor....
grocery store, a video rental/tanning salon, and the other containing a Dollar General
Dollar General
Dollar General Corp. is a U.S. chain of variety stores headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. As of January 2011, Dollar General operated over 9,300 stores in 35 U.S. states....
store. Located in between the Foodland Grocery and Bidwell Hardware stores is the newly remodeled Colony Video II and River Valley Tanning store with the later part of the name coming from the newly placed River Valley High School being in close proximity to the business.
Other local stores are an ATV
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
shop and a gas station. There are no lodging or other accommodations in Bidwell, and most visitors to the community either stay with family or in nearby Gallipolis.
Public education in the community of Bidwell is provided by the Gallia County Local School District
Gallia County Local School District
The Gallia County Local School District is a public school district headquartered in an unincorporated portion of Springfield Township with a Gallipolis, Ohio mailing address...
. There is a school located in the area known as River Valley Middle School. It is a sixth to eighth grade school, and has an enrollment of approximately 400 students. Elementary students from Bidwell attend Vinton Elementary School. Students who graduate from Bidwell usually attend River Valley High School
River Valley High School (Cheshire, Ohio)
River Valley High School is a public high school near Bidwell, 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...
, located in Cheshire
Cheshire, Ohio
Cheshire is a village in Gallia County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 221 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Point Pleasant, WV–OH Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Cheshire is located at ....
, though other options, such as post-secondary options are available at the nearby University of Rio Grande
University of Rio Grande
The University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College are twin colleges in Rio Grande, Ohio, United States....
.
Following voter approval of a tax levy during the 2005 election year, construction on a new, replacement school for River Valley High School has been started and is due to be completed in 2009. This school is located near Bidwell, and will serve the same population of students that are served by River Valley.
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
Springfield Township, Gallia County, Ohio
Springfield Township is one of the fifteen townships of Gallia County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 3,181 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the northern part of the county, it borders the following townships:...
volunteer fire department
Volunteer fire department
See also the Firefighter article and its respective sections regarding VFDs in other countries.A volunteer fire department is a fire department composed of volunteers who perform fire suppression and other related emergency services for a local jurisdiction.The first organized force of...
. Most funding for the station is received from tax levies.