Ohio State Route 373
Encyclopedia
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the southern portion of 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...
. Its southern terminus is just over 11 miles (17.7 km) north of Ironton
Ironton, Ohio
Ironton is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Lawrence County. The municipality is located in southern Ohio along the Ohio River. The population was 11,211 at the 2000 census. Ironton is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the...
at State Route 93 at the hamlet of Bartles, and its northern terminus is at about 3 miles (4.8 km) to the north of its southern terminus, also at State Route 93.
The highway was designated in the mid 1930s at about the same time a number of similarly-numbered highways, State Route 370
Ohio State Route 370
State Route 370 is long north–south state highway in the western part of the U.S. state of Ohio. The highway runs from its southern terminus at the main entrance to John Bryan State Park nearly southeast of Yellow Springs to its northern terminus at SR 343 about east of Yellow...
, State Route 371
Ohio State Route 371
State Route 371 ' is very short north–south state highway in the south central portion of Ohio. Its southern terminus is at a ranger station in Shawnee State Park, and its northern terminus is at State Route 73 approximately southeast of Otway.Created in the mid 1930s, this two-lane spur...
and State Route 372
Ohio State Route 372
State Route 372 is a very short, two-lane east–west state highway in the southern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. The western terminus of this spur route is at a T-intersection with the duplex of U.S. Route 23 and SR 104 about north of Waverly...
, were created. All of these routes share a common bond in that they were established specifically to serve state parks and state forests. However, unlike the other three routes, which are all spurs, State Route 373 is a loop route that intersects State Route 93 at both endpoints, while providing access to Dean State Forest
Dean State Forest
Dean State Forest is a state forest in Lawrence County, Ohio, United States.-References:...
. Through the entirety of its route, State Route 373 also passes amidst Wayne National Forest
Wayne National Forest
The Wayne National Forest is located in the south-eastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio, in the Unglaciated Allegheny Plateau. It is the only national forest in Ohio. Forest headquarters are located between The Plains and Nelsonville, Ohio, on US Route 33, overlooking the Hocking River.The forest...
.
Route description
State Route 373 runs exclusively within Lawrence CountyLawrence County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,319 people, 24,732 households, and 17,807 families residing in the county. The population density was 137 people per square mile . There were 27,189 housing units at an average density of 60 per square mile...
. This state route is not a part of the National Highway System
National Highway System (United States)
The National Highway System is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities.Individual states...
, a network of highways deemed to be most important for the nation's economy, mobility and defense.
State Route 373 begins at the intersection of State Route 93 and Puckett Cemetery Road in Lawrence County's Elizabeth Township
Elizabeth Township, Lawrence County, Ohio
Elizabeth Township is one of the fourteen townships of Lawrence County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 2,914 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the western part of the county, it borders the following townships:...
. Traveling amidst the Wayne National Forest
Wayne National Forest
The Wayne National Forest is located in the south-eastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio, in the Unglaciated Allegheny Plateau. It is the only national forest in Ohio. Forest headquarters are located between The Plains and Nelsonville, Ohio, on US Route 33, overlooking the Hocking River.The forest...
, it is no surprise that for the bulk of the state highway's length, the landscape is primarily wooded. As the it departs the State Route 93 intersection in a generally northeasterly direction, State Route 373 is aligned by a number of houses. As the highway bends to the east, a vastness of trees appear roadside, on both sides of the route. Turning to the north, State Route 373 passes the Dean State Fire Road intersection, then, upon entering Decatur Township
Decatur Township, Lawrence County, Ohio
Decatur Township is one of the fourteen townships of Lawrence County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 839 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the northwestern part of the county, it borders the following townships:...
, also enters the Dean State Forest
Dean State Forest
Dean State Forest is a state forest in Lawrence County, Ohio, United States.-References:...
proper.
The highway next curves to the northwest, and enters into an inverted U-curve, where it bends to the northeast, then, as it meets Dean Forest Road, bends to the west. State Route 373 passes a couple of homes in the final stretch before it arrives at its endpoint, a T-intersection with State Route 93 approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) north of the highway's starting point.