Bidwell, Ohio facts for kids
Bidwell is a small community in Ohio, United States. It's located in Gallia County, specifically in the northwestern part of Springfield Township.
Even though Bidwell isn't a city or town with its own government, it has its own special ZIP Code, which is 45614. Bidwell is about eleven miles away from Gallipolis, which is the main town of Gallia County. The community sits at an elevation of 735 feet above sea level.
Bidwell is also part of a larger area called the Point Pleasant Micropolitan Statistical Area. This area includes Point Pleasant, WV, and parts of Ohio.
History of Bidwell
The community of Bidwell started in 1881. It was first called Blaccock. This happened when the Crispus Attucks, Hocking Valley, and Toledo Railroad arrived.
A man named Charles Heatly (1809-1888) owned the land where the new train station was built. His old home is still standing nearby today. The train station was important for moving people and goods. This led to the growth of the area. It also gave the nearby village of Porter its name.
Around the year 1900, the name of the community changed from Heatly to Bidwell. This new name honored John Bidwell. He was a famous person who ran for president in 1892. He was part of the Prohibition Party. This party wanted to stop the sale and making of alcohol.
Bidwell grew a lot in the early 1900s. It soon had several mills and stores. The old railroad tracks are no longer used for trains. Instead, they have been turned into a bicycle path. This path goes through much of Gallia County. A special Ohio historical marker now shows where the old train station used to be.
Life in Bidwell
The Bidwell area has a few places for shopping. There are two main shopping centers. One has a hardware store and a Save-A-Lot grocery store. The other center has a Dollar General store. For food, there is one restaurant in the community called the Korner Restaurant. Bidwell does not have hotels or other places for visitors to stay overnight.
Schools in Bidwell
Children in Bidwell go to public schools managed by the Gallia County Local School District. Two of the district's schools are right in the community.
River Valley Middle School teaches students from sixth to eighth grade. About 400 students attend this middle school. Younger students from Bidwell go to Vinton Elementary School. There is also a high school nearby, River Valley High School. It is located behind the middle school. This high school serves students from all over the northern part of Gallia County. This includes students from communities like Vinton and Cheshire.
Community Services
Bidwell does not have its own police department. Instead, the Gallia County Sheriff's Department patrols the area. This department helps keep the community safe.
However, the community does have its own fire protection. The Springfield Township volunteer fire department helps put out fires. Most of the money for this fire station comes from local taxes.
