Raccoon Island (Ohio) facts for kids
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Ohio River, Gallia County, Ohio |
| Coordinates | 38°43′52″N 82°11′25″W / 38.73111°N 82.19028°W |
| Length | 1/3 mi (1 km) |
| Highest elevation | 535 ft (163.1 m) |
| Administration | |
| Additional information | |
| GNIS feature ID 1051244 | |
Raccoon Island was once an island in the Ohio River. It was located in Gallia County, Ohio, near the mouth of Raccoon Creek. Today, the island is completely underwater.
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What Happened to Raccoon Island?
Most islands in the Ohio River between Ohio and West Virginia belong to West Virginia. This is because West Virginia used to be part of Virginia. When Virginia gave up its land claims in the Northwest Territory in 1784, it kept control of the river itself. This included the land underwater up to the Ohio shore.
Raccoon Island was special because it belonged to Ohio. This meant that when the river water was low, you could walk from Gallia County to the island.
Why the Island Disappeared
The island likely disappeared after the Gallipolis Locks and Dam was built in 1937. This dam raised the water level of the Ohio River permanently. The higher water covered Raccoon Island, making it disappear from view.
By 1958, Raccoon Island was fully submerged. It now appears as a shallow area, or shoal, on maps of the Ohio River. Its highest point is now three feet below the average river level.
Life on Raccoon Island
A map from 1906 shows that Raccoon Island was about one-third of a mile long. It was also about 500 feet wide. The island was closer to the Ohio side of the river. Its northern part gently sloped up to its highest point. This point was about 40 feet above the river's average level.
The Island's Post Office
Records show that Raccoon Island once had its own post office. This post office was set up very early in the island's history. The first postmaster, William F. Gooldin, started on August 18, 1841.
The last postmaster, Berton H. Ingels, was appointed in 1909. The post office closed on October 15, 1936. Mail for the island was then sent to Gallipolis, Ohio. The post office might have closed because the island was shrinking. It could also be because people were leaving due to the planned dam construction.
