Bidwell, Ohio

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.

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 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 bike path that spans much of Gallia County, but the former site of the station itself is commemorated by an Ohio historical marker.

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 store, 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.