Meigs County, Ohio

Most of Meigs County looks like this. Not too bad.

Long day yesterday - on the road 6 am, headed for Meigs County, Ohio, with 50-0dd miles of coastline down on the Ohio River. It's beautiful country down there; I'd guess 80% of the county is rolling forest land, so it doesn't lend itself to traditional economic development. Hardly any industry to speak of. What they have is what you'd call "extractive industry" - stuff in the ground, like coal for example, and gravel, that's worth something out of the ground.

There is likely to be another power plant coming soon, and with it, some good paying jobs, so they are looking for a growth boom. By "back east" standards, we are not talking much, but for a small riverside town like Racine, they are pretty happy to have a new business district being built up above the flood plain, even if it consists, for now, of a new Dollar General and bank branch. And with some likely new housing, more things will follow.

Here are a handful of pictures I took while touring the County with their economic development director yesterday.
I was oohing and ahhing as this tug was pushing these barges along. Of course, for the locals, it's no big deal, as these things come along about every twenty minutes. (This pic was taken from the W. Virginia side, by the way. Unfortunately, the Ohio side is too "topographically challenged" for rail).
Three shots of Pomeroy, the County seat, population maybe around 2,500. Top one is the county courthouse, nestled in on a hillside. I believe it is true that the town has no four-way intersections. With the river and a line of hills/mountains behind it, there is only room for a width of one city block. Bottom shot shows Pomeroy from a distance, demonstrating that topo challenge.
Like it or not, this pic captures what makes Meigs County tick. In the foregrond, the conveyor from the Gattling Corp. coal mine to the River, where the coal is loaded on barges. In the background,the stacks of a power plant over on the West Virginia side. And, of course, a transmission tower bringin' the killowatts to people who need 'em.
And finally, the new bridge from Pomeroy over to West Virginia and, among other destinations, the nearest Wal Mart. The bridge opened in the last year - it lights up a dramatic purple at night. Quite a structure.