Ohio State Route 553
Encyclopedia
State Route 553 is a north–south state highway
in the southern portion of the U.S. state
of Ohio
. State Route 553 has its southern terminus at a T-intersection with State Route 7 in Crown City
. The route's northern terminus is at State Route 218
approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of Crown City.
Created in the late 1930s, this highway in extreme southern Gallia County
acts primarily as a connector roadway between State Route 7 and State Route 218. State Route 553 is a steep, narrow, and somewhat dangerous route with a large incline from the Ohio River
valley heading north into Wayne National Forest
.
. The highway is not included as a part of the National Highway System
.
State Route 553 begins at a T-intersection with State Route 7 in the village
of Crown City
. From this intersection, it ends up being an uphill trend for the state highway for its entirety, as it climbs out of the Ohio River
valley. Overall, the route traverses forested terrain, as it goes through the Wayne National Forest
, but it does pass amidst some open spaces and the occasional home along its way. State Route 553 heads northwesterly from State Route 7, and departs Crown City after a few blocks, entering into rural Guyan Township
. At the Southers Road intersection, the highway turns east then promptly bends back north. At Sowards Ridge Road, the highway turns back to the northwest. While following a rather curvy path, the highway overall trends in a northwesterly direction, passing into an area that is more open prior to arriving at its endpoint at its junction with State Route 218
.
prior to 1926. State Route 218 was re-routed onto its present alignment in that year, and the roadway was placed under local jurisdiction. In 1937, this same stretch of roadway was brought back into the state highway system, and given the designation of State Route 553. Since its inception, State Route 553 has not experienced any significant changes to its routing.
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 the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
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...
. State Route 553 has its southern terminus at a T-intersection with State Route 7 in Crown City
Crown City, Ohio
Crown City is a village in Gallia County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 411 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Point Pleasant, WV–OH Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. The route's northern terminus is at State Route 218
Ohio State Route 218
State Route 218 is a north–south state highway in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. The southern terminus of State Route 218 is at a T-intersection with State Route 217 approximately northwest of Athalia...
approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of Crown City.
Created in the late 1930s, this highway in extreme southern Gallia County
Gallia County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,069 people, 12,060 households, and 8,586 families residing in the county. The population density was 66 people per square mile . There were 13,498 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...
acts primarily as a connector roadway between State Route 7 and State Route 218. State Route 553 is a steep, narrow, and somewhat dangerous route with a large incline from the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
valley heading north into 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
All of State Route 553 is located in the southern portion of Gallia CountyGallia County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,069 people, 12,060 households, and 8,586 families residing in the county. The population density was 66 people per square mile . There were 13,498 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...
. The highway is not included as 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...
.
State Route 553 begins at a T-intersection with State Route 7 in the village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of Crown City
Crown City, Ohio
Crown City is a village in Gallia County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 411 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Point Pleasant, WV–OH Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. From this intersection, it ends up being an uphill trend for the state highway for its entirety, as it climbs out of the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
valley. Overall, the route traverses forested terrain, as it goes through 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...
, but it does pass amidst some open spaces and the occasional home along its way. State Route 553 heads northwesterly from State Route 7, and departs Crown City after a few blocks, entering into rural Guyan Township
Guyan Township, Gallia County, Ohio
Guyan Township is one of the fifteen townships of Gallia County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 1,199 people in the township, 788 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
. At the Southers Road intersection, the highway turns east then promptly bends back north. At Sowards Ridge Road, the highway turns back to the northwest. While following a rather curvy path, the highway overall trends in a northwesterly direction, passing into an area that is more open prior to arriving at its endpoint at its junction with State Route 218
Ohio State Route 218
State Route 218 is a north–south state highway in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. The southern terminus of State Route 218 is at a T-intersection with State Route 217 approximately northwest of Athalia...
.
History
The roadway that now carries the State Route 553 designation was originally a part of State Route 218Ohio State Route 218
State Route 218 is a north–south state highway in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. The southern terminus of State Route 218 is at a T-intersection with State Route 217 approximately northwest of Athalia...
prior to 1926. State Route 218 was re-routed onto its present alignment in that year, and the roadway was placed under local jurisdiction. In 1937, this same stretch of roadway was brought back into the state highway system, and given the designation of State Route 553. Since its inception, State Route 553 has not experienced any significant changes to its routing.