Ohio State Route 685
Encyclopedia
State Route 685 is a short east–west state highway
in southeastern Ohio
, a U.S. state
. The western terminus of State Route 685 is at State Route 78
in the village of Buchtel
. Its eastern terminus is at State Route 13 approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) southwest of Jacksonville
.
Existing in the northern portion of Athens County
, State Route 685 functions as a connector route between State Route 78 and State Route 13 as it makes its way through the Wayne National Forest
. The designation of State Route 685 came into being in the early 1960s, replacing what had been known as State Route 675, due to the construction of Interstate 675
in the Dayton
vicinity, and the fact that Ohio does not duplicate numbers among different types of highways.
. This state highway is not included as a part of the National Highway System
.
State Route 685 begins at its junction with State Route 78
in the village that neighbors Nelsonville
to the east, Buchtel
. The highway starts out heading easterly along Green Run Road, and as a side street called Oakley Drive arcs out to the northeast, the state highway bends to the east, departs the village and enters into Dover Township
. The rural portion of State Route 685 passes through Wayne National Forest
. It is very curvy through the wooded terrain, generally trending easterly. As it bends to the southeast, the highway encounters Big Bailey Run Road (County Road 29). State Route 685 then bends back to the east, and as it turns more northeasterly, it passes Carr Bailey Road. The highway turns easterly briefly, straddles the township boundary as it intersects Oregon Ridge Road, then curves back to the east-northeast into Trimble Township
. Continuing easterly, State Route 685 passes a few homes amidst the unincorporated community of Modoc
, where it also intersects Koches Road. As the highway bends back to the east-southeast, it meets Greens Run Road, then passes back into Dover Township. The highway comes very tightly into its intersection with Truetown Road (County Road 95), traveling in a "U" shape from southeast to northeast. The landscape opens up a bit as the highway runs northeasterly back into Trimble Township, with a few homes appearing along the way, along with some grassy knolls. State Route 685 bends to the east as it arrives at its endpoint, a T-intersection with State Route 13 1 miles (1.6 km) southwest of Jacksonville
.
at Buchtel
and State Route 13 near Jacksonville
that currently carries the State Route 685 designation was identified as State Route 675. With the coming of the Interstate Highway System
into Ohio in 1962, because by rule, no Interstate or U.S. highways can have a duplicate state highway of the same number, State Route 675 was re-designated as State Route 685 in that year. No other changes of major significance have taken place to the highway since then.
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 southeastern 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...
, a 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...
. The western terminus of State Route 685 is at State Route 78
Ohio State Route 78
State Route 78 is a state highway that runs for 105 miles from Nelsonville to Clarington in the U.S. state of Ohio. Car and Driver has called it one of the most scenic highways nationwide...
in the village of Buchtel
Buchtel, Ohio
Buchtel is a village in Athens and Hocking counties in the U.S. state of Ohio, just northeast of Nelsonville. The population was 574 at the 2000 census. A former name for the village is Bessemer...
. Its eastern terminus is at State Route 13 approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) southwest of Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Ohio
Jacksonville is a village in Athens County, Ohio, United States. The population was 544 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Jacksonville is located at , along Sunday Creek....
.
Existing in the northern portion of Athens County
Athens County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,223 people, 22,501 households, and 12,713 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 24,901 housing units at an average density of 49 per square mile...
, State Route 685 functions as a connector route between State Route 78 and State Route 13 as it makes its way 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...
. The designation of State Route 685 came into being in the early 1960s, replacing what had been known as State Route 675, due to the construction of Interstate 675
Interstate 675 (Ohio)
Interstate 675 is an auxiliary interstate highway in the suburbs of Dayton in the U.S. state of Ohio. Interstate 675 serves as an eastern bypass of Dayton. I-675 measures in length...
in the Dayton
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
vicinity, and the fact that Ohio does not duplicate numbers among different types of highways.
Route description
All of State Route 685 is located in the northern portion of Athens CountyAthens County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,223 people, 22,501 households, and 12,713 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 24,901 housing units at an average density of 49 per square mile...
. This state 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 685 begins at its junction with State Route 78
Ohio State Route 78
State Route 78 is a state highway that runs for 105 miles from Nelsonville to Clarington in the U.S. state of Ohio. Car and Driver has called it one of the most scenic highways nationwide...
in the village that neighbors Nelsonville
Nelsonville, Ohio
Nelsonville is a city in northwestern Athens County, Ohio, United States. The population was 5,230 at the 2000 census. Hocking College is located in Nelsonville.-Geography:...
to the east, Buchtel
Buchtel, Ohio
Buchtel is a village in Athens and Hocking counties in the U.S. state of Ohio, just northeast of Nelsonville. The population was 574 at the 2000 census. A former name for the village is Bessemer...
. The highway starts out heading easterly along Green Run Road, and as a side street called Oakley Drive arcs out to the northeast, the state highway bends to the east, departs the village and enters into Dover Township
Dover Township, Athens County, Ohio
Dover Township is one of the fourteen townships of Athens County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 3,797 people in the township, 2,730 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
. The rural portion of State Route 685 passes through 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...
. It is very curvy through the wooded terrain, generally trending easterly. As it bends to the southeast, the highway encounters Big Bailey Run Road (County Road 29). State Route 685 then bends back to the east, and as it turns more northeasterly, it passes Carr Bailey Road. The highway turns easterly briefly, straddles the township boundary as it intersects Oregon Ridge Road, then curves back to the east-northeast into Trimble Township
Trimble Township, Athens County, Ohio
Trimble Township is one of the fourteen townships of Athens County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 4,710 people in the township, 1,728 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
. Continuing easterly, State Route 685 passes a few homes amidst the unincorporated community of Modoc
Modoc, Ohio
Modoc is an unincorporated community in Athens County, Ohio, United States. Modoc is located on Ohio State Route 685 east of Buchtel....
, where it also intersects Koches Road. As the highway bends back to the east-southeast, it meets Greens Run Road, then passes back into Dover Township. The highway comes very tightly into its intersection with Truetown Road (County Road 95), traveling in a "U" shape from southeast to northeast. The landscape opens up a bit as the highway runs northeasterly back into Trimble Township, with a few homes appearing along the way, along with some grassy knolls. State Route 685 bends to the east as it arrives at its endpoint, a T-intersection with State Route 13 1 miles (1.6 km) southwest of Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Ohio
Jacksonville is a village in Athens County, Ohio, United States. The population was 544 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Jacksonville is located at , along Sunday Creek....
.
History
When first added to the state highway system in 1937, the highway running between State Route 78Ohio State Route 78
State Route 78 is a state highway that runs for 105 miles from Nelsonville to Clarington in the U.S. state of Ohio. Car and Driver has called it one of the most scenic highways nationwide...
at Buchtel
Buchtel, Ohio
Buchtel is a village in Athens and Hocking counties in the U.S. state of Ohio, just northeast of Nelsonville. The population was 574 at the 2000 census. A former name for the village is Bessemer...
and State Route 13 near Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Ohio
Jacksonville is a village in Athens County, Ohio, United States. The population was 544 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Jacksonville is located at , along Sunday Creek....
that currently carries the State Route 685 designation was identified as State Route 675. With the coming of the Interstate Highway System
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
into Ohio in 1962, because by rule, no Interstate or U.S. highways can have a duplicate state highway of the same number, State Route 675 was re-designated as State Route 685 in that year. No other changes of major significance have taken place to the highway since then.