South Salem Covered Bridge
Encyclopedia
The South Salem Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge
in northwestern Ross County
, Ohio
, United States
. Built in the 1870s, it has been designated a historic site
because of its well-preserved historic engineering. Since its construction, it has carried Lower Twin Road over Buckskin Creek in Buckskin Township
. The bridge is a wooden Smith truss bridge
, built in 1873 according to a design patent
ed by Ohioan Robert Smith in the late 1860s. Eight wooden panels wide, it rests on stone abutment
s and is covered with a metal roof.
In 1975, the bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
because of its historically significant engineering. Key to its significance is its unique status: all other covered bridges in Ross County have been destroyed, leaving the South Salem bridge standing alone.
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
in northwestern Ross County
Ross County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 73,345 people, 27,136 households, and 19,185 families residing in the county. The population density was 106 people per square mile . There were 29,461 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Built in the 1870s, it has been designated a historic site
Historic site
A historic site is an official location where pieces of political, military or social history have been preserved. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have recognized with the official national historic site status...
because of its well-preserved historic engineering. Since its construction, it has carried Lower Twin Road over Buckskin Creek in Buckskin Township
Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio
Buckskin Township is one of the sixteen townships of Ross County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 1,040 people in the township, 827 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
. The bridge is a wooden Smith truss bridge
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
, built in 1873 according to a design patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
ed by Ohioan Robert Smith in the late 1860s. Eight wooden panels wide, it rests on stone abutment
Abutment
An abutment is, generally, the point where two structures or objects meet. This word comes from the verb abut, which means adjoin or having common boundary. An abutment is an engineering term that describes a structure located at the ends of a bridge, where the bridge slab adjoins the approaching...
s and is covered with a metal roof.
In 1975, the bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
because of its historically significant engineering. Key to its significance is its unique status: all other covered bridges in Ross County have been destroyed, leaving the South Salem bridge standing alone.