ROSS COUNTY
County Offices
2 North Paint Street
Chillicothe 740-702-3085
www.co.ross.oh.us
Chamber of Commerce
45 East Main Street
Chillicothe 740-702-2722
www.chillicotheohio.com
Beautiful Ross County is the second largest in the state of Ohio, home to a number of unique attractions and a variety of welcoming residential villages and sprawling rural townships. The county also boasts the city of Chillicothe as Ohio’s first capital and has maintained its status as one of Ohio’s most productive agricultural centers.
Services
Newcomers to Ross County will discover opportunities for a quality education on every academic level, underlined by first-rate public and private schools from preschool through 12th grade. Options for a higher education are as close as the city of Chillicothe, where the first of Ohio University’s regional campuses still plays a leading role in expanding the university’s influence. For more than 60 years, Ohio University-Chillicothe has been preparing students for the challenges of tomorrow. The campus enrolls more than 2,000 students and offers degrees from associate through master’s in select disciplines. Another outstanding resource is Daymar College, one of the top colleges in Kentucky and Ohio that offers training for today’s most in-demand career fields. First-rate classroom instruction in small classes combines with real-world experience to prepare students for careers in exciting fields. The agricultural community in Ross County also has the advantage of an Ohio State University Extension that furthers their specific interests through a variety of instructional and support programs.
The network of healthcare services and facilities that serve Ross County are anchored by the Adena Regional Medical Center at the junction of US 23 and State Route 159, seven miles north of Chillicothe. Bringing contemporary medicine and technological advancements to regional residents, the medical center provides a wide array of leading-edge diagnostic and treatment services. Examples include MRI, Spiral CT scanning, Linear Accelerator, advanced surgical suites, and Intensive/Cardiac Care. In addition to comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care, the hospital operates Centers of Excellence such as Surgical Services, Cardiac Care, Cancer Care, Women’s Services and Rehabilitation Services. The Adena Health Pavilion is located on the campus of Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe, housing a new Outpatient Surgery Center and additional outpatient services including an Imaging Center and Laboratory. A number of physician offices including orthopedics, neurology, pain management and a Sleep Center are also located in this facility. The Adena Rehabilitation & Wellness Center is dedicated to physical therapy programs but also the industrial rehabilitation program. The Adena Rehabilitation & Wellness Center provides therapy for sports injuries, acute and chronic pain, work injuries, and other orthopedic injuries in one convenient location filled with state-of-the-art rehab equipment.
Lifestyle
Welcome to scenic and lively Ross County, where natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and cultural enrichment are never more than a few minutes from home. The most widely famous attraction is the Tecumseh Outdoor Drama at the Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre, a spectacular re-enactment of the life of the legendary Shawnee leader Tecumseh. Often imitated within the outdoor drama industry, “Tecumseh!” continues to set the standard for stunning scenes and innovative production techniques. Magic Waters Summer Theatre in Bainbridge is another seasonal delight of shows that vary from comedy to children’s theatre. The Majestic Theatre, continuously operating since 1853, offers theatrical productions, concerts, special events and movies. Other jewels include the Lucy Hayes Heritage Center, honoring the birthplace of the wife of Rutherford B. Hayes, and the Victorian Gothic style Pump House Center for the Arts. The Ross County Heritage Center serves as the premier historical museum and research library for Ohio’s first capital city, Chillicothe. Adena Mansion & Gardens was the estate of Thomas Worthington, sixth governor of the State of Ohio and father of Ohio’s Statehood. Fort Economy Military Museum preserves military history and artifacts, while the Hopewell Culture National Historic Park focuses on the earthworks of the ancient Native American culture.
Leisure pastimes in Ross County are as varied as the terrain, including golfing, cheering minor league baseball, visiting a farmer’s market, or spending the day at a state park. The Chillicothe Paints draw enthusiastic crowds to live-stadium action with other Prospect League teams. Pike Lake, Tar Hollow, and Scioto Trail state parks provide easily accessible, panoramic settings for swimming boating, water sports, camping, fishing, hunting, and picnicking. Great Seal State Park offers camping and trails but also adds a variety of sports facilities from volleyball and basketball to horseshoes and disc golf. The Highlands Nature Sanctuary invites visitors to explore Cave Canyon with its cliffs and cascades, seeps and springs, breathtaking vistas, lush plant growth, and a few small caves and grottos. Around the calendar year, Ross County brings friends and neighbors together for colorful special events, historic celebrations, and seasonal festivities. Chillicothe is rich in Native American history and hosts the Feast of the Flowering Moon Festival that draws as many as 85,000 visitors. The city also hosts the Southern Ohio Storytelling Festival, featuring concert performances by highly acclaimed and award-winning storytellers along with a premier arts and crafts show. Around the four seasons, Ross County provides a serene and welcoming hometown atmosphere that never fails to entertain and delight.
Chillicothe
City Offices
740-774-1185
http://ci.chillicothe.oh.us
Chamber of Commerce
740-702-2722
www.chillicotheohio.com
Ohio’s First Capital City, named after the Shawnee Indians, is steeped in legends and historic charm. Today, Chillicothe balances agricultural, commercial, and residential areas to offer a wide variety of attractive homes and settings. Neighborhood parks are popular for sports play, picnicking, golfing, and cycling or walking on 30 miles of trails. Yoctangee Park offers 48 acres for active and passive recreation, including one of Southwestern Ohio’s finest playgrounds, right in the downtown district, adjacent to the Historic First Capital District. The park also features is also home to the restored Municipal Water Plant built in 1882, now serving as the Pump House Center for the Arts. Quality schools, institutions of higher education, a regional healthcare center, a minor league baseball team, entertainment centers, a nationally acclaimed outdoor theater experience, cultural venues, and a bustling downtown district are just a few of the features that make Chillicothe the urban hub of Ross county. Chillicothe is also home to the 152-year-old continuously operating Majestic Theater, boasting a stage graced by greats like Laurel and Hardy, Milton Berle, George Arliss, and Sophie Tucker to name just a few.
Ross County Townships
Township Listing and Information
www.co.ross.oh.us
Besides the cities, villages and towns within Ross County, 16 townships that comprise a large part of the area in the county. These townships range from smaller rural communities with a few hundred residents to more than several thousand people such as the 27,000+ residents of Scioto Township. The townships are spread throughout the region and are generally comprised of farm, rural and residential land.
Click on the link above to go to the State of Ohio listing of municipal web sites for the county.
