History
Belmont, "Beautiful Mountain" in French (Belle Monte), was the chosen name for the county Northwest Territory Governor Gen. Arthur St. Clair established Sept. 7, 1801. St. Clairsville, the county seat, is named for him.
Belmont County was one of the first counties settled in Ohio. Native Americans and Europeans battled in the area before the territory was opened up for settlers in the early 1800s.
At that time the area was considered the "West," and the people who had settled the eastern states moved there for various reasons. Some headed to the area because they had received land grants for their service in the Revolutionary War. Others went to speculate on land - they bought acreage and resold it for a profit. Adventurers from the east coast headed for the dense woods and open land, which was perfect for farming, in the new state of Ohio.
Through the center of Belmont County runs the National Road (now Interstate 70), the first federally funded highway in America. For several decades this road was America's busiest land artery, making Belmont County a true gateway to the west.
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Business Opportunities
Business Growth and Potential
Belmont County covers 537 square miles of land along the Ohio River in eastern Ohio. St. Clairsville, the county seat, is situated 65 miles west of Pittsburgh and 120 miles east of Columbus. Belmont County is almost midway between New York and Chicago and approximately 300 miles from Washington, D.C.
Interstate 70, U.S. 40 and Ohio Routes 7 and 9 make it easy to access the "Gateway to the Upper Ohio Valley." The Ohio River remains a major conduit for cargo, with barge line service available from Pittsburgh and Parkersburg, West Virginia, as well as locally. Conrail also maintains a system running the full length of the county.
Major Employers
Barnesville Hospital Association
Belmont County Government
Belmont Technical College
East Ohio Regional Hospital
Health Plan of Upper Ohio Valley
Mayflower Vehicle Systems
Ohio Valley Coal Company
State of Ohio
Times Leader
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
WHX/Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation
Natural Resources
Water is an abundant resource in Belmont County. Wells drilled along the river valleys yield more than 300,000 gallons per minute. The Ohio River itself can provide a substantial amount of process water and water for domestic use. Normal flows measure more than six billion gallons per day.
Business Support Organizations
Barnesville Area Chamber of Commerce
130 W. Main Street
Barnesville OH 43713
740-425-4300
Bellaire Area Chamber of Commerce
Bank One Building Room 204
Bellaire OH 43906
(740) 676-9723
Bridgeport Area Chamber of Commerce
301 Main Street
Bridgeport OH 43912
(740) 635-3377
Martins Ferry Area Chamber of Commerce
418 Walnut Street
Martins Ferry OH 43935
(740) 633-2565
Shadyside Area Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 115
Shadyside OH 43947
(740) 676-4216
St. Clairsville Area Chamber of Commerce
130 West Main Street
St. Clairsville OH 43950
(740) 695-9623
Belmont County Department of Development CIC
117 E. Main Street
St. Clairsville OH 43725
(740) 695-9678
Belmont County Port Authority
121 Newell Avenue
St. Clairsville OH 43950
(740) 695-4397
Eastern Ohio Development Alliance
326 Highland Avenue
Cambridge OH 43725
(740) 432-7902
Educational Opportunities
Higher Education
Tourism and Lifestyle The July 2001 issue of Ohio Magazine named Barnesville one of the state's best nine places in which to live.
Recreation
- Barkcamp State Park
- Piedmont Lake
- Belmont Lake
- Ohio River
- Dysart Woods
- Egypt Valley Wildlife Area
Museums and Attractions
- Belmont County Museum
- Quaker Heritage Museum
- Betty Zane Statue and Grave
- Benjamin Lundy House
- Great Western Schoolhouse
- Oglebay Mansion Museum
- Sedgwick Museum
- Underground Railroad Museum
Entertainment, Shopping and Festivals
- Ohio Valley Mall
- Ohio Valley Plaza
- Festival of Lights
- Wheeling Island Racetrack & Gaming Center
- Capitol Music Hall
- Jamboree in the Hills
- Jamboree USA
- Oglebay Institute
- Towngate Theatre
- Wheeling Symphony Orchestra
- All-American Soap Box Derby
- Belmont County Fair
- Barnesville Pumpkin Festival
- National Pike Wagon Train
- Rubberneck Tour
- Betty Zane Frontier Days
Visitor Information
Convention & Visitors Bureaus
Belmont County Tourism Council
Ohio Valley Mall, Unit 485
St. Clairsville, OH 43950
Airports
Alderman Airport
St. Clairsville
2843 'x 50' asphalt runway, tiedown and hangar facilities; attended 24 hours a day
Bradfield Airport
Barnesville
4004' x 65' asphalt runway, tiedown and hangar facilities; attended during daylight hours
Pittsburgh International Airport (60 miles east)
Port Columbus International Airport (120 miles west)
Hospitals
- Barnesville Hospital
- Bellaire Community Hospital
- East Ohio Regional Hospital
- Fox Run Hospital
- Ohio Valley Medical Center
- Reynolds Memorial Hospital
- Wheeling Hospital
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