Highlands Sanctuary, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that is seeking to build a major chain of nature preserves in south-central 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...

, on the western fringe of the Allegheny Plateau

Allegheny Plateau

The Allegheny Plateau is a large dissected plateau area in western and central New York, northern and western Pennsylvania, northern and western West Virginia, and eastern Ohio...

, known as the Arc of Appalachia in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....

. The oldest and core component of the project is Highlands Nature Sanctuary in Highland County, Ohio

Highland County, Ohio

As of the census of 2000, there were 40,875 people, 15,587 households, and 11,394 families residing in the county. The population density was 74 people per square mile . There were 17,583 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...

 and includes Seven Caves, an historic tourist attraction.

The component of The Nature Conservancy is in adjacent Adams County and is named The Edge of Appalachia .

The Highlands Sanctuary organization has been designated by the Ohio Historical Society

Ohio Historical Society

The Ohio Historical Society is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1885 as The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society "to promote a knowledge of archaeology and history, especially in Ohio"...

 as the managers and operators of two Ohio state memorials, Serpent Mound

Serpent Mound

The Great Serpent Mound is a -long, three-foot-high prehistoric effigy mound located on a plateau of the Serpent Mound crater along Ohio Brush Creek in Adams County, Ohio. Maintained within a park by the Ohio Historical Society, it has been designated a National Historic Landmark by the United...

 and Fort Hill State Memorial .
.

Highlands Sanctuary currently administers almost 5,000 acres in six counties of Ohio, including the 1324 acres of Fort Hill.

Preserves

Preserves in the Arc of Appalachia system owned by Highlands Sanctuary

• Highlands Nature Sanctuary - 2068 acres in Highland County, Ohio
  Highland County, Ohio
  As of the census of 2000, there were 40,875 people, 15,587 households, and 11,394 families residing in the county. The population density was 74 people per square mile . There were 17,583 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
  
  
• Spruce Hill Earthworks (an ancient Native American fortification) - 270 acres in Ross County, Ohio
  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...
  
  
• Morgan's Fork - 147 acres in Pike County, Ohio
  Pike County, Ohio
  As of the census of 2000, there were 27,695 people, 10,444 households, and 7,665 families residing in the county. The population density was 63 people per square mile . There were 11,602 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
  
  
• Chalet Nivale - 105 acres in Adams County, Ohio
  Adams County, Ohio
  As of the census of 2000, there were 27,330 people, 10,501 households, and 7,613 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 11,822 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
  
  
• Plum Run Prairie - 138 acres in Adams County, Ohio
  Adams County, Ohio
  As of the census of 2000, there were 27,330 people, 10,501 households, and 7,613 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 11,822 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
  
  
• Kamama Prairie - 92 acres in Adams County, Ohio
  Adams County, Ohio
  As of the census of 2000, there were 27,330 people, 10,501 households, and 7,613 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 11,822 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
  
  
• Hope Springs Woods - 108 acres in Adams County, Ohio
  Adams County, Ohio
  As of the census of 2000, there were 27,330 people, 10,501 households, and 7,613 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 11,822 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
  
  
• Gladys Riley Golden Star - 53 acres in Scioto County, Ohio
  Scioto County, Ohio
  As of the census of 2000, there were 79,195 people, 30,871 households, and 21,362 families residing in the county. The population density was 129 people per square mile . There were 34,054 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...
  
  
• Rock Run - 355 acres in Ross County, Ohio
  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 River Bluffs - 62 acres in Adams County, Ohio
  Adams County, Ohio
  As of the census of 2000, there were 27,330 people, 10,501 households, and 7,613 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 11,822 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
  
  
• Boone Nature Preserve - 35 acres in Brown County, Ohio
  Brown County, Ohio
  As of the census of 2000, there were 42,285 people, 15,555 households, and 11,790 families residing in the county. The population density was 86 people per square mile . There were 17,193 housing units at an average density of 35 per square mile...
  
  
• Samson Woods - 78 acres in Pike County, Ohio
  Pike County, Ohio
  As of the census of 2000, there were 27,695 people, 10,444 households, and 7,665 families residing in the county. The population density was 63 people per square mile . There were 11,602 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
  
  
• Serpent Mound
  Serpent Mound
  The Great Serpent Mound is a -long, three-foot-high prehistoric effigy mound located on a plateau of the Serpent Mound crater along Ohio Brush Creek in Adams County, Ohio. Maintained within a park by the Ohio Historical Society, it has been designated a National Historic Landmark by the United...
  
   - 63 acres in Adams County, Ohio
  Adams County, Ohio
  As of the census of 2000, there were 27,330 people, 10,501 households, and 7,613 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 11,822 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
  
   (owned by the Ohio Historical Society
  Ohio Historical Society
  The Ohio Historical Society is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1885 as The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society "to promote a knowledge of archaeology and history, especially in Ohio"...
  
  )
• Fort Hill State Memorial - 1324 acres in Highland County, Ohio
  Highland County, Ohio
  As of the census of 2000, there were 40,875 people, 15,587 households, and 11,394 families residing in the county. The population density was 74 people per square mile . There were 17,583 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
  
   (owned by the Ohio Historical Society
  Ohio Historical Society
  The Ohio Historical Society is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1885 as The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society "to promote a knowledge of archaeology and history, especially in Ohio"...
  
  )

External links

• Highlands Sanctuary: http://www.highlandssanctuary.org/
• Article on Highlands Sanctuary: http://www.ohiohillcountry.org/PDF/VoiceSpring2010.pdf
• The Nature Conservancy: http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/ohio/preserves/art145.html