Ohio State Highway 140
Encyclopedia
State Route 140 is an east–west state highway
in the southern portion of the U.S. state
of Ohio
. The highway has its western terminus in Portsmouth
at a diamond interchange
with U.S. Route 52. Its eastern terminus is at State Route 93 approximately 2.75 miles (4.4 km) south of Oak Hill
.
State Route 140 first appeared in the mid 1920s. The two-lane highway passes through three counties along its path: Scioto
, Lawrence
and Jackson
. It begins at an interchange with U.S. Route 52 and, immediately following the interchange, leaves the Portsmouth corporation limits and heads east. The route makes a quick hilly climb upward and downward to the former Teays River
Valley near Slocum; it then traverses primarily wooded areas as it passes through Ashley Corner, Scioto Furnace
, South Webster
, and Eifort. It retains the forested area up until its eastern terminus. For most of its alignment, State Route 140 parallels an abandoned Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
line.
, clips the northwestern corner of Lawrence County
and then sneaks into southern Jackson County
. State Route 140 is not a part of the National Highway System
, a system of highways deemed most important for the nation's economy, mobility and defense.
, Lawrence
and Jackson
Counties. The highway has not experienced any major changes since its inception, excepting the highways that it intersects at its endpoints. Its western terminus, which is now U.S. Route 52, was originally a part of State Route 7. Meanwhile, its eastern terminus, which is currently State Route 93, was originally designated as State Route 75.
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 the southern portion of the 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...
of 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...
. The highway has its western terminus in Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Scioto County. The municipality is located on the northern banks of the Ohio River and east of the Scioto River in Southern Ohio. The population was 20,226 at the 2010 census.-Foundation:...
at a diamond interchange
Diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
with U.S. Route 52. Its eastern terminus is at State Route 93 approximately 2.75 miles (4.4 km) south of Oak Hill
Oak Hill, Ohio
Oak Hill is a village in Jackson County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,685 at the 2000 census.- History :Oak Hill was also a stop on Morgan's Raid, led by Confederate Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan during the American Civil War. Oak Hill was settled by Welshimmigrants that were...
.
State Route 140 first appeared in the mid 1920s. The two-lane highway passes through three counties along its path: Scioto
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...
, Lawrence
Lawrence County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,319 people, 24,732 households, and 17,807 families residing in the county. The population density was 137 people per square mile . There were 27,189 housing units at an average density of 60 per square mile...
and Jackson
Jackson County, Ohio
Jackson County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of 2010, the population was 33,225. Its county seat is Jackson and is named for Andrew Jackson, a hero of the War of 1812 who was subsequently elected President of the United States....
. It begins at an interchange with U.S. Route 52 and, immediately following the interchange, leaves the Portsmouth corporation limits and heads east. The route makes a quick hilly climb upward and downward to the former Teays River
Teays River
The Teays River was an important preglacial river that drained much of the area now drained by the Ohio River, and more. Traces of the Teays across northern Ohio and Indiana are represented by a network of river valleys. These valleys were carved in the late Cenozoic and eventually led to the...
Valley near Slocum; it then traverses primarily wooded areas as it passes through Ashley Corner, Scioto Furnace
Scioto Furnace, Ohio
Scioto Furnace is an unincorporated community in western Bloom Township, Scioto County, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 45677. It lies along State Route 140.-References:...
, South Webster
South Webster, Ohio
South Webster is a village in northeast Scioto County, Ohio, United States. It lies along State Route 140, and the population was 764 at the 2000 census.South Webster was platted by John Bennett in 1853...
, and Eifort. It retains the forested area up until its eastern terminus. For most of its alignment, State Route 140 parallels an abandoned Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
line.
Route description
Along its way, State Route 140 travels through eastern Scioto CountyScioto 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...
, clips the northwestern corner of Lawrence County
Lawrence County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,319 people, 24,732 households, and 17,807 families residing in the county. The population density was 137 people per square mile . There were 27,189 housing units at an average density of 60 per square mile...
and then sneaks into southern Jackson County
Jackson County, Ohio
Jackson County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of 2010, the population was 33,225. Its county seat is Jackson and is named for Andrew Jackson, a hero of the War of 1812 who was subsequently elected President of the United States....
. State Route 140 is not 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...
, a system of highways deemed most important for the nation's economy, mobility and defense.
History
State Route 140 was established in 1923. The original routing of the highway is the one which it still utlizes to this day through SciotoScioto 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...
, Lawrence
Lawrence County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,319 people, 24,732 households, and 17,807 families residing in the county. The population density was 137 people per square mile . There were 27,189 housing units at an average density of 60 per square mile...
and Jackson
Jackson County, Ohio
Jackson County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of 2010, the population was 33,225. Its county seat is Jackson and is named for Andrew Jackson, a hero of the War of 1812 who was subsequently elected President of the United States....
Counties. The highway has not experienced any major changes since its inception, excepting the highways that it intersects at its endpoints. Its western terminus, which is now U.S. Route 52, was originally a part of State Route 7. Meanwhile, its eastern terminus, which is currently State Route 93, was originally designated as State Route 75.