Ohio State Highway 3
Encyclopedia
State Route 3 is a major north–south highway in Ohio
which leads from Cincinnati
to Cleveland by way of Columbus
. Because of this the road is also known as the 3-C Highway, a designation which predates the Ohio state highway system. It is the only state route to enter all three of Ohio's largest cities (though it has largely been bypassed by Interstate 71
). The route's southern terminus is in downtown Cincinnati at the U.S. Route 27/U.S. Route 52/U.S. Route 127 concurrence, which is also the western terminus of U.S. Route 22. State Route 3 and U.S. Route 22 share the same path for nearly 70 miles (112.7 km), parting ways in the city of Washington Court House
, where Route 3 is joined with U.S. Route 62. This concurrency runs nearly 40 miles (64.4 km) to Columbus. From there Route 3 continues solo to Sunbury
, where it joins U.S. Route 36 for just over 24 miles (38.6 km) until it reaches Mount Vernon. The route does not have any other major concurrencies. State Route 3 ends in Cleveland
at Public Square
, with the last several miles multiplexed with U.S. Route 42 from Parma
.
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...
which leads from Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
to Cleveland by way of Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. Because of this the road is also known as the 3-C Highway, a designation which predates the Ohio state highway system. It is the only state route to enter all three of Ohio's largest cities (though it has largely been bypassed by Interstate 71
Interstate 71
Interstate 71 is an Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes/Midwestern and Southeastern region of the United States. Its southern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 64 and Interstate 65 in Louisville, Kentucky. Its northern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 90 in Cleveland,...
). The route's southern terminus is in downtown Cincinnati at the U.S. Route 27/U.S. Route 52/U.S. Route 127 concurrence, which is also the western terminus of U.S. Route 22. State Route 3 and U.S. Route 22 share the same path for nearly 70 miles (112.7 km), parting ways in the city of Washington Court House
Washington Court House, Ohio
Washington Court House is a city in Fayette County, Ohio, United States. It is the county seat of Fayette County and is located approximately halfway between Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. The population was 14,192 in 2010 at the 2010 census...
, where Route 3 is joined with U.S. Route 62. This concurrency runs nearly 40 miles (64.4 km) to Columbus. From there Route 3 continues solo to Sunbury
Sunbury, Ohio
Sunbury is a village in Delaware County, Ohio, United States. The population was 4,389 at the 2010 census. The village is centered around a New England-styled traditional town square with the historic village hall located in the center of a village green...
, where it joins U.S. Route 36 for just over 24 miles (38.6 km) until it reaches Mount Vernon. The route does not have any other major concurrencies. State Route 3 ends in Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
at Public Square
Public Square
Public Square is the central plaza in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It takes up four city blocks; Superior Avenue and Ontario Street cross through it. Cleveland's three tallest buildings, Key Tower, 200 Public Square and the Terminal Tower, face the square...
, with the last several miles multiplexed with U.S. Route 42 from Parma
Parma, Ohio
Parma is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is the largest suburb of Cleveland and the seventh largest city in the state of Ohio...
.
History
- 1923 – Original route established; originally followed its current alignment (more or less) from CincinnatiCincinnati, OhioCincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
to 6 miles (9.7 km) north of LoudonvilleLoudonville, OhioLoudonville is a village in Ashland and Holmes counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 2,906 at the 2000 census. Loudonville is nicknamed the "Canoe Capital of Ohio" for the many canoe liveries along the Mohican River...
, the SR 226Ohio State Route 226State Route 226 is an east–west state highway in the central part of the U.S. state of Ohio. The highway's western terminus is at the junction of State Route 3 and State Route 179 approximately northeast of Loudonville...
alignment from 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Loudonville to 2 miles (3.2 km) south of WoosterWooster, OhioWooster is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Wayne County. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio approximately SSW of Cleveland and SW of Akron. Wooster is noted as the location of The College of Wooster...
, its old alignment from 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Wooster to MedinaMedina, OhioIn the city the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males...
, and US 42's alignment from Medina to Cleveland. - 1927 – 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Loudonville to 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Wooster rerouted to current alignment, along former SR 250; original alignment certified as SR 250; Medina-to-Parma routing changed to current alignment, and former alignment here certified as US 42.
- 1932 – Alignment from Cincinnati to Washington Court HouseWashington Court House, OhioWashington Court House is a city in Fayette County, Ohio, United States. It is the county seat of Fayette County and is located approximately halfway between Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. The population was 14,192 in 2010 at the 2010 census...
dually certified with US 22; alignment from Washington Court House to ColumbusColumbus, OhioColumbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
dually certified with US 62. - 1938 – Medina-Parma alignment changed to the pre-1926 routing and dually certified with US 42; previous alignment signed SR 200 until 1939.
- 1939 – Medina-Parma alignment switched back to current alignment.
- 1961 – SR 3 routed to new freeway alignment from HarrisburgHarrisburg, OhioHarrisburg is a village in Franklin and Pickaway counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 332 at the 2000 census.-History:Harrisburg was founded in 1836 by Joseph Chenowith and surveyed and platted by Frederick Cole...
to Columbus. - 1962 – Harrisburg-Columbus alignment dually certified as I-71.
- 1967 – Reverted to US 62 alignment from Harrisburg to Columbus.