Nelsonville, OH

Nelsonville grew in the Hocking Valley, where clay, coal, canals, and railroads gave a small Athens County city several working identities. Settled in 1814, it sits about 60 miles southeast of Columbus along the Hocking River and Monday Creek, surrounded by Wayne National Forest. Canal Street follows the old Hocking Canal, and Public Square still gathers the city's most recognizable historic buildings. Stuart's Opera House, built in 1879, is the standout survivor of the coal-boom era, while Rocky Outdoor Gear occupies the original 1932 factory building tied to the boot company that began here. Hocking College adds a present-day technical and community-education presence.

Nelsonville's current rhythm moves between the square, the college, the factory store, and the hills outside town. Stuart's hosts more than 75 events a year and produces the Nelsonville Music Festival, giving the old theater a regular role in the calendar. The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway sends visitors through the valley by train, and Wayne National Forest brings hiking, camping, and off-road trails close to town. Those pieces connect the city's industrial past to how people use it now: classes and work in town, performances around the square, and the forest and river valleys at the edges.