New Straitsville, OH

Tucked away in the rolling hill country of southeastern Ohio, New Straitsville is a quiet Perry County village of about 650 residents with a fascinating past. Founded as a booming coal community in 1870, the town grew rapidly before an 1884 labor dispute sparked its most famous feature. Striking miners pushed a burning coal car down a mine shaft, igniting an underground coal fire that still smolders beneath the hills today.

ATTRNyttend / Public domain

Life here moves at a relaxed, rural pace, surrounded by dense forests and scenic trails. New Straitsville is particularly popular with outdoor enthusiasts, being the first town in the county to permit ATV riding on local streets for easy trail access. The community gathers in a big way every Memorial Day weekend for its historic Moonshine Festival, bringing neighbors and visitors together for parades, live music, and local food.