Exploring the (Mostly) Abandoned Towns of Cheshire and Kyger, Ohio

Kyger, Ohio & Cheshire, Ohio

Photo Courtesy of BigHoodies425 on Reddit, used with permission.

On The Bank of the Ohio River in Gallia County

The tiny towns of Cheshire and Kyger used to be thriving. This area of Ohio, right on the Ohio River, was a place where Morgan’s Raiders cut through during the Civil War. There are legitimate places in county that can honestly claim “George Washington slept here.” Unfortunately, all of that has changed, thanks to a power plant.

A Short History of Cheshire and Kyger, OH

In 1811, the township of Cheshire separated itself from the then-larger township of Kyger. Filled with natural materials, including limestone, coal, and sandstone, as well as good timber and excellent soil for growing crops, it makes sense that people would move into the area and begin to build a community.

The first church was completed in 1820, followed by a schoolhouse in 1835. Businesses, including saw mills, were also part of the plan. By 1880, Cheshire had a population of 195, with Kyger coming in at 199.

Cheshire was also known for its blue sulphur spring. The spring water was believed (at the time) to cure many different things, including rheumatism and digestive problems. Unfortunately, it was another set of health problems that led to the village’s current ghost town status, potentially caused by the power plant.

By The original uploader was Analogue Kid at English Wikipedia.

What Happened in Cheshire?

The photo above was taken in 2004, right after everything happened. It all started with a power plant on the banks of the river that uses coal. Although the General James M Gavin Power Plant had been there for decades, back in the early 2000s, it added pollution control measures that made things go haywire. The air filled with the smell of sulphur, and dark clouds rained down polluted water. Residents began complaining about sore throats and other ailments due to the air pollution.

In response to the complaints from residents and the EPA, American Electric Power, who owned the plant, decided to buy out the town. They purchased homes for three times what they were worth, and over 200 people took the deal and moved out.

The General James M Gavin Power Plant is still running, and remains one of the largest coal-fueled plants in the United States. It’s also one of the biggest polluters, and the area has very high cancer rates. This explains why the nearby town of Kyger has emptied out as well: a lack of jobs, combined with polluted air and the related health issues, caused people to move elsewhere.

What remains are green fields owned by the power plant, as well as abandoned schools, churches, homes, and even the old Kyger town hall. The area is worth exploring, but staying there for a longer period of time is not recommended, thanks to the pollution.