Martins Ferry: Ohio's First Settlement

Martins Ferry, nicknamed Ohio's First Settlement, is a city in eastern Ohio, United States, located on the state border with West Virginia along the banks of the Ohio River. Situated within Belmont County, the city is part of the Wheeling metropolitan area.

History of Martins Ferry
The area was first settled in 1779, making Martins Ferry Ohio’s oldest European settlement; it was officially founded in 1835.

Location and Transportation
Martins Ferry is located about 60 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and 140 miles southeast of Cleveland, Ohio. State Routes 7 and 647 are the major highways in the city, while U.S. Route 250 and Interstate 70 also serve the area.

Historic Buildings and Landmarks
A few historic buildings in Martins Ferry are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), such as the Finney-Darrah House, which was added to the NRHP on March 15, 1982, and is located in Scenery Hill (latitude 40.100556, longitude -80.739444).

The Central School, located at Hickory and S. 4th Streets (latitude 40.094847, longitude -80.725417), was formerly listed on the NRHP from July 23, 1979, to February 21, 1980. Built in 1897 and designed by Benjamin Exley and C.H. Owsley in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, the original building was later demolished. Today, the site is occupied by the Citizens National Bank.