Bidwell, Ohio

Bidwell is a small unincorporated community in northwestern Springfield Township, Gallia County, Ohio, United States, and is often associated with the nearby community of Porter. Although unincorporated, it has its own ZIP Code of 45614. Bidwell is located eleven miles from the county seat, Gallipolis, at an elevation of 682 feet (208 m).

Bidwell is part of the Point Pleasant, WV–OH Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The community of Bidwell was founded in 1881 under the name Heatly, after the arrival of the Columbus, Hocking Valley, and Toledo Railroad. Charles Heatly (1809-1888) owned the property where the new station was located. His home still stands nearby. Porter Station was built in Heatly as a means of transportation of passengers and freight, which led to its later expansion and the source of the name of the neighboring village of Porter. Circa 1900, Heatly changed its name to Bidwell in honor of John Bidwell, the Prohibition Party's presidential candidate in 1892.

The village expanded in the early 20th century, eventually including several mills and stores. The railroad tracks have since been decommissioned and turned into a bicycle path that spans much of Gallia County, but the former site of the station itself is commemorated by an Ohio historical marker.

As Bidwell is unincorporated without official local government or charter, local government in the township is the responsibility of Springfield Township.

The Bidwell area contains two shopping centers, one containing a hardware store, a Save-A-Lot grocery store, a video rental & tanning store, and the other containing a Dollar General store. Two restaurants serve the community, the Korner Deli and the Wounded Goose. There are no lodging or other accommodations in Bidwell.

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