Union County, Ohio
Minutes from Columbus. Miles from the Ordinary.
Covered Bridges
Unique to Union County are the several covered bridges
that have stood the test of time – almost two centuries – and have adjusted from horse traffic to automotive.
They can be found throughout the county.
Union County Covered Bridges
Ways to find the bridges:
iMaps
Big Darby Plains Scenic Byway Signage
For hard copies of these maps stop in the Union County Welcome Center.
Reuben L. Partridge
Reuben L. Partridge was born in Wilmington, NY in 1823. In 1836 Partridge moved to Marysville and began to learn the carpentry craft while building carriages with his brother. In 1855 Reuben accepted his first contract to build the first self-supporting bridge in Union County. By 1866 Partridge was building bridges full-time. In 1872 he received a patent for his truss design. By 1883 Partridge had built over 125 bridges, most of them in Union County and nearby counties. Over the course of his life, Partridge served as a member of the Marysville City Council, as the Paris Township Clerk, and as a Paris Township Trustee. He was a part of the first militia formed in Union County. He also was very active in raising money and support for service groups from Union County who served in both the Mexican War and the Civil War. In 1896 he designed a Victorian-style home in Marysville as a 50th wedding anniversary gift for his wife. Partridge died in August 1900, as a result of injuries he sustained while removing a covered bridge.
North Lewisburg Covered Bridge
This new bridge has a modified Pratt truss with substructures built out of the creek at a cost of $1.6 million. This is the original site of the Pottersburg Bridge. When the one lane Pottersburg Bridge could no longer handle the growing volume of traffic, it was decided to move the Pottersburg Bridge to a nearby multi-purpose trail. Once the original bridge was safely moved, it was promptly replaced with this modern covered bridge.
Length: 135 feet
Year: 2006
Builder: Righter Company
Spans: Big Darby Creek
Pottersburg Covered Bridge
This bridge was formerly in the location of the North Lewisburg Road Covered Bridge. When Honda built their North American Headquarters nearby the one-lane bridge became insufficient for the increase in traffic. In order to "save" the bridge, it was moved on a trailer to a "rails to trails" project down the road. The Pottersburg bridge is now part of a 1.9 mile paved multi-purpose trail. In 1949 extensive repairs were made. Three 6 feet by 10 feet I-beams were placed under each corner span. The full-length canopy and side windows were added in 1937. This bridge is the site of the family-friendly Covered Bridge Bluegrass Festival that is held every September.
Length: 94 feet
Built: 1868
Builder: Partridge
Spans: Old Rail Bed
Historical Marker
Spain Creek Covered Bridge
This quaint bridge is Union County's smallest covered bridge. In 2008 and 2016, the bridge was rehabilitated after heavy machinery damaged the overhead braces. Notice the “bridge-within-a-bridge” concept. This design allows the covered bridge to rest, while the bridge inside carries the weight of traffic. Spain Creek is designated an Exceptional Warm Water Habitat and Cold Water Habitat by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Length: 64 feet
Built: 1870s
Builder: Partridge
Spans: Spain Creek
Historical Marker
Buck Run Covered Bridge
This is the third bridge to be on this site, first a covered bridge, second a steel truss bridge and now this modern two-lane covered bridge. This bridge is currently the longest single-span wooden bridge in Ohio. At the request of the Federal Highway Administration and Ohio Department of Transportation, the Union County Engineer was challenged to prove that building a covered bridge is more economical than other bridge types.
Length: 160 feet
Built: 2006
Builder: Righter Company
Spans: Big Darby Creek
Culbertson Covered Bridge
The bridge was originally located on State Route 4 and was moved prior to 1922. In 1977 a runaround was constructed for farm equipment and other large, heavy vehicles to bypass the covered bridge. The original cost of the bridge was $1,375.
Length: 94 feet
Built: 1868
Builder: Partridge
Spans: Treacle Creek
Historical Marker
Bigelow Covered Bridge
The bridge was named in honor of Eliphas Bigelow, a nearby resident whose family founded Plain City. In 1990 the bridge underwent an extensive renovation. Massive nail-laminated arches were seated into new concrete foundations. The arch system now carries the weight of traffic on the bridge.
aka Axe Handle Bridge
Length: 102 feet
Built: 1873
Builder: Partridge
Spans: Little Darby Creek
Historical Marker
Thompson Road Covered Bridge
This modern covered bridge was built on Thompson Road in Millcreek Township near the Delaware County line. In 1881 a covered bridge was built on this location but was destroyed by a devastating flood in 1913. This modern-day covered bridge is much different from its predecessor, in that it has two lanes and can carry all modern-day traffic loads. Local farm buildings inspired the architecture of this
lovely bridge.
Length: 125 feet
Built: 2010
Builder: Righter Company
Spans: Mill Creek
Streng Road Bridge
This steel Pratt truss bridge was built in 1914 to replace a covered bridge that was destroyed in the flood of 1913. Union County received special recognition for the renovation of this bridge in 1993. All of the original ornamentation and decorative elements are still in place. This is the only non-covered bridge to be officially listed as an Ohio Historic Bridge.
Length: 200 feet
Built: 1914
Builder: Central Concrete & Construction Co.
Spans: Big Darby Creek
Historical Marker
Dine on a Covered Bridge
September 25th - 27th, 2020
For reservation information visit dineonacoveredbridge.com
