Things are changing. What was once the quieter end of the county is seeing rapid growth. Within the next few weeks, at least two new businesses are expected to open their doors to a hungry and service-seeking public.

Plans were announced this week for a multi-million development near the 31st Street Bridge.

These days, the signs of the times in the eastern end of the county might well read "house for sale" or "grand opening."

Then and now

Larry Woods has lived in Rome Township since 1960. He can remember when the streets were a lot less crowded.

"It was nothing like it is today," Woods said. "Most of the homes were ranch style and in the 60s, you could buy one for $20,000. They had bigger lots. Now, they're two-story. The average price for a home in Applewood or Crystal or Crown Point is pushing $230,000. And in Roman Harbor, it's about $400,000 or $500,000, at least."

Woods should know. He works at National City Bank and is involved in the house building industry. He said a survey of the Applewood subdivision is a snapshot of eastern Lawrence County's growth.

"There are doctors, five or six bankers, Fifth-Third people from Huntington, professors from Marshall, that type," Woods said. "A lot of people are coming over from Huntington."

What is enticing Mountaineers to become Buckeyes? Woods said he thinks it is lower taxes and good schools, an opinion seconded by Rome Township trustee Dean Cooper.

"We've got good schools, good people, good churches," he said. "It's a good community."

According to the Ohio Department of Development, Rome Township's census in 1980 was 7,233. Within 10 years that figure jumped to 8,366.

The good fortune is not Rome Township's alone:

New houses dot the landscape in Union Township as well. Union Township, increased its population by more than 200 people - from 7,301 to 7,540 during the same time period.

Union-Rome Sewer District Manager Tim Porter said the system has averaged 60 new customers a month since 1993, most of them residential.

The population of Union Township is expected to take a sizeable jump within the coming years as retirees set up house at RiverWalk, the county's first planned community. As well as retail and leisure ventures, RiverWalk will also feature luxury condos with a view of the Ohio River and the 31st Street Bridge, an assisted living facility and lakeside cottages, all aimed at luring people to spend their golden years in eastern Lawrence County.

The thought of luxury condos and a top-of-the-line marina is a far cry from what Union Township trustee Mike Curry remembers from his boyhood. But then, things have been changing for a while in Union Township, one development at a time.

"When I was growing up, we had some pizza shops and some gas stations. … This is probably the first new development in Union Township since the OU branch went in. Three Gables was probably the first thing in Union Township," Curry said.

"Nothing else compares to this," fellow trustee Terry Wise said. "This is going to help the residents of Union Township so much. It's just a blessing."

Local officials said they are particularly pleased that RiverWalk will take land, some of which has been underused until now, and turn it into something of value that will add millions of dollars to the local economy.

"It's not only a good use of the land, it's the best use of the land," Lawrence County Commissioner Jason Stephens said.

Local business and government officials said they hope this $100 million investment in Lawrence County will spur other enterprises as well and stimulate the local economy.

"Hopefully we can leverage (this) success for future success," Greater Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Dr. Bill Dingus said.

Eat and greet

New businesses are blooming these days in the eastern end. Early this week,

University Square Dairy Queen will open in the same building on Township Road 403 W that now houses Stuffy's pizza parlor and a game room. Owner-operator Jeff Jones said his game room and pizza parlor have been doing so well, opening a third business seemed to make sense.

"We've got a ball field on one side and Ohio U on the other," he said. "This is nice."

Lisa Jenkins manages the trio of businesses. She said Stuffy's and the game room now employ 15 to 20 people, both full-time and part-time. The Dairy Queen should add 40 to 50 full-time and part-time jobs.

Woods will try his hand at a retail venture as he and fellow business man David Nisbet are opening a new Valvoline Express Care on State Route 7 near the Lawrence County Fairgrounds.

"I think things are doing well. The third lane, when it was under construction, was a headache but it has opened up everything," Woods said.

Cooper agreed.

"We've got drug stores, grocery stores, we've got five banks up here now," he said.

What now?

Local officials hope one good investment deserves another.

The creation of a turn lane on State Route 7 through Proctorville and part of Rome Township has eliminated dreaded traffic congestion in that area.

"It has definitely helped the traffic flow," Proctorville Mayor Jim Buchanan said. "The bypass has also helped and I hope this helps the community by increasing business."

Speaking of the bypass, or the Tri-State Metro Outer Belt as it is known now, Lawrence County Commissioner Doug Malone said he hopes the recent announcement of the planned RiverWalk and other new ventures will prompt Ohio Department of Transportation officials to rethink their stance on funding additional phases of the outer belt project.

"I hope this takes the bypass off the back burner and puts it on the front burner," he said.

"This should provide additional consideration on ODOT's part," Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization

Assistant Director Ralph Kline said. "Economic impact is a key component of the TRAC rating system."

Cooper said he would like to see a bridge built across the river in the far eastern end of the county linking the Athalia area to Merritt's Creek, near the Huntington Mall.

"It would be nice they'd do that but I don't know when they ever will," he said.

In the meantime, people are moving in and putting down roots in eastern Lawrence County, intent on finding their patch of paradise in what was once no doubt somebody's cow pasture.

As Cooper pointed out, development has been so intense that areas that were once farmland are now subdivisions.

"There's really no such thing as 'the country' up here anymore."

Teresa Moore is a staff reporter for The Ironton Tribune. She can be reached at 532-1445 ext. 25 or by e-mail at teresa.moore@irontontribune.com.