Bristol Township in Morgan County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Abandoned Mine Lands
| | Ohio Department of Natural Resources | |
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 7, 2020
1. Abandoned Mine Lands Marker
Ohio's 200-year-old mining legacy played a large part in fueling the nation's industrial development. More than 3.6 billion tons of coal have been extracted from Ohio's coal-bearing region. However, poorly regulated mining during its first 150 years left negative impacts on Ohio's citizens and the environment.
What Happened
Prior to 1972 when Ohio passed stringent laws concerning the restoration of mine lands, Ohio's laws did not require restoration of lands used for mining.
As a result, the state was left with nearly 450,000 acres of abandoned land surface mined for coal and roughly 6,000 underground coal mines that exit below the ground.
What's Being Done
The ODNR Division of Mineral Resources Management administers both state and federal abandoned mine land programs to address the highest priority problems resulting from coal mining that occurred prior to encampment of today's starter reclamation requirements. Both programs are funded by several taxes levied on the mining of coal.
State and federal funds provide resources for the divisions Abandoned Mine Land Program to investigate design and construct programs that address public heath and safety problems related to abandoned mine lamps as well as help restore the environment.
Erected by
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 1972.
Location. 39° 41.92′ N, 81° 43.858′ W. Marker is in Bristol, Ohio, in Morgan County. It is in Bristol Township. It is at the intersection of Ohio Route 78 and Unionville Road, on the right when traveling west on Ohio Route 78. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4350 OH-78, McConnelsville OH 43756, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest, in the Ohio River Valley, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Recreation Land Reclaimed (here, next to this marker); What Is Recreation Land (here, next to this marker); What Was Recreation Land (here, next to this marker); Jesse Owens (within shouting distance of this marker); American Electric Power Welcomes You To Miners' Memorial Park. (within shouting distance of this marker); Ronald V. Crews Memorial Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Big Muskie / Coal Mining In Ohio (within shouting distance of this marker); Reclaiming The Land (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bristol.
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 7, 2020
2. Abandoned Mine Lands Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 77 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 5, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
