Stewart, Ohio is a unincorporated township tucked away in the rolling hills of Athens County. For outsiders, this cluster of homes is just another dot on the map to meander through en route to highway 50. The main road through town, route 329, winds sharply along Hocking River through farmland, ending promptly at the gas station in Guysville. At first glance there’s not much reason to slow down while driving through Stewart unless it’s for a hamburger at Poston’s carryout, the only convenient store for miles. But beneath the surface of this sleepy town is a thriving community where residents enjoy a sense of pride in their community.

Like many areas in southeast Ohio, Stewart is an eccentric community where people work hard and generally keep to themselves. Although data on Stewart comes with a high margin of error, the Census Bureau puts the population at 221 residents during 2020. This is an increase of only 21 residents since the village was originally laid out in 1875 by Mr. Daniel Bertine Stewart. Residents have learned to be creative and self-sufficient due to their small population and lack of economic opportunities; causing some to commute long distances for a paycheck. This past year the local high school, which serves two other communities in the area, didn’t have enough students for a football team. Meanwhile the trap team which consists of students firing shotguns at clay targets, is thriving. People around here enjoy their freedom, guns, and beer altogether in a way that feels vaguely like home.