Ohio State Route 553

All of SR 553 is located in the southern portion of Gallia County. The highway is not included as a part of the National Highway System.^[2]

SR 553 begins at a T-intersection with SR 7 in the village of Crown City. From this intersection, it ends up being an uphill trend for the state highway for its entirety, as it climbs out of the Ohio River valley. Overall, the route traverses forested terrain, as it goes through the Wayne National Forest, but it does pass amid some open spaces and the occasional home along its way. SR 553 heads northwesterly from SR 7, and departs Crown City after a few blocks, entering into rural Guyan Township. At the Southers Road intersection, the highway turns east then promptly bends back north. At Sowards Ridge Road, the highway turns back to the northwest. While following a rather curvy path, the highway overall trends in a northwesterly direction, passing into an area that is more open prior to arriving at its endpoint at its junction with SR 218.^[3]

The roadway that now carries the SR 553 designation was originally a part of SR 218 prior to 1926. SR 218 was re-routed onto its present alignment in that year, and the roadway was placed under local jurisdiction.^[4][5] In 1937, this same stretch of roadway was brought back into the state highway system, and given the designation of SR 553. Since its inception, SR 553 has not experienced any significant changes to its routing.^[6][7]

The entire route is in Gallia County.