T-L File Photo/GAGE VOTA Several attendees enjoy the 60th annual Barnesville Pumpkin Festival while walking through the midway.

BARNESVILLE — Ohio Magazine named Barnesville one of its 2025 Best Hometowns, recognizing the village among five other exceptional Ohio communities celebrated for their community spirit, quality of life, and unique character.

Barnesville will join Ashland, Green, Mount Vernon and Yellow Springs in the November/December 2025 issue, which highlights places that embody the very best of small-town living.

Ohio Magazine evaluated finalists in six categories — Community Spirit, Education, Entertainment, Health and Safety, Business Environment, and Culture and Heritage — before selecting this year’s honorees. Barnesville stood out for its historic charm, vibrant festivals and ongoing community-driven efforts to preserve landmarks and foster growth.

From the beloved Barnesville Pumpkin Festival, which has drawn thousands of visitors for over 60 years, to grassroots preservation efforts like the Barnesville State Theater Company and the restoration of the historic Barnesville Depot, the community rallies together time and again. Volunteerism, civic pride and collaboration define the Barnesville way of life, ensuring that progress is made while heritage is honored.

Barnesville also provides a commitment to education and innovation with the Barnesville Exempted Village School District and Olney Friends School, a private boarding school based on Quaker values. Partnerships with organizations like the Barnesville Hutton Memorial Library, which celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2024, further enrich learning opportunities for students and families. Olney Friends School is one of 10 schools in the country with a certified organic farm — connecting students to the land through sustainable farming and hands-on learning.

Barnesville is home to both WVU Medicine Barnesville Hospital and Ohio Hills Health Centers, which provide comprehensive care and outreach services. From cutting-edge equipment investments to free community screenings and mobile health programs, these institutions ensure health and safety remain top priorities.

Designated a National Register Historic District in 1984, downtown Barnesville is recognized as one of the best-preserved business districts in the state, featuring stunning examples of Richardsonian Romanesque, Italianate, and Queen Anne architecture. Local businesses — from family-owned shops and florists to hardware stores and groceries — sustain the heart of the community. Cultural treasures like the Belmont County Victorian Mansion Museum and the Watt Center for History and the Arts showcase the village’s history while welcoming visitors from across the region. Restoration projects, historic sites and museums tell the story of Barnesville’s past, while community events ensure that heritage remains alive for future generations.

“Barnesville is proof that small towns can achieve big things when neighbors come together,” said Jackee Pugh, executive director of Belmont County Tourism. “It reflects the hard work, pride and resilience of our Belmont County communities — and it’s an honor to share Barnesville’s story with all of Ohio.”

Each of Ohio Magazine’s Best Hometowns honorees will be featured in both the Nov./Dec. 2025 and July/Aug. 2026 issues of the magazine, as well as online at ohiomagazine.com.