Russell is a quiet scenic bedroom community on the Ohio River
A bedroom community of Ashland, Russell is primarily residential with winding roads and tall pine trees, located on the banks of the Ohio River. “People like the feel of the area, you can walk down the street and people you don’t know say hey,” says Bea Rice, a local broker with over 20 years of experience in the area and co-owner of the Flatwoods branch of Ross Real Estate Services. “It’s still very small even though it’s grown over time.” Though there aren’t many shops or public parks, locals enjoy peaceful streetscapes and proximity to the highway, which leads to amenities in surrounding areas.
Tree-lined streets and a variety of housing styles
Housing styles in Russel feature a mix of early 20th-century cottages, along with late 20th-century ranch-style and split-level homes. These properties typically range from $100,000 to $450,000, though fixer-uppers can sell for as little as $25,000. Some larger contemporary properties with more than 5,000 square feet were added in the 1990s, often with rustic brick exteriors and steeply gabled roofs. These newer homes typically sell for between $450,000 and $700,000. Throughout the community, winding roads tend to lack sidewalks, and spacious grassy lots are shaded by towering pine trees.
Russell Independent Schools is a top-rated district
Russell Independent School District is highly regarded in the Ashland-Huntington area, earning an A-minus from Niche. Students can attend the A-rated Russell Primary School up until the second grade, before moving on to the A-minus-rated Russell-McDowell Intermediate and then the A-minus-rated Russell Middle. The B-plus-rated Russell High has several very popular sports programs, like archery, basketball and football. Additional career-oriented programs are available through the Russell Area Technology Center, including pre-nursing, business and welding programs.
Russell has a small downtown district and a few chains
Russell doesn’t have many commercial areas for shopping. “We’ve got grocery stores and little service industry places, but for shopping, you can drive to the Ashland Mall or the Huntington Mall,” Rice says. Though folks have to drive for big-box stores, some locally owned spots are nearby. Downtown Russell is set along Ferry Street, just off the banks of the Ohio River. The locally owned Eridanus Brewing is housed in a historic train depot, serving craft beer, wine and coffee. The brewery also has an on-site food truck serving sandwiches and tater tots. On the community’s west side are shopping plazas with more local restaurants like El Colonial, which serves Mexican. Kroger is the nearest grocery store.
Annual Railroad Days community gathering
Railroad Days, an annual community gathering held by the city, spans two days of family-friendly games and activities. The festival also includes live music, food vendors and a bike race.
Nearby public parks in Flatwoods and other recreation
Russell doesn’t have any public parks, though the neighboring community of Flatwoods is home to BF Crager Community Park, which has a basketball court and playground surrounded by walking trails. Flatwoods Dog Park is also located nearby for local pet owners. The nearby Bellefonte Country Club has an 18-hole private golf course, pickleball courts and a swimming pool. About 10 miles north, Lake Vesuvius has beaches for swimming, campgrounds and miles of multiuse trails through the Wayne National Forest.
Commuting on Route 23
Route 23 runs through Russell along the river, leading about 5 miles to Ashland and 20 miles to Huntington. Lexington is about 120 miles away on Interstate 64. UK King’s Daughters Medical Center is about 5 miles away, and Huntington Tri-State Airport is about 15 miles away.
