Portsmouth is a small, secluded city on the southern edge of Ohio, with Kentucky clearly visible on the other side of the Ohio River. The city is perhaps best known as the home of Shawnee State University, whose campus on the riverfront serves around 4,500 students and employs hundreds of locals as faculty and staff members.

Boasting a rich history as a major industrial town in the 19th and 20th centuries, the city is backed with beautifully preserved vintage buildings, particularly in the Boneyfiddle Historic District. The surrounding hills and forests are ripe for outdoor exploration, with the sprawling Shawnee State Forest just minutes outside of town.