Bethesda (/bəˈθɛzdə/)[5] is a village in west-central Belmont County, Ohio, United States.

When the railroad reached the village in 1852, the Central Ohio Railroad built a station and named it Burr's Mills in honor of Merrick S. Burr, who operated a sawmill in the area.

In 1855,[6] Burr laid out a village which he called Fairmount because of its high and beautiful location.

Prior to that time, there was a store, the Bethesda Methodist Church, and a post office, all located about 2 miles south of the current town on what now CR 26, and the post office was named after the church.

As a result, the town was called Fairmount while the railroad station was Burr's Mills and the post office was Bethesda.

In 1920, the town contracted with the E. Howard Watch & Clock Company to supply a town clock, which was erected atop the Orrison Cigar Co. building on Main Street and is dedicated to Bethesda's World War I veterans.

[7] The facility and the restored clock are dedicated to military veterans from all services.

29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.