The City of Gallipolis is located on the Ohio River in Gallia County. Gallipolis lies 40 miles up river from Huntington, West Virginia, 58 miles northwest of Charleston, West Virginia, 50 miles west of Marietta, 109 miles southeast of Columbus, and 156 miles east of Cincinnati.

Gallipolis' population for the 1990 census was 5,085 persons. The Gallia County population for 1990 was 30,954. Between the 1980 and 1990 census, the county experienced a 2.84% growth rate. The county's population is approximately 84.4%rural.

Gallipolis' population for the 2000 census was 4,180 persons.