Richland County refers to itself, because of its character and geographical location, as the “heart of Ohio.” But for a large number of visitors, it is better known as the home of perhaps the most storied prison in movie history.

Despite seven Oscar nominations, including one for best picture, “The Shawshank Redemption” — starring Tim Robbins as one (very) unfortunate accountant by the name of Andy Dufresne and Morgan Freeman as a convict named Red — barely made back its $25 million budget following its 1994 premiere. But after significant video sales and seemingly endless showings on TNT (151 hours of total televised airtime last year alone), Americans fell in love with the TV equivalent of a houseguest who won’t leave.

But the film, based on a 1982 Stephen King short story, doesn’t just resonate because it’s always on. " ‘Shawshank’ flatters us while still residing in a real, powerful place,” is how Will Leitch, who reviews movies for the sports site Deadspin, explains the story’s staying power. “We imagine ourselves as Andy Dufresne and want to believe we would be as strong as he was. Our daily struggles aren’t nearly as overpowering as his, but he still chooses to live, to survive — that feeling of needing to live that’s universal, and timeless.”

All of this ardor helped boost the recent fortunes of Mansfield, Ashland and Upper Sandusky, Ohio, three towns that share 13 sites that appeared in the movie. (The Tappan Stove Company, Westinghouse and General Motors plants have all closed.)