Bridgewater, Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bridgewater, Virginia
Town
Generations Park in Bridgewater, Virginia
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  Inter Se Succurrimus ("Enriching One Another")
Location of Bridgewater within the Rockingham County
Bridgewater, Virginia Location in Virginia Show map of Virginia Bridgewater, Virginia Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Rockingham
Founded	1835
Area
• Total	2.52 sq mi (6.54 km2)
• Land	2.52 sq mi (6.53 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	1,178 ft (359 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,596
• Density	2,618.5/sq mi (6,318.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	22812
Area code(s)	540 & 826
FIPS code	51-09656
GNIS feature ID	1492628
Website	Official website: http://bridgewater.town/

Bridgewater is a town in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. It is a part of the Harrisonburg metropolitan area. In 2020, about 6,596 people lived there.

History of Bridgewater

The area where Bridgewater now stands was first settled in 1746 by William Magill. It was known as Magill's Ford.

Around 1810, a man named John Dinkle built a mill here. Because of his mills, the area became known as Dinkletown. The Dinkle family also opened a tavern. You can still find Dinkel Avenue in town today.

In 1820, the first bridge was built across the North River. For a while, the community was called Bridgeport.

The town officially became Bridgewater on February 7, 1835. This happened when the Virginia General Assembly gave it a special charter. Every year on February 7, the town celebrates this day.

Bridgewater College is located in the town. It started in 1880 and has grown a lot. Today, over 1,800 students attend the college.

Bridgewater has faced several big floods over the years. After a very bad flood in 1949, the US Army Corps of Engineers built a large dirt wall, called a levee. This levee helps protect the town from future floods.

Since the mid-1990s, Bridgewater has held a "Summer's End Celebration" every year on Labor Day. This event includes a 5k race, fun carnival rides, and live music. Thousands of people come to enjoy the celebration.

Geography of Bridgewater

Bridgewater covers about 2.52 square miles (6.54 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. The town is mostly located within a bend of the North River.

Even with the levee, floods can still happen sometimes. A wooded hill called Round Hill is a major landmark. It stands about 1,750 feet tall and can be seen from the western side of town.

View north along SR 42 and west along SR 257 in Bridgewater

Getting Around Town

The main roads that lead into Bridgewater are Virginia State Route 42 and Virginia State Route 257. These two roads join together north of Bridgewater, heading towards Dayton.

Route 42 goes north and south. It connects with U.S. Route 33 in Harrisonburg. Route 257 goes east and west. It connects with Interstate 81 near Mount Crawford.

People of Bridgewater

In 2020, Bridgewater had 6,596 people living in 2,137 households. The town has grown quite a bit over the years. For example, in 1880, only 390 people lived here.

Most of the people in Bridgewater are White (89.0%). About 5.2% are African American. People of Hispanic or Latino background make up about 4.1% of the population.

The average yearly income for a household in Bridgewater was about $55,205. For families, it was around $62,483. A small number of families and people live below the poverty line.

Safety in Bridgewater

Bridgewater has a police department with ten officers. This department also helps keep the nearby town of Mt. Crawford safe. Bridgewater is often named one of the safest communities in Virginia.

It was ranked #2 in "Virginia's 20 Safest Cities of 2020" by Safewise. This is because the town has very low rates of violent crimes and property crimes. Bridgewater's police department focuses on working closely with the community.

Parks and Fun Things to Do

Bridgewater has 13 parks, covering almost 100 acres. These parks offer many things to do. You can find picnic areas, BBQ grills, and places to walk along the river. There are also spots for fishing and bird watching.

The parks have fitness trails, playgrounds, and tennis courts. There is even a little league baseball field. You can also find a nine-hole golf course, an 18-hole miniature golf course, and an arboretum (a place with many different trees). In winter, there's an ice skating rink.

Generations Park

Generations Park opened in 2015. In the winter, it has an ice skating rink. The skating season starts on Thanksgiving Day and lasts until early March. Skating is free for town residents with a special pass. Others pay a small fee.

During the rest of the year, Generations Park hosts concerts and outdoor movies. It also has other fun events.

Sandy Bottom Par-3 and Mini-Golf

Sandy Bottom Park is home to Bridgewater's nine-hole golf course and an 18-hole miniature golf course. The park also has a practice green, picnic tables, and gazebos.

The golf courses are open from April 1 to October 31. They are free for town residents with a B-Rec pass. Non-residents pay a small fee. You can also rent the mini-golf course for private parties.

Oakdale Park

Oakdale Park is the biggest and busiest park in Bridgewater. It hosts the annual Summer's End Celebration. The North River Library and the Bridgewater Little League Program are also located here.

The park has three picnic areas with tables, BBQ grills, and water. Two playgrounds are available, one for younger kids and one for older kids. There are also horseshoe pits and open spaces for playing. One baseball field is open for public use.

Other Great Parks

• Bridgeview Park: This park has a quarter-mile fitness walking trail. It also has a children's fitness center and swings by the river.
• Seven Bridges: Here you can find riverfront swings and a gazebo. Signs in the park share some of Bridgewater's Civil War history.

Downrush Vista at Wildwood Park

• Edgebriar Park: This park has a fishing pier that is easy for everyone to use. It also has game tables for backgammon and chess. A water garden with a waterfall, fish, and plants adds to its beauty.
• Wildwood Park: You can fish here and enjoy a playground. There's a picnic shelter, a BBQ grill, and a platform called Downrush Vista. This platform offers a great view of the North River.
• Wynant Park: This is a small park with a playground, a hammock, and a picnic table.
• Bird Sanctuary: This park is three-quarters of an acre. It's a quiet place with trees and bushes, perfect for watching birds.
• Dinkel-Harris Gateway at Warm Springs Turnpike Park: This park shares the history of what was once known as the Warm Springs Turnpike.
• Cooks Creek Arboretum: This eight-acre park has many trees planted by students from Turner Ashby High School. It also has a walking path and picnic tables.
• Harrison Park: This park is home to the Doug Will Tennis Center. It has two indoor tennis courts and two pickleball courts. There's also a full basketball court and a playground.
• Whitelow Park: Named after Carlyle Whitelow, a Bridgewater resident, this park has a walking trail, a play structure, and swings.

Sipe Center, 100 North Main Street

Sipe Center

In 2019, Bridgewater opened the Sipe Center. It is a place for performing arts, movies, and town meetings. The town bought an old building from the 1800s and replaced it with the new Sipe Center.

The Sipe Center is a modern theater that looks a bit like the old building. It hosts many different shows each month, like live music, magic, and plays. Town council meetings are also held here.

See also

In Spanish: Bridgewater (Virginia) para niños