Ridgeland, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ridgeland, South Carolina
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The Ridgeland Street Clock
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Location of Ridgeland, South Carolina
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| Country | United States | |
| State | South Carolina | |
| Counties | Jasper, Beaufort | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 48.81 sq mi (126.41 km2) | |
| • Land | 48.34 sq mi (125.20 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.47 sq mi (1.21 km2) | |
| Elevation | 56 ft (17 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,758 | |
| • Density | 77.74/sq mi (30.02/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP codes |
29912, 29936
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| Area code(s) | 843, 854 | |
| FIPS code | 45-60280 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1250384 | |
Ridgeland is a town located in South Carolina, United States. It is part of both Jasper and Beaufort counties. In 2020, about 3,749 people lived there.
Ridgeland is important because it is the county seat of Jasper County. This means it is where the main government offices for the county are located. It has been the county seat since Jasper County was created in 1912.
The town's name has an interesting history. It was first called "Gopher Hill" in 1894. This name came from the gopher tortoise, a type of turtle that lives in the area. However, when a new railroad station was built, people thought "Gopher Hill" wasn't a good name. So, in 1902, the station's ticket master, Frederick Henry Ingram, changed it to "Ridgeland." He chose this name because the town sits on a sandy ridge, which is one of the highest points in Jasper County.
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Geography of Ridgeland
Ridgeland is found in the northeastern part of Jasper County. The center of the town is on a low ridge, about 62 feet (19 meters) above sea level.
The town covers a total area of about 44.7 square miles (115.8 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 44.4 square miles (115.1 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.3 square miles (0.7 square kilometers), is water. The town's area grew a lot between 2000 and 2010.
Ridgeland is located near several other cities and towns. It is about 36 miles southwest of Walterboro and 31 miles north of Savannah, Georgia. It is also 14 miles north of Hardeeville.
People of Ridgeland
The number of people living in Ridgeland has changed over the years. Here is a look at the population from 1910 to 2020:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 330 | — | |
| 1920 | 418 | 26.7% | |
| 1930 | 715 | 71.1% | |
| 1940 | 1,021 | 42.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,078 | 5.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,192 | 10.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,165 | −2.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,143 | −1.9% | |
| 1990 | 1,071 | −6.3% | |
| 2000 | 2,518 | 135.1% | |
| 2010 | 4,036 | 60.3% | |
| 2020 | 3,749 | −7.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population in 2020
In 2020, there were 3,758 people living in Ridgeland. There were 1,148 households and 778 families. The town had about 1,047 people per square mile (404 people per square kilometer).
Here is a breakdown of the different groups of people in Ridgeland in 2020:
| Race | Number of People | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 1,270 | 33.79% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 1,640 | 43.64% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.08% |
| Asian | 31 | 0.82% |
| Pacific Islander | 7 | 0.19% |
| Other/Mixed | 81 | 2.16% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 726 | 19.32% |
About 33.8% of households had children under 18 years old. Around 35.2% were married couples living together. The average household had 2.53 people, and the average family had 3.02 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 14.9% were under 18, and 8.2% were 65 or older. The average age in the town was 33 years.
Education in Ridgeland
Ridgeland has schools for its young people. These include Ridgeland Elementary School and Ridgeland-Hardeeville High School. There is also a private school called Thomas Heyward Academy.
Transportation in Ridgeland
Ridgeland is a place where several important roads meet. This makes it easy to travel to and from the town.
Major Roads
- I-95: This is a very important highway that runs north and south along the Eastern Seaboard. It goes right through Ridgeland. You can get on or off I-95 at Exits 21 and 22 in Ridgeland.
- US 17: This road connects major cities like Charleston and Savannah. In Ridgeland, it is known as Jacob Smart Boulevard. It also connects with I-95 at Exit 22.
- US 278: This road joins US 17 for a short distance before heading west towards cities like Augusta, Georgia and Atlanta.
- SC 336: This road is Ridgeland's Main Street. It crosses US 17 and goes under I-95 at Exit 21.
Rail Travel
The CSX Railway has a line that runs through Ridgeland. This line is used for both cargo trains and passenger trains operated by Amtrak. However, these trains do not stop in Ridgeland.
Famous People from Ridgeland
Some notable people have connections to Ridgeland:
- Thomas Heyward, Jr.: He was one of the people who signed the Declaration of Independence.
- LaRue Howard: A talented gospel musician.
- General Lloyd W. Newton: He was the first African-American pilot to be part of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team.
- General Jacob E. Smart: A U.S. Air Force general who was important during the Cold War era.
See also
In Spanish: Ridgeland (Carolina del Sur) para niños
