Ridgeland, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ridgeland, Mississippi
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Downtown Ridgeland
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Location in Madison County and the state of Mississippi
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 Ridgeland, Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
Ridgeland, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Mississippi | |
| County | Madison | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 28.06 sq mi (72.7 km2) | |
| • Land | 26.26 sq mi (68.0 km2) | |
| • Water | 1.80 sq mi (4.7 km2) | |
| Elevation | 354 ft (108 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 24,340 | |
| • Density | 926.9/sq mi (357.9/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP codes |
39157, 39158 (Ridgeland)
39110 (Madison) |
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| Area code(s) | 601 | |
| FIPS code | 28-62520 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404616 | |
Ridgeland is a city located in Madison County, Mississippi, in the United States. In 2020, about 24,340 people lived there. It is part of the larger Jackson area.
Contents
History of Ridgeland
The area where Ridgeland is now located has a long history. In 1805, the Choctaw Indian Agency was set up here. It was led by Silas Dinsmoor. This place was known as "Turner Brashear's Stand" for many years.
Around 1850, it became a hotel called the King's Inn. During the American Civil War, General Stephen Lee used the inn as his main office. The hotel kept running until 1896, when a fire destroyed it.
In 1853, a man named James B. Yellowley started a small community. He called it Yellowley's Crossing. Later, it was named "Jessamine" after his wife. In 1896, two real estate developers from Chicago, Edward Treakle and Gordon Nichols, bought the land from Yellowley.
They formed the Highland Colony Company. They planned a new town and named it "Ridgeland." They advertised to encourage people from the northern United States to move south. Farming was the main way people made money. Pears and strawberries were important crops grown for sale.
In the early 1900s, Ridgeland had a hotel, a sawmill, and a company that canned food. The main business area was along Jackson Street. This was because the Illinois Central Railroad ran along that street. In 1910, a two-room school was built. By 1925, the schools in Ridgeland joined with those in Madison. The city's population started to grow very quickly in the 1960s.
Northpark Mall opened in 1984. This brought even more growth to the area. Highland Colony Parkway, a major road, was built in the 1990s.
Geography of Ridgeland
Ridgeland is a suburban city in the southern part of Madison County. It is located between Madison to the north and Jackson, the state capital, to the south. The Ross Barnett Reservoir is on the eastern side of the city.
Ridgeland covers about 28.1 square miles (72.8 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 26.3 square miles (68.1 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.8 square miles (4.7 square kilometers), is water. This water mostly comes from the Ross Barnett Reservoir. The reservoir is a large lake on the Pearl River.
Most of the city's water drains south into the Pearl River in Jackson. The northwest part of the city drains into the Big Black River. This river flows west to the Mississippi River.
People of Ridgeland
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 158 | — | |
| 1920 | 164 | 3.8% | |
| 1930 | 217 | 32.3% | |
| 1940 | 233 | 7.4% | |
| 1950 | 526 | 125.8% | |
| 1960 | 875 | 66.3% | |
| 1970 | 1,650 | 88.6% | |
| 1980 | 5,461 | 231.0% | |
| 1990 | 11,714 | 114.5% | |
| 2000 | 20,173 | 72.2% | |
| 2010 | 24,047 | 19.2% | |
| 2020 | 24,340 | 1.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2018 Estimate |
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In 2020, there were 24,340 people living in Ridgeland. There were 10,632 households and 6,046 families.
In 2010, the city had 24,047 people. About 57.5% of the people were White. About 32.5% were Black. About 4.0% were Asian. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 4.7% of the population.
Economy and Businesses
Ridgeland is home to several important companies. Bomgar, a technology company, has its main office here. C Spire Wireless, one of the largest wireless providers in the United States, is also headquartered in Ridgeland. Cal-Maine Foods, the biggest producer of eggs in the United States, is also based in the city.
The largest shopping mall in the Jackson area is Northpark Mall. It is located in southern Ridgeland. Another shopping center, Renaissance at Colony Park, is in the central part of Ridgeland.
Education in Ridgeland
Students in Ridgeland attend schools in the Madison County School District. There are also two private schools: Saint Andrew's Episcopal School and Christ Covenant School.
Ridgeland also has a campus of Holmes Community College. This college offers different programs for students.
The Baptist Children's Village is located in Ridgeland. This organization helps children who need care. They provide support for kids who have been abandoned, neglected, or abused. They also offer counseling to families.
In 2022, the city's mayor, Gene F. McGee, decided not to send approved city money to the Madison County Library System. He stated that some books in the library went against his personal beliefs.
Notable People from Ridgeland
Many interesting people have connections to Ridgeland:
- The Band Perry - A popular music group.
- Faith Hill - A famous country music singer. She was born and grew up in Ridgeland.
- George Jackson - A songwriter and singer. He passed away at his home in Ridgeland.
- Bianca Knight - A talented track and field athlete.
- David McRae - The current Mississippi State Treasurer.
- J. Walter Michel - A member of the Mississippi State Senate.
- Jim Pace - A professional racing driver.
See also
In Spanish: Ridgeland (Misisipi) para niños
