Ridgway, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ridgway, Illinois
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| Village of Ridgway | |
Businesses along Main Street
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Location of Ridgway in Gallatin County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Gallatin |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.88 sq mi (2.28 km2) |
| • Land | 0.88 sq mi (2.28 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 374 ft (114 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 851 |
| • Density | 967.05/sq mi (373.48/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
62979
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| Area code(s) | 618 |
| FIPS code | 17-64018 |
| GNIS ID | 2399074 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Ridgway, Illinois |
Ridgway is a small village located in Gallatin County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 851 people lived there. As of 2021, the mayor of Ridgway was Nancy Kitchens.
Contents
History of Ridgway Village
Ridgway was started in 1866. It began as a camp for workers building a railroad. This railroad later became known as the Springfield and Illinois South Eastern Railway. The village got its name from the railroad's president, Thomas S. Ridgway.
Popcorn Capital of the World
For a time, Ridgway was known as the "Popcorn Capital of the World." This was because it had a popcorn plant. Even though the plant is gone, the village still celebrates Popcorn Day. It's held every year in September as part of the Gallatin County Fair.
Tornado Impact and Rebuilding
In February 2012, strong tornadoes hit the area. These storms caused a lot of damage. Sadly, the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Ridgway was destroyed. But the community worked together to rebuild it. The new church was finished in 2015. It was renamed "St. Kateri" to honor Kateri Tekakwitha.
Geography of Ridgway
Ridgway is in the southern part of Illinois. It is located at coordinates 37°47′53″N 88°15′38″W. The village is north of the Shawnee National Forest. It is in the middle-north part of Gallatin County. Ridgway is about 9 miles (14 km) northwest of Shawneetown, which is the county seat.
Land and Water Area
The village is mainly located along Ridgway Newhaven Road. This road is just east of Illinois Route 1. In 2021, Ridgway covered a total area of about 0.88 square miles (2.28 square kilometers). Almost all of this area is land. Only a tiny part, about 0.11%, is water.
Population and People in Ridgway
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 174 | — | |
| 1890 | 523 | 200.6% | |
| 1900 | 839 | 60.4% | |
| 1910 | 1,054 | 25.6% | |
| 1920 | 1,102 | 4.6% | |
| 1930 | 930 | −15.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,167 | 25.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,148 | −1.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,055 | −8.1% | |
| 1970 | 1,160 | 10.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,245 | 7.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,103 | −11.4% | |
| 2000 | 928 | −15.9% | |
| 2010 | 869 | −6.4% | |
| 2020 | 851 | −2.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the village of Ridgway had a population of 851 people. There were 445 households living in the village. About 282 of these were families. The population density was about 966 people per square mile (373 people per square kilometer).
Community Makeup
Most people in Ridgway identify as White, making up about 93.77% of the population. There are also smaller groups of African American and Asian residents. Some people identify with two or more races. About 1.29% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
Households and Income
There were 379 households counted in Ridgway. About 31.4% of these were married couples living together. About 43.3% of households had a female head of household without a husband present. The typical income for a household in Ridgway was $44,777. For families, the typical income was $68,958.
