Ridgway, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ridgway, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Ridgway from Elk County Country Club, April 2010
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Location in Elk County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Pennsylvania | |
| County | Elk | |
| Settled | 1824 | |
| Incorporated | 1880 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Borough Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.67 sq mi (6.91 km2) | |
| • Land | 2.61 sq mi (6.77 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.14 km2) | |
| Elevation | 1,381 ft (421 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,039 | |
| • Density | 1,546.32/sq mi (596.98/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
15853
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| Area code(s) | 814 | |
| FIPS code | 42-64784 | |
Ridgway is a small town, also called a borough, located in Elk County, Pennsylvania. It is the main town, or county seat, of Elk County. In 2020, about 4,039 people lived in Ridgway.
Contents
History of Ridgway
Ridgway was started by two men: Jacob Ridgway and James Lisle Gillis. Jacob Ridgway was a very rich merchant from Philadelphia. He made a lot of money by trading goods on ships. He used his money to buy land, including 40,000 acres (about 160 square kilometers) in what is now Elk County.
James Gillis, who was Jacob Ridgway's nephew by marriage, thought this land would be great for a lumber camp. This was because it was close to Elk Creek and the Clarion River. These rivers could be used to transport logs. The area also had lots of coal and natural gas.
In the past, Ridgway was known for making many things. These included leather, iron, clay, and wood products. They also made silk goods, snow plows for trains, and machine tools.
The number of people living in Ridgway changed over the years. In 1900, there were 3,515 residents. By 1940, the population grew to 6,253. In 2010, it was 4,078, and in 2020, it was 4,039.
Many old and important buildings are in the Ridgway Historic District. This area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. Other historic buildings like the O.B. Grant House and Ridgway Armory are also on this list.
The lumber business was very successful in Ridgway. Around the year 1900, people even said that Ridgway had more millionaires per person than any other town in the U.S.!
Geography of Ridgway
Ridgway is in the middle of Elk County. Its exact location is 41°25′29″N 78°43′47″W / 41.42472°N 78.72972°W. The town is surrounded by Ridgway Township.
The borough sits in the valley of the Clarion River. Elk Creek also joins the Clarion River here from the east. U.S. Route 219 goes right through the center of Ridgway. This road goes north 44 miles (71 km) to Bradford. It also goes south 28 miles (45 km) to DuBois.
The United States Census Bureau says that Ridgway covers a total area of 6.91 square kilometers (2.67 square miles). Most of this area, 6.77 square kilometers (2.61 square miles), is land. The rest, 0.14 square kilometers (0.06 square miles), is water.
Climate in Ridgway
| Climate data for Ridgway, Pennsylvania (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1913–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 72 (22) |
74 (23) |
82 (28) |
92 (33) |
97 (36) |
106 (41) |
110 (43) |
101 (38) |
103 (39) |
91 (33) |
80 (27) |
73 (23) |
110 (43) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 33.7 (0.9) |
36.5 (2.5) |
45.4 (7.4) |
58.9 (14.9) |
70.1 (21.2) |
77.4 (25.2) |
81.2 (27.3) |
80.1 (26.7) |
73.6 (23.1) |
61.6 (16.4) |
49.0 (9.4) |
38.3 (3.5) |
58.8 (14.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 24.9 (−3.9) |
26.5 (−3.1) |
34.3 (1.3) |
45.9 (7.7) |
56.7 (13.7) |
64.9 (18.3) |
68.8 (20.4) |
67.7 (19.8) |
61.2 (16.2) |
49.9 (9.9) |
39.3 (4.1) |
30.5 (−0.8) |
47.5 (8.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 16.2 (−8.8) |
16.5 (−8.6) |
23.2 (−4.9) |
32.9 (0.5) |
43.3 (6.3) |
52.4 (11.3) |
56.5 (13.6) |
55.3 (12.9) |
48.8 (9.3) |
38.2 (3.4) |
29.6 (−1.3) |
22.7 (−5.2) |
36.3 (2.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −31 (−35) |
−35 (−37) |
−23 (−31) |
−1 (−18) |
17 (−8) |
27 (−3) |
34 (1) |
26 (−3) |
22 (−6) |
11 (−12) |
−10 (−23) |
−24 (−31) |
−35 (−37) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.44 (87) |
2.67 (68) |
3.41 (87) |
3.89 (99) |
4.32 (110) |
4.62 (117) |
4.57 (116) |
3.90 (99) |
4.03 (102) |
3.76 (96) |
3.49 (89) |
3.45 (88) |
45.55 (1,157) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 15.3 (39) |
12.5 (32) |
7.5 (19) |
1.5 (3.8) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.4 (1.0) |
3.2 (8.1) |
12.3 (31) |
52.7 (134) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 17.4 | 14.0 | 13.7 | 14.0 | 14.4 | 13.7 | 12.2 | 11.1 | 11.3 | 14.0 | 13.1 | 16.7 | 165.6 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 9.8 | 7.6 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 6.4 | 31.9 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Population of Ridgway
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,100 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,903 | 73.0% | |
| 1900 | 3,515 | 84.7% | |
| 1910 | 5,408 | 53.9% | |
| 1920 | 6,037 | 11.6% | |
| 1930 | 6,313 | 4.6% | |
| 1940 | 6,253 | −1.0% | |
| 1950 | 6,244 | −0.1% | |
| 1960 | 6,387 | 2.3% | |
| 1970 | 6,022 | −5.7% | |
| 1980 | 5,604 | −6.9% | |
| 1990 | 4,793 | −14.5% | |
| 2000 | 4,591 | −4.2% | |
| 2010 | 4,078 | −11.2% | |
| 2020 | 4,039 | −1.0% | |
| Sources: | |||
The population of Ridgway has changed over time. In 2010, there were 4,078 people living in the borough. There were 1,783 households, which are groups of people living together. The average household had about 2.25 people.
In 2000, the population was 4,591 people. There were 1,927 households, with an average of 2.33 people per household.
Art and Culture in Ridgway
Ridgway is famous for the Ridgway Chainsaw Carving Rendezvous. This is the biggest gathering of chainsaw carving artists. They create amazing sculptures using chainsaws!
During the summer, the Ridgway Volunteer Fire Department holds a week-long celebration. It takes place on their lot off North Broad Street.
The Ridgway Heritage Council also hosts the Tasting in the Wilds Festival. This festival features art, music, local wine, and handcrafted beers.
The Elk County Council on the Arts (ECCOTA) has been helping with art in the area since 1984. ECCOTA has a gallery in downtown Ridgway where you can see and buy art made by local artists.
Recreation and Outdoor Fun
Ridgway is a great starting point for exploring the Allegheny National Forest. This forest offers many outdoor activities. You can ride ATVs, go horseback riding, camp, and fish.
Ridgway has places to stay, like several bed and breakfasts. There's also the Summit Fireside Lodge and Grill. The Royal Inn is the oldest hotel in Elk County.
The Wild and Scenic Clarion River is a great spot for fishing. You can catch trophy trout there. You can also enjoy a relaxing float down the river or go camping nearby.
For those who like to bike or walk, the Little Toby-Clarion River Rail Trail is 18 miles (29 km) long. It goes all the way to Brockway.
Education in Ridgway
Ridgway has two school systems for students. These are the Ridgway Area School District and St. Leo's Catholic School.
Ridgway Area School District
The Ridgway Area School District (RASD) has two main buildings. One is for elementary school, and the other is for middle and high school.
The Francis S. Grandinetti Elementary School is located on Boot Jack Hill in Ridgway Township. This school teaches students from preschool up to 5th grade.
The Ridgway Area Middle/High School is at 1403 Hill Street in Ridgway. Middle school students (grades six to eight) are on the first floor. High school students (grades nine to twelve) are on the second floor.
The school's sports teams are called the Elkers. This name comes from Ridgway being the main town, or county seat, of Elk County.
St. Leo's Catholic School
St. Leo's Catholic School has a few buildings. There's a special building just for kindergarten students. The main building teaches children from grades 1 to 8. The preschool building is next to the main building.
After finishing 8th grade at St. Leo's, students can choose to go to the public high school (Ridgway Area Middle/High School). Or, they can go to Elk County Catholic High School in St. Marys.
Notable People from Ridgway
- Tom Brown, an American football player.
- Mary Elizabeth Lease, a writer and political activist.
- Katherine Mayo, a writer.
- Billy Rhines, a professional baseball player. He played for teams like the Cincinnati Reds.
- Emil Van Horn, an actor and stunt man.
See also
In Spanish: Ridgway (Pensilvania) para niños
