Ringgold, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ringgold, Georgia
City
Ringgold City Hall
Seal
Location in Catoosa County and the state of Georgia
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Catoosa
Founded	1846
Incorporated (city)	1847
Named for	Samuel Ringgold
Area
• Total	5.02 sq mi (12.99 km2)
• Land	5.02 sq mi (12.99 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	778 ft (237 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,414
• Density	680.49/sq mi (262.76/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	30736
Area code(s)	706/762
FIPS code	13-65324
GNIS feature ID	0329441

Ringgold is a city in Catoosa County, Georgia, United States. It is the main city, also known as the county seat, of Catoosa County. In 2020, about 3,414 people lived there. Ringgold is part of the larger Chattanooga, Tennessee area.

History of Ringgold

Ringgold was started in 1846 and became a city in 1847. It was named after Samuel Ringgold. He was a hero in a battle during the Mexican–American War.

Key Events in Ringgold's Past

Ringgold played a part in some important historical events. In 1862, a famous train called The General stopped here during the Great Locomotive Chase. This was a daring event during the Civil War. The historic Ringgold Depot building still stands today. You can even see bullet marks from the Civil War on it!

The Battle of Ringgold Gap

A major battle happened near Ringgold on November 27, 1863. It was called the Battle of Ringgold Gap. Confederate Major General Patrick Cleburne and his 4,100 soldiers used a mountain pass called Ringgold Gap. They fought against Union Major General Joseph Hooker and his much larger army of over 12,000 soldiers. The Confederates won this battle. It helped their wagons and cannons move safely through the gap. The Union army had many more soldiers hurt.

The Whitman-Anderson House

The Whitman-Anderson House is a historic home in Ringgold. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. During the Battle of Ringgold Gap, the Whitman family watched the fighting from their house. Their general store was destroyed. After the battle, General Grant used their house as his headquarters. Later, General Sherman ordered the burning of Ringgold. But he saved the Whitman house. The house stayed in the Whitman family until 1902.

Interstate 75 Traffic Incident

On March 14, 2002, a thick fog caused a large traffic accident on Interstate 75 North. Many vehicles were involved in the pileup.

Ringgold Tornado of 2011

Houses in Ringgold destroyed by an EF4 tornado

On April 27, 2011, a very strong EF4 tornado hit Ringgold and Catoosa County. It caused a lot of damage. This tornado was part of a bigger event called the 2011 Super Outbreak. The tornado traveled for about 48 miles across Catoosa County and into Tennessee. Many homes, businesses, and schools in Ringgold were damaged or destroyed.

Geography of Ringgold

Ringgold is located near the middle of Catoosa County. Its exact location is 34°55′2″N 85°6′57″W / 34.91722°N 85.11583°W / 34.91722; -85.11583.

Roads and Travel

Two main roads, U.S. Routes 41 and 76, go through the center of Ringgold. They are known as Nashville Street. These roads lead northwest to Chattanooga, Tennessee, which is about 17 miles away. They also go southeast to Dalton, Georgia, about 15 miles away. Interstate 75 also passes through the southern part of the city. You can get on I-75 from Exit 348. This highway goes northwest to Chattanooga and southeast to Atlanta, which is about 101 miles away.

Ringgold, Georgia Exit

Land and Water

The United States Census Bureau says that Ringgold covers about 5.02 square miles (12.3 square kilometers). Only a very small part of this area, about 0.11%, is water.

Mountains and Rivers

Ringgold is in a region called the Valley and Ridge province. This area is part of the Appalachian Mountains. It has long ridges that run north and south, with valleys in between. These shapes were formed over time by water wearing away different types of rock. Taylor Ridge goes through Ringgold. South Chickamauga Creek, which flows into the Tennessee River, also runs through the city.

Climate in Ringgold

Ringgold has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm temperatures and rain spread out throughout the year. On climate maps, this type of climate is called "Cfa."

Population and People

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,414 people living in Ringgold. There were 1,565 households and 878 families.

Who Lives in Ringgold?

Education in Ringgold

Catoosa County Public Schools

The Catoosa County Public Schools system teaches students from pre-school all the way to twelfth grade. The school district has ten elementary schools, three middle schools, and three high schools. There are over 600 full-time teachers and more than 9,800 students in the district.

Ringgold High School is the local high school for students living in Ringgold. In 1954, the Ringgold Elementary School was destroyed in a fire.

Famous People from Ringgold

Many interesting people have connections to Ringgold:

• Logan Baldwin, a professional baseball player.
• Edgar William Brown Sr. (1859–1917), a doctor who became a very successful businessman in Texas. He was born in Ringgold.
• Austin Davis, a professional football player and coach. He was born in Ringgold.
• David Dreyer, an American politician.
• Stacey Evans, an American politician.
• Randall Franks, an American film and TV actor, entertainer, and author.
• Roy Hawes (1926–2017), a professional baseball player who died in Ringgold.
• Dewayne Hill, an American politician.
• Hugh Hill (1879–1958), a professional baseball player born in Ringgold.
• Barbara Leigh (born 1946), an actress born in Ringgold.
• McCracken Poston, an attorney, author, and politician.
• O. Wayne Rollins (1912–1991), who helped start the company Rollins, Inc..
• Cole Wilcox, a professional baseball player and a graduate of Heritage High School.

See also

In Spanish: Ringgold (Georgia) para niños