Ridgely, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ridgely, Maryland
Town
Downtown Ridgely in March 2015.
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  "Dream City"
Location of Ridgely, Maryland
Ridgely, Maryland Location in Maryland Show map of Maryland Ridgely, Maryland Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Caroline
Incorporated	1896
Area
• Total	1.86 sq mi (4.83 km2)
• Land	1.86 sq mi (4.83 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	59 ft (18 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,611
• Density	864.27/sq mi (333.65/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	21660
Area code	410
FIPS code	24-66000
GNIS feature ID	0586831
Website	Town of Ridgely, Maryland

Ridgely is a town in Caroline County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,639 at the 2010 census.

History

The town was established on May 13, 1867, by the Maryland and Baltimore Land Association. The land around present day Ridgely was purchased by the Maryland and Baltimore Land Association from Thomas Bell and the Reverend Greenbury W. Ridgely (2 May 1798-16 Aug 1883) . The town was named after the Rev. Greenbury W. Ridgely.

A railroad boom in the 1860s on the Delmarva Peninsula was fueling land speculation. Civil engineer J.J. Sickler from Philadelphia was commissioned to design the town's layout. The Land Association began construction and built four buildings, including a railroad station, hotel, and two private residences during the first year. James K. Saulsbury constructed a combined store and residence, now known as the Ridgely House.

During the Land's Association's first year, it went bankrupt; Ridgely was left unfinished and sparsely populated. Most properties were sold at public auction, and Ridgely began to grow gradually as a result of its location on the railroad line now called the Maryland and Delaware.

Ridgely's economy flourished as a result of its local crop production, including strawberries, huckleberries, vegetables, eggs, and poultry. Most crops were processed in Ridgely or sent to various locations on the railroad. As the nation began to rely on highways instead of railroads for transportation and industry began to concentrate in larger urban areas, Ridgely's economy declined.

Ridgely became known as the "Strawberry Capital of the World" as a result of its prosperous agricultural business. Every May, Ridgely hosts the Strawberry Festival to celebrate its past. A Ridgely Historical Society was created in 2005 for the same purpose.

In March 2024, the town suspended with pay its entire police force of six officers for an as yet unknown reason. Shortly thereafter, the town signed an interim agreement with Caroline County Sheriff's department for policing services. The Maryland State Police also assisted. In May 2024, the town signed a one-year agreement with the county starting July 01, 2024 for police services. There is still no word on what caused the suspensions.

Geography

Ridgely is located at 38°56′42″N 75°53′1″W / 38.94500°N 75.88361°W / 38.94500; -75.88361 (38.944896, -75.883489).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.78 square miles (4.61 km²), all land.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,639 people, 604 households, and 412 families residing in the town. The population density was 920.8 inhabitants per square mile (355.5/km²). There were 667 housing units at an average density of 374.7 per square mile (144.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 77.1% White, 16.3% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 2.5% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.9% of the population.

There were 604 households, of which 44.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.8% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.26.

The median age in the town was 32 years. 30.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.4% were from 25 to 44; 22.9% were from 45 to 64; and 8.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.

Arts and culture

Historic places

Oak Lawn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Marble Head was listed in 2002.

Points of interest

• Adkins Arboretum
• Tuckahoe State Park

Strawberry Festival

Ridgelyites boast of the widest main street of any town in Maryland; it was once considered "The Strawberry Capital" and still holds a Strawberry Festival each May.

Infrastructure

MD 312 and MD 480 in Ridgely

Transportation

Transportation to and from Ridgely is primarily by road, and three state highways serve the town. These include Maryland Route 312, which is signed north-south but has an alignment closer to north-northeast by south-southwest, and Maryland Route 480, which is signed east-west but has an alignment closer to east-northeast by west-southwest. Maryland Route 776 also traverses Ridgely, serving as a local connector.

The Ridgely Airpark serves the area also.

Postal service

The main ZIP code for Ridgely is 21660, but is assigned eight other "216" zip codes due to its status as a home to fulfillment companies that receive and ship mail-in offers.

Notable people

• Home Run Baker, Baseball Hall of Famer.
• Buck Herzog, a former major league baseball player with the New York Giants, Boston Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago Cubs from 1908 to 1920.
• Jimmie Foxx, Baseball Hall of Famer.
• Thomas Alexander Smith, congressman
• Frank E. Williams (1865–1920), state senator, Presbyterian minister and editor and publisher of The Cecil Whig

See also

In Spanish: Ridgely (Maryland) para niños