Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
- We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
- On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.
By learning about Ridgewood (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.
As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Ridgewood. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Ridgewood is located in Pike County.
To see how the shape of Alabama's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Pike County: Barbour, Bullock, Coffee, Crenshaw, Dale & Montgomery.
Below are the counties that are near Ridgewood. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ridgewood:
- Pike County (The home county of Ridgewood)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Troy
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- McClure Town
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- McClure Town is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClure Town
- Mossy Grove Village
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Mossy Grove Village is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mossy Grove Village
- Banks
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Pronto
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Pronto is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pronto
- Needmore
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Needmore is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needmore
- Youngblood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Youngblood is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngblood
- Brundidge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Meeksville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Meeksville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meeksville
- Buckhorn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Buckhorn is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
- Linwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Linwood is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
- Centre Ridge ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Centre Ridge is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centre Ridge
- Hallsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Hallsville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
- Barbour County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Elamville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Elamville is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elamville
- Clio
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Louisville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Louisville is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 457 people
- Blue Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Blue Springs is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
- Clayton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Bullock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Postoak
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Postoak is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Postoak
- Perote
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Perote is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perote
- Inverness
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Inverness is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
- Smuteye
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Smuteye is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smuteye
- Pine Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Grove is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove
- Union Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fitzpatrick
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Fitzpatrick is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzpatrick
- Three Notch
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Three Notch is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Notch
- Coffee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Wilkinstown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Wilkinstown is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkinstown
- Frisco
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Frisco is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
- Roeton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Roeton is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roeton
- Jack
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Jack is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jack
- Java
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Java is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Java
- Zoar
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Zoar is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zoar
- Mixson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Mixson is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixson
- Clintonville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Clintonville is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clintonville
- Pine Level
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Level is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Elba
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- New Brockton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Danleys Crossroads
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Danleys Crossroads is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danleys Crossroads
- Curtis
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Curtis is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis
- Crenshaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Social Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Social Town is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Social Town
- Vidette
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Vidette is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vidette
- Glenwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Petrey
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Petrey is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petrey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Luverne
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Peacock ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Peacock is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peacock
- Vernledge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Vernledge is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernledge
- Bullock
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bullock is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullock
- Rutledge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Rutledge is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutledge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 449 people
- Brantley
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Cherokee Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Cherokee Village is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Village
- Highland Home
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Honoraville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Honoraville is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honoraville
- Dale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Ariton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Ariton is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ariton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 736 people
- Phillips Crossroads
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Phillips Crossroads is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillips Crossroads
- Arguta
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Arguta is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arguta
- Ozark
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Skipperville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Skipperville is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skipperville
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Center Point
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Center Point is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
- Pine Level
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Pine Level is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Grady
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lapine
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Lapine is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapine
- Ramer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Red Level
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Red Level is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Level
- Ada
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ada is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ada
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ridgewood, see our County-by-County Page for Ridgewood.
Cemeteries Near Ridgewood ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ridgewood.
This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.
Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Ridgewood - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ridgewood covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Sanders Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Jones Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Mossy Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Starling Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Kendrick Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Copeland Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Murphree Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Beulah Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Mullins Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Johnson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Paran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (308 more) ...
- Providence Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Benson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Griffin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<2>
While we didn't find Ridgewood in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ridgewood.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Troy
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Banks
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Little Oak
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Little Oak is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Oak
- Pronto
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Pronto is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pronto
- Brundidge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Catalpa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Catalpa is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catalpa
- Hallsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Hallsville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
- Buckhorn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Buckhorn is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
- Linwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Linwood is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
- Henderson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Henderson is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson
- Curry
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Curry is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curry
- Orion
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Orion is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orion
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Ansley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ansley is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ansley
- Wingard
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Wingard is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingard
- Josie
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Josie is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Josie
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ridgewood. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ridgewood.
Newspapers Published in Ridgewood ...
An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.
Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 21 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ridgewood.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ridgewood, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ridgewood.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Ridgewood:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Pike County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barbour County
- Bullock County
- Coffee County
- Crenshaw County
- Dale County
- Montgomery County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Ridgewood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Ridgewood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |