The location of River Ridge
Our Genealogy Helper for River Ridge ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool that can help us with planning our trips.
- That it also helps us to understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
By learning about River Ridge (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 River Ridge. 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.
It's still very early in our research, but as we gather more information it will be added to this page.
Name Variations for River Ridge ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Various errors happen - anything from simple spelling to bad translations or people who just guessed at the name. Sometimes the post office had a slightly different name than the community and while one document might refer to the community name, the next might use the post office name.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give a you a feel for the variations that might have occurred with River Ridge.
- Typical abbreviation for River Ridge: River Rdg. (or less commonly used: River Rdge. or River Ridg.)
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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
River Ridge is located in Pike County.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Pike County: Barbour, Bullock, Coffee, Crenshaw, Dale & Montgomery.
Below are the counties that are near River Ridge. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to River Ridge:
| Dir | Distance | ||
| Pike (The home county for River Ridge) | |||
| McClure Town [Map] | E | 3 miles [4.8 km]<1> | |
| Troy [Map] | SE | 3 miles [4.8 km] | |
| Meeksville [Map] | N | 6 miles [9.7 km] | |
| Needmore [Map] | NE | 7 miles [11.3 km] | |
| Mossy Grove Village [Map] | SE | 7 miles [11.3 km] | |
| Orion [Map] | N | 9 miles [14.5 km] | |
| Goshen [Map] | SW | 9 miles [14.5 km] | |
| Banks [Map] | E | 10 miles [16.1 km] | |
| Kent [Map] | NW | 12 miles [19.3 km] | |
| Centre Ridge - Historic [Map] | S | 13 miles [20.9 km] | |
| Brundidge [Map] | SE | 14 miles [22.5 km] | |
| Tennille [Map] | SE | 20 miles [32.2 km] | |
| Barbour | |||
| Clio [Map] | E | 25 miles [40.2 km] | |
| Louisville [Map] | E | 27 miles [43.5 km] | |
| Blue Springs [Map] | E | 32 miles [51.5 km] | |
| Clayton [Map] | E | 33 miles [53.1 km] | |
| Comer [Map] | E | 40 miles [64.4 km] | |
| Bullock | |||
| Inverness [Map] | NE | 20 miles [32.2 km] | |
| Perote [Map] | NE | 20 miles [32.2 km] | |
| Smuteye [Map] | NE | 24 miles [38.6 km] | |
| Fitzpatrick [Map] | N | 28 miles [45.1 km] | |
| Union Springs [Map] | NE | 28 miles [45.1 km] | |
| Three Notch [Map] | NE | 32 miles [51.5 km] | |
| Midway [Map] | NE | 34 miles [54.7 km] | |
| Butler | |||
| Greenville [Map] | W | 35 miles [56.3 km] | |
| Bolling [Map] | W | 40 miles [64.4 km] | |
| Coffee | |||
| Wilkinstown [Map] | S | 15 miles [24.1 km] | |
| Jack [Map] | S | 17 miles [27.4 km] | |
| Frisco [Map] | SE | 18 miles [29 km] | |
| Victoria [Map] | S | 21 miles [33.8 km] | |
| Pine Level [Map] | S | 26 miles [41.8 km] | |
| Elba [Map] | S | 28 miles [45.1 km] | |
| New Brockton [Map] | S | 31 miles [49.9 km] | |
| Enterprise [Map] | S | 35 miles [56.3 km] | |
| Battens Crossroads [Map] | S | 39 miles [62.8 km] | |
| Covington | |||
| County Line [Map] | S | 38 miles [61.2 km] | |
| Opp [Map] | S | 39 miles [62.8 km] | |
| Gantt [Map] | SW | 39 miles [62.8 km] | |
| Babbie [Map] | SW | 40 miles [64.4 km] | |
| Crenshaw | |||
| Petrey [Map] | W | 10 miles [16.1 km] | |
| Social Town [Map] | SW | 12 miles [19.3 km] | |
| Glenwood [Map] | SW | 14 miles [22.5 km] | |
| Luverne [Map] | SW | 16 miles [25.7 km] | |
| Rutledge [Map] | W | 17 miles [27.4 km] | |
| Highland Home [Map] | NW | 19 miles [30.6 km] | |
| Cherokee Village [Map] | W | 19 miles [30.6 km] | |
| Brantley [Map] | SW | 21 miles [33.8 km] | |
| Honoraville [Map] | W | 22 miles [35.4 km] | |
| Merrill Mill [Map] | SW | 27 miles [43.5 km] | |
| Dozier [Map] | SW | 30 miles [48.3 km] | |
| Dale | |||
| Ariton [Map] | SE | 23 miles [37 km] | |
| Phillips Crossroads [Map] | SE | 28 miles [45.1 km] | |
| Skipperville [Map] | SE | 33 miles [53.1 km] | |
| Ozark [Map] | SE | 34 miles [54.7 km] | |
| Holiday Village [Map] | SE | 36 miles [57.9 km] | |
| Mabson [Map] | SE | 36 miles [57.9 km] | |
| Clopton [Map] | SE | 37 miles [59.5 km] | |
| Fort Rucker [Map] | SE | 38 miles [61.2 km] | |
| Level Plains [Map] | SE | 38 miles [61.2 km] | |
| Lowndes | |||
| Davenport [Map] | NW | 27 miles [43.5 km] | |
| Sandy Ridge [Map] | NW | 28 miles [45.1 km] | |
| Fort Deposit [Map] | W | 33 miles [53.1 km] | |
| Letohatchee [Map] | NW | 34 miles [54.7 km] | |
| Hayneville [Map] | NW | 40 miles [64.4 km] | |
| Macon | |||
| Hardaway [Map] | N | 33 miles [53.1 km] | |
| Fort Davis [Map] | NE | 34 miles [54.7 km] | |
| Armstrong [Map] | NE | 35 miles [56.3 km] | |
| Calebee [Map] | N | 39 miles [62.8 km] | |
| Shorter [Map] | N | 39 miles [62.8 km] | |
| Montgomery | |||
| Grady [Map] | NW | 15 miles [24.1 km] | |
| Pine Level [Map] | N | 16 miles [25.7 km] | |
| Lapine [Map] | NW | 18 miles [29 km] | |
| Ramer [Map] | NW | 19 miles [30.6 km] | |
| Ada [Map] | NW | 24 miles [38.6 km] | |
| Pike Road [Map] | N | 31 miles [49.9 km] | |
| Pintlala [Map] | NW | 31 miles [49.9 km] | |
| Cecil [Map] | N | 32 miles [51.5 km] | |
| Hope Hull [Map] | NW | 36 miles [57.9 km] | |
| Mount Meigs [Map] | N | 37 miles [59.5 km] | |
| Waugh [Map] | N | 37 miles [59.5 km] | |
| English Village [Map] | NW | 38 miles [61.2 km] | |
| Sunshine Village [Map] | N | 40 miles [64.4 km] | |
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to River Ridge, see our County-by-County Page for River Ridge.
Cemeteries Near River Ridge ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of River Ridge.
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.
If you click on the [Map] that follows each cemetery's name, a Google map will open showing a satellite view of the area where the cemetery is located. We have tried to place the cemetery in the center of the map, but we're still working on our data and the map might not not be centered properly. If you don't see the cemetery right away, try zooming-in. Usually, but not always, you can see the outline of the cemetery or some of the headstones.
If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).
If not found below, our Cemetery List for River Ridge covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
Newspapers Published in River Ridge ...
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 19 newspapers that have been published in the area around River Ridge.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of River Ridge, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for River Ridge.
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.<4>
While we didn't find River Ridge in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of River Ridge.
These communities are listed based on their distance from River Ridge, with the one closest to River Ridge listed first.
| Troy [Map] | |
| - | Located 3 miles [4.8 km] to the East Southeast (ESE) from River Ridge |
| - | 1895 population of 3,449 people (with 19,037 people in 2017) |
| - | Troy had a post office and railroad service |
| Little Oak [Map] | |
| - | Located 6 miles [9.7 km] to the South Southwest (SSW) from River Ridge |
| - | Little Oak had a post office and no railroad service |
| Ansley [Map] | |
| - | Located 6 miles [9.7 km] to the Northwest (NW) from River Ridge |
| - | Ansley had a post office and no railroad service |
| Hallsville [Map] | |
| - | Located 7 miles [11.3 km] to the Southwest (SW) from River Ridge |
| - | Hallsville had railroad service and no post office |
| Wingard [Map] | |
| - | Located 7 miles [11.3 km] to the West (W) from River Ridge |
| - | Wingard had a post office and no railroad service |
| Curry [Map] | |
| - | Located 8 miles [12.9 km] to the North (N) from River Ridge |
| - | Curry had a post office and no railroad service |
| Orion [Map] | |
| - | Located 9 miles [14.5 km] to the North (N) from River Ridge |
| - | 1895 population of 172 people |
| - | Orion had a post office and no railroad service |
| Banks [Map] | |
| - | Located 10 miles [16.1 km] to the East (E) from River Ridge |
| - | Banks had a post office and no railroad service |
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around River Ridge. The list can be found on our page for Communities Neighboring River Ridge in the 1890's.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to all and free to view - although they might link to other websites which do charge.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to River Ridge:
These websites are specific to Alabama:
| Cyndi's List | Family Search | Genealogy Trails |
Website for the Alabama Department of Archives & History
Not to be confused with the official state website, we've found the Digital State Archives website for the State of Alabama to be a good source for additional links.
These pages are specific to Pike County:
| Cyndi's List | Family Search | Genealogy Trails |
Genealogy information for nearby counties:
Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama:
| Cyndi's List: | Cemeteries of Alabama, Cemeteries of Pike County |
| Cemetery Junction: | Directory for Alabama |
| FamilySearch.org: | Cemetery Wiki for Alabama |
| Find-A-Grave: | Home Page |
| Internment.net: | Cemeteries for Alabama, for Pike County |
Of Special Interest ...
The GenDisasters website specializes in newspaper articles about tragedies and disasters. While it makes interesting reading all by itself, it should be of special interest to genealogists and family historians looking for people who were either affected by or directly involved in such tragedies.
| Disaster Stories from Alabama |
Other Roadside Stops ...
Search for a Community in Alabama
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for River Ridge. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for State of Alabama: https://www.alabama.gov/
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 from Point A (ie- River Ridge) to Point B. Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in River Ridge. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 31.8257, Longitude: -86.0222 [Map]. In this case, the coordinates for River Ridge have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). |
| <2> | The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com. |
| <3> | AME is an abbreviation for the African Methodist Episcopal Church |
| <4> | 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 River Ridge, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |