RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Illinois >> Will County >> Ridgewood >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

As we travel, we like to pursue some of our interests (such as astronomy and bird watching).

When in Ridgewood, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Ridgewood and the surrounding area.

  • Weather ...
  • Astronomy & Satellites ...
    • Whether using binoculars, a small telescope or the naked-eye, the Heavens-Above website can help you to find your way around the night-time sky. In addition to detailed sky charts, their website will help you find planets, asteriods, comets, satellites and their tracks across the sky.
    • To give accurate results, Heavens-Above requires the latitude and longitude of your location. As a starting point, when we link to Heavens-Above, we pass this GPS location for Ridgewood:
    • 41.535587, -88.040335
    • Once you're on the Heavens-Above website, you can improve its accuracy by giving a more precise longitude and latitude as your actual position.
    • Open the Heavens-Above website centered on Ridgewood
  • Bird Watching ...
    • We enjoy finding new spots for bird watching and we use the eBird website for local sighting reports and to help identify hotspots.
    • The eBird website is organized on a county-by-county basis. We have selected Will County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Will County
    • Since Ridgewood is near Cook County and also DuPage County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Cook County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for DuPage County
  • Waymarking ...
    • Looking for somewhere out of the ordinary? Find a unique place and want to share it with others? Then it's time to visit Waymarking.com:
    • Open the Waymark.com report for Ridgewood

Communities Also Named Ridgewood ...

We found 41 communities that are also named Ridgewood.

There is one other community in Illinois that is also named Ridgewood.

Beyond Illinois, we know of 40 communities that are located in the United States and Canada. Of these 40 communities, 40 are located in the United States and two are in Canada.

  • Communities Located In Illinois ...
    • Cook County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Illinois community of Ridgewood [Cook County].
  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Jefferson County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Jefferson County and lies 546 miles [878.7 km]<2> to the south of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Jefferson County community of Ridgewood.
      • Madison County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Madison County and lies 481 miles [774.1 km] to the south of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Madison County community of Ridgewood.
      • Pike County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Pike County and lies 682 miles [1,097.6 km] to the south of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Pike County community of Ridgewood.
    • California
      • Placer County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Placer County and lies 1,683 miles [2,708.5 km]<2> to the west of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Placer County community of Ridgewood.
    • Colorado
      • Boulder County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Boulder County and lies 914 miles [1,470.9 km]<2> to the west of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Boulder County community of Ridgewood.
    • Connecticut
      • Middlesex County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Middlesex County and lies 803 miles [1,292.3 km]<2> to the east of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Middlesex County community of Ridgewood.
      • New London County
      • This Ridgewood is located in New London County and lies 824 miles [1,326.1 km] to the east of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the New London County community of Ridgewood.
    • Delaware
      • New Castle County
      • This Ridgewood is located in New Castle County and lies 666 miles [1,071.8 km]<2> to the east of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the New Castle County community of Ridgewood.
    • Florida
      • Alachua County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Florida community of Ridgewood [Alachua County].
      • Clay County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Clay County and lies 860 miles [1,384 km]<2> to the south southeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clay County community of Ridgewood.
      • Polk County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Polk County and lies 1,003 miles [1,614.2 km] to the south southeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Polk County community of Ridgewood.
      • Putnam County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Florida community of Ridgewood [Putnam County].
    • Georgia
      • Chatham County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Chatham County and lies 759 miles [1,221.5 km]<2> to the south southeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Chatham County community of Ridgewood.
      • Clayton County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Clayton County and lies 582 miles [936.6 km] to the south southeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clayton County community of Ridgewood.
      • Gwinnett County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Gwinnett County and lies 564 miles [907.7 km] to the south southeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Gwinnett County community of Ridgewood.
      • Richmond County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Richmond County and lies 645 miles [1,038 km] to the south southeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Richmond County community of Ridgewood.
    • Indiana
      • Morgan County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Morgan County and lies 159 miles [255.9 km]<2> to the southeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Morgan County community of Ridgewood.
    • Louisiana
      • Caddo Parish
      • This Ridgewood is located in Caddo Parish and lies 706 miles [1,136.2 km]<2> to the south southwest of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Caddo Parish community of Ridgewood.
      • East Baton Rouge Parish
      • This Ridgewood is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and lies 779 miles [1,253.7 km] to the south southwest of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the East Baton Rouge Parish community of Ridgewood.
    • Maryland
      • Saint Mary's County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Saint Mary's County and lies 636 miles [1,023.5 km]<2> to the east southeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saint Mary's County community of Ridgewood.
    • New Jersey
      • Bergen County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Bergen County and lies 723 miles [1,163.6 km]<2> to the east of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Bergen County community of Ridgewood.
    • New York
      • Niagara County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Niagara County and lies 493 miles [793.4 km]<2> to the east northeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Niagara County community of Ridgewood.
      • Oneida County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the New York community of Ridgewood [Oneida County].
      • Queens County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Queens County and lies 736 miles [1,184.5 km] to the east of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Queens County community of Ridgewood.
    • North Carolina
      • Rowan County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Rowan County and lies 574 miles [923.8 km]<2> to the southeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Rowan County community of Ridgewood.
      • Union County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Union County and lies 608 miles [978.5 km] to the southeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Union County community of Ridgewood.
      • Wake County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Wake County and lies 640 miles [1,030 km] to the southeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Wake County community of Ridgewood.
      • Wayne County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Wayne County and lies 690 miles [1,110.4 km] to the southeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Wayne County community of Ridgewood.
    • Ohio
      • Clark County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Clark County and lies 246 miles [395.9 km]<2> to the east southeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clark County community of Ridgewood.
      • Muskingum County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Ohio community of Ridgewood [Muskingum County].
    • Ontario
      • This Ridgewood lies 469 miles [754.8 km]<2> to the east northeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
    • Pennsylvania
      • Berks County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Berks County and lies 638 miles [1,026.8 km]<2> to the east of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Berks County community of Ridgewood.
      • Luzerne County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Luzerne County and lies 632 miles [1,017.1 km] to the east of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Luzerne County community of Ridgewood.
    • South Carolina
      • Charleston County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the South Carolina community of Ridgewood [Charleston County].
      • Oconee County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Oconee County and lies 547 miles [880.3 km]<2> to the south southeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Oconee County community of Ridgewood.
      • Richland County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the South Carolina community of Ridgewood [Richland County].
    • Tennessee
      • Bradley County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Bradley County and lies 467 miles [751.6 km]<2> to the south southeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Bradley County community of Ridgewood.
      • Campbell County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Campbell County and lies 419 miles [674.3 km] to the south southeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Campbell County community of Ridgewood.
      • Jefferson County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Jefferson County and lies 445 miles [716.2 km] to the southeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Jefferson County community of Ridgewood.
    • West Virginia
      • Cabell County
      • This Ridgewood is located in Cabell County and lies 365 miles [587.4 km]<2> to the southeast of the Ridgewood that is located in Will County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cabell County community of Ridgewood.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Ridgewood ...

As we travel, we always see a community with a name that gives pause. While there are names which are interesting or familiar, some catch our attention or strike our fancy. We always wonder about such a name. If time permits and the community is not too far, we'll usually try to make a side-trip.

  • Broken Arrow
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Broken Arrow is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broken Arrow
  • Cherry Hill
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Cherry Hill is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Hill
  • Crest Hill
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Forest Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Forest Park is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Park
  • Lockport
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Michigan Beach
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Michigan Beach is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Michigan Beach
  • Pine Needle
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Pine Needle is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Needle
  • Rockdale
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Rockdale is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockdale
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,884 people
  • Rockdale Junction
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Rockdale Junction is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockdale Junction
  • Shady Hollow
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Shady Hollow is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Hollow
  • Thunder Ridge
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Thunder Ridge is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thunder Ridge
  • Union
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Union is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union

How Far From Ridgewood to ...

We spend a lot of time looking through Gazetteers, Almanacs & Directories that were published in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Many of the Gazetteers include the distance from a community such as Ridgewood to various places of note, such as the White House.

With a nod to our favorite Gazetteers, the straight-line distance beginning in Ridgewood and extending to:

  • Joliet, which is the Seat of Will County, lies just to the West Southwest.
  • Springfield, which is the State Capital of Illinois, lies 147 miles [236.6 km]<2> to the southwest (SW). If you could drive a straight line from Ridgewood to Springfield, with an average speed<4>of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, it would take less than three hours to make the trip. A comfortable walk of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour would take 9 days. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take 6 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 607 miles [976.9 km] to the east southeast (ESE). Driving would take just over a day, a buggy would take 24 days and walking would take 35 days.
  • The shortest distance<5> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,214 miles [10,000.5 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,952 miles [11,188.2 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,836 miles [7,782.8 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>'

Footnotes ...

<1>If we encounter the name of what might be a community, our methodology is to add that name to our Gazetteer as a placeholder. As we find more information about that community, it will be added to our Gazetteer.

Just as a reminder: Our definition of a community is rather broad and includes those places (or areas) where several families lived and had a name which identified that place. For example, you might hear somebody say that they are going over to Mile's to see Pete ... Mile's is just a gas station and a couple of homes at the crossroads. While it might not be on the map, everybody in the area knows it by that name.

Places of interest include buildings at a crossroad, several families clustered in a hollow or maybe the location of a way station. It also includes places like mines, lumber camps, ferry crossings, etc. The community might still exist, is now gone or only existed for just a short period of time.

Also keep in mind that Ridgewood could have been on the original document by mistake, misspelled, the original/alternate name of a community that we've listed elsewhere or was placed in the wrong county. Sometimes a post office or train station would have a different name than the community where it's located, so two names might be referring to the same community - we're working to straighten it all out.
<2>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- Ridgewood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<4>While we have tried to pick reasonable speeds, the rate of travel is very theoretical - obstacles like fences, hills, lakes, river crossings and rest stops have been ignored. When we say 'Days' of travel, we're assuming 8 hours of travel per day.
<5>The shortest line can be visualized by stretching a string on a Globe from Point A to Point B - this is known as a Great Circle Route. Where you might expect the shortest route from Ridgewood to the Middle East to be East and South, the Great Circle Route actually lies to the North and East.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Ridgewood. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 41.5356, Longitude: -88.0403       In this case, the coordinates for Ridgewood have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 314.707 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 311.592 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 308.866 degrees.