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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
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 north 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 Saint Mary's County.
To see how the shape of Maryland's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Saint Mary's County: Calvert & Charles.
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:
- Saint Mary's County (The home county of Ridgewood)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Hurry
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Hurry is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurry
- Clements
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Chaptico
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Helen
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Helen is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helen
- Bushwood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Milestown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Milestown is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milestown
- Loveville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Loveville is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loveville
- Morganza
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Morganza is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morganza
- Blakistone
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Blakistone is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakistone
- Budds Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Budds Creek is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Budds Creek
- Abell
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Avenue
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Anne Arundel County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Friendship
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Jewell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Jewell is located in Anne Arundel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
- Fairhaven
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Fairhaven is located in Anne Arundel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairhaven
- Pindell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Pindell is located in Anne Arundel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pindell
- Calvert County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Hellen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hellen is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hellen
- Adelina
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Adelina is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelina
- Battle ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Battle is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battle
- Broomes Island
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bowens
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bowens is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowens
- Mutual Consent
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mutual Consent is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mutual Consent
- Mackall
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Mackall is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackall
- Wallville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Wallville is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallville
- Another Place
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Another Place is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Another Place
- Barstow
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Barstow is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barstow
- Buena Vista
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Buena Vista is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Mutual
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mutual is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mutual
- Charles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Rock Point
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rock Point is located in Charles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Point
- Cobb Island
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Victoria
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Mount Victoria is located in Charles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Victoria
- Newburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Independence Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Independence Village is located in Charles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence Village
- Morgantown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Morgantown is located in Charles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgantown
- Benedict
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Hughesville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Faulkner
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bel Alton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Air
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Air is located in Charles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Air
- Bryantown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Dorchester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Taylors Island
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Fishing Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Golden Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Golden Hill is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Hill
- Thomas
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Thomas is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas
- Prince George's County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Cedarhaven
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Cedarhaven is located in Prince George's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarhaven
- Eagle Harbor
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Eagle Harbor is located in Prince George's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Harbor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Aquasco
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Aquasco is located in Prince George's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aquasco
- Orme
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Orme is located in Prince George's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orme
- Horsehead
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Horsehead is located in Prince George's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horsehead
- Westwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Westwood is located in Prince George's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Cedarville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Cedarville is located in Prince George's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- The Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- The Village is located in Prince George's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Brandywine
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- North Keys
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- North Keys is located in Prince George's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Keys
- Accokeek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Blandford Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Blandford Village is located in Prince George's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blandford Village
- Caroline County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Port Royal
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Samuels Corner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Samuels Corner is located in Caroline County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samuels Corner
- Moss Neck
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Moss Neck is located in Caroline County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Neck
- Essex County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Layton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Layton is located in Essex County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Layton
- Loretto
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Loretto is located in Essex County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loretto
- Occupacia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Occupacia is located in Essex County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Occupacia
- Lloyds
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lloyds is located in Essex County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lloyds
- Tappahannock
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Beazley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Beazley is located in Essex County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beazley
- King George County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Dahlgren
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Hooes
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Hooes is located in King George County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooes
- Ninde
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Ninde is located in King George County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ninde
- Alden
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Alden is located in King George County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alden
- Shiloh
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Shiloh is located in King George County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Hampstead
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Hampstead is located in King George County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampstead
- Edgehill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Edgehill is located in King George County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgehill
- Weedonville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Weedonville is located in King George County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weedonville
- Somerset Beach
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Somerset Beach is located in King George County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somerset Beach
- Ambar
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Ambar is located in King George County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambar
- King George
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Arnolds Corner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Arnolds Corner is located in King George County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnolds Corner
- Northumberland County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Morrisons Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Morrisons Corner is located in Northumberland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisons Corner
- Lodge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lodge is located in Northumberland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodge
- Bundick
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bundick is located in Northumberland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bundick
- Coan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Coan is located in Northumberland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coan
- Richmond County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Newland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Newland is located in Richmond County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newland
- Tallent Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Tallent Town is located in Richmond County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallent Town
- Naylors
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Naylors is located in Richmond County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naylors
- Rich Neck
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Rich Neck is located in Richmond County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Neck
- Warsaw
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Emmerton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Emmerton is located in Richmond County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmerton
- Stafford County (VA)
- Willamsburg on the Potomac
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Westmoreland County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgewood, with the one closest to Ridgewood listed first.
- Colonial Beach
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bryant Town
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Bryant Town is located in Westmoreland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant Town
- Chiltons
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Chiltons is located in Westmoreland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chiltons
- Baynesville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Baynesville is located in Westmoreland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baynesville
- Monroe Hall
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Monroe Hall is located in Westmoreland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe Hall
- Hinnom
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Hinnom is located in Westmoreland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinnom
- Maple Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Maple Grove is located in Westmoreland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
- Potomac Mills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Potomac Mills is located in Westmoreland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potomac Mills
- Oak Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Montross
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Nash Town
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Nash Town is located in Westmoreland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Town
- Machodoc
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Machodoc is located in Westmoreland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Machodoc
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.
- St. Mary's Queen of Peace Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Christ Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- All Saints Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Old St. Josephs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- St. Joseph's Parish Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Charles Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- John Wesley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Francis Xavier Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Old St. Aloysius Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Galilee Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (166 more) ...
- Holy Ghost Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- New St. Aloysius Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- All Faith Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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.<3>
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.
- Chaptico
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Milestown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Milestown is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milestown
- Oakley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Oakley is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
- Loveville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Loveville is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loveville
- Morganza
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Morganza is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morganza
- Compton
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Compton is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Compton
- Budds Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Budds Creek is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Budds Creek
- Rock Point
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rock Point is located in Charles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Point
- River Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- River Springs is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Springs
- Leonardtown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Laurel Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Laurel Grove is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Grove
- Oakville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Oakville is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Mechanicsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Tompkinsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Tompkinsville is located in Charles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tompkinsville
- Wicomico
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Wicomico is located in Charles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wicomico
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 8 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 6 miles [9.7 km]<4>. 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 start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Maryland
- Pages specific to Saint Mary's County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anne Arundel County
- Calvert County
- Charles County
- Dorchester County
- Prince George's County
- Caroline County
- Essex County
- King George County
- Northumberland County
- Richmond County
- Stafford County
- Westmoreland County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Maryland
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> | 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> | 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. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' 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'. |