RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Virginia >> Mecklenburg County >> The Ridge >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in The Ridge, we use the following websites to find information relevant to The Ridge 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 The Ridge:
    • 36.683197, -78.345275
    • 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 The Ridge
  • 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 Mecklenburg County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Mecklenburg County
    • Since The Ridge is near Vance County and also Lunenburg County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Vance County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Lunenburg 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 The Ridge

Communities Also Named The Ridge ...

We found 41 communities that are also named The Ridge.

There is one other community in Virginia that is also named The Ridge.

Beyond Virginia, we know of 40 communities that are located in the United States and Canada. Of these 40 communities, 39 are located in the United States and two are in Canada.

  • Communities Located In Virginia ...
    • Henrico 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 Virginia community of The Ridge [Henrico County].
  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Fayette 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 Alabama community of The Ridge [Fayette County].
      • Greene County
      • This The Ridge is located in Greene County and lies 610 miles [981.7 km]<2> to the west southwest of the The Ridge that is located in Mecklenburg County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Greene County community of The Ridge.
      • Monroe 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 Alabama community of The Ridge [Monroe County].
    • Arkansas
      • Craighead County
      • This The Ridge is located in Craighead County and lies 690 miles [1,110.4 km]<2> to the west of the The Ridge that is located in Mecklenburg County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Craighead County community of The Ridge.
    • California
      • Mendocino County
      • This The Ridge is located in Mendocino County and lies 2,427 miles [3,905.9 km]<2> to the west northwest of the The Ridge that is located in Mecklenburg County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Mendocino County community of The Ridge.
    • Georgia
      • Richmond 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 Georgia community of The Ridge [Richmond County].
    • Kansas
      • Linn 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 Kansas community of The Ridge [Linn County].
      • Woodson 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 Kansas community of The Ridge [Woodson County].
    • Kentucky
      • Elliott County
      • This The Ridge is located in Elliott County and lies 283 miles [455.4 km]<2> to the west northwest of the The Ridge that is located in Mecklenburg County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Elliott County community of The Ridge.
    • Louisiana
      • Bienville Parish
      • This The Ridge is located in Bienville Parish and lies 892 miles [1,435.5 km]<2> to the west southwest of the The Ridge that is located in Mecklenburg County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Bienville Parish community of The Ridge.
      • Lafayette Parish
      • This The Ridge is located in Lafayette Parish and lies 914 miles [1,470.9 km] to the west southwest of the The Ridge that is located in Mecklenburg County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lafayette Parish community of The Ridge.
    • Maine
      • Cumberland 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 Maine community of The Ridge [Cumberland County].
      • Washington County
      • This The Ridge is located in Washington County and lies 816 miles [1,313.2 km]<2> to the northeast of the The Ridge that is located in Mecklenburg County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Washington County community of The Ridge.
    • Maryland
      • Saint Mary's County
      • This The Ridge is located in Saint Mary's County and lies 146 miles [235 km]<2> to the northeast of the The Ridge that is located in Mecklenburg County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saint Mary's County community of The Ridge.
    • Michigan
      • Alger 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 Michigan community of The Ridge [Alger County].
    • Minnesota
      • Koochiching 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 Minnesota community of The Ridge [Koochiching County].
      • Polk 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 Minnesota community of The Ridge [Polk County].
      • Saint Louis County
      • This The Ridge is located in Saint Louis County and lies 1,027 miles [1,652.8 km]<2> to the northwest of the The Ridge that is located in Mecklenburg County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saint Louis County community of The Ridge.
    • Mississippi
      • Chickasaw County
      • This community is historic<3> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Mississippi community of The Ridge [Chickasaw County].
    • Missouri
      • Carroll County
      • Although located in Carroll County, we don't know the location within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Carroll County community of The Ridge.
    • Montana
      • Carter County
      • This The Ridge is located in Carter County and lies 1,499 miles [2,412.4 km]<2> to the west northwest of the The Ridge that is located in Mecklenburg County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Carter County community of The Ridge.
    • Nebraska
      • Thurston 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 Nebraska community of The Ridge [Thurston County].
    • New Brunswick
      • This The Ridge lies 919 miles [1,479 km]<2> to the northeast of the The Ridge that is located in Mecklenburg County.
    • New York
      • Livingston County
      • This The Ridge is located in Livingston County and lies 414 miles [666.3 km]<2> to the north of the The Ridge that is located in Mecklenburg County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Livingston County community of The Ridge.
      • Suffolk County
      • This The Ridge is located in Suffolk County and lies 412 miles [663 km] to the northeast of the The Ridge that is located in Mecklenburg County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Suffolk County community of The Ridge.
    • North Carolina
      • Gaston 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 North Carolina community of The Ridge [Gaston County].
    • Ohio
      • Hancock 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 The Ridge [Hancock County].
      • Noble 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 Ohio community of The Ridge [Noble County].
      • Warren County
      • This community is historic<3> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Ohio community of The Ridge [Warren County].
    • Ontario
      • This The Ridge lies 561 miles [902.8 km]<2> to the north of the The Ridge that is located in Mecklenburg County.
    • Oregon
      • Umatilla 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 Oregon community of The Ridge [Umatilla County].
    • Pennsylvania
      • Bucks 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 Pennsylvania community of The Ridge [Bucks County].
      • Clearfield 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 Pennsylvania community of The Ridge [Clearfield County].
    • South Dakota
      • Spink 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 Dakota community of The Ridge [Spink County].
    • Tennessee
      • Claiborne 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 Tennessee community of The Ridge [Claiborne County].
    • Texas
      • Mills County
      • This The Ridge is located in Mills County and lies 1,220 miles [1,963.4 km]<2> to the west of the The Ridge that is located in Mecklenburg County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Mills County community of The Ridge.
      • Robertson County
      • This The Ridge is located in Robertson County and lies 1,096 miles [1,763.8 km] to the west southwest of the The Ridge that is located in Mecklenburg County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Robertson County community of The Ridge.
    • West Virginia
      • Morgan 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 West Virginia community of The Ridge [Morgan County].
    • Wisconsin
      • Sauk 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 Wisconsin community of The Ridge [Sauk County].
    • Wyoming
      • Carbon 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 Wyoming community of The Ridge [Carbon County].

Curious and Interesting Names Near The Ridge ...

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.

  • Antlers
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Antlers is located in Mecklenburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antlers
  • Baskerville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Baskerville is located in Mecklenburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baskerville
  • Busy Bee Corner
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Busy Bee Corner is located in Mecklenburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busy Bee Corner
  • Cedar Grove
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Cedar Grove is located in Mecklenburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
  • Elamtown
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Elamtown is located in Mecklenburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elamtown
  • Gills
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Gills is located in Mecklenburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gills
  • Gordon Corner
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Gordon Corner is located in Mecklenburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon Corner
  • Greenfield
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Greenfield is located in Mecklenburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
  • Muck Cross
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Muck Cross is located in Mecklenburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muck Cross
  • Redlawn
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Redlawn is located in Mecklenburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redlawn
  • Roberts Ferry
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Roberts Ferry is located in Mecklenburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roberts Ferry
  • Rogers Corner
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Rogers Corner is located in Mecklenburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogers Corner
  • Union Level
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Union Level is located in Mecklenburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Level

How Far From The Ridge to ...

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

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

  • Boydton, which is the Seat of Mecklenburg County, lies just to the West Southwest.
  • Richmond, which is the State Capital of Virginia, lies 77 miles [123.9 km]<2> to the northeast (NE). If you could drive a straight line from The Ridge to Richmond, with an average speed<4>of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, it would take less than two hours to make the trip. A comfortable walk of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour would take 5 days. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take most of three days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 168 miles [270.4 km] to the north northeast (NNE). Driving would take about three hours, a buggy would take 7 days and walking would take 10 days.
  • The shortest distance<5> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,048 miles [9,733.3 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,747 miles [10,858.2 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,626 miles [7,444.8 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 The Ridge 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- The Ridge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 The Ridge, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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 The Ridge 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 The Ridge. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 36.6832, Longitude: -78.3453       In this case, the coordinates for The Ridge have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 308.758 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 304.093 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 306.055 degrees.