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 Ridgeway (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 Ridgeway. 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 doctors 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.
Ridgeway is located in Iowa County.
To see how the shape of Wisconsin's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Iowa County: Dane, Grant, Green, Lafayette, Richland & Sauk.
Below are the counties that are near Ridgeway. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ridgeway:
- Iowa County (The home county of Ridgeway)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgeway, with the one closest to Ridgeway listed first.
- Barneveld
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Barneveld is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barneveld
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,252 people
- Hyde
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hyde is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyde
- Pleasant Ridge
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Ridge is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Ridge
- Dodgeville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Dodgeville is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodgeville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,677 people
- Hollandale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Hollandale is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollandale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Helena
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Helena is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
- Arena
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Arena is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 831 people
- Moscow
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Moscow is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Mineral Point
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Mineral Point is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,454 people
- Edmund
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Edmund is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmund
- Cassell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Cassell is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassell
- Linden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Linden is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 523 people
- Dane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgeway, with the one closest to Ridgeway listed first.
- Blue Mounds
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Blue Mounds is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Mounds
- Population from the 2020 Census: 990 people
- Elvers
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Elvers is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elvers
- Mount Horeb
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Mount Horeb is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Horeb
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,563 people
- Black Earth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Black Earth is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Earth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,422 people
- Mazomanie
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mazomanie is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mazomanie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,715 people
- Klevenville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Klevenville is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klevenville
- Cross Plains
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cross Plains is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Plains
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,280 people
- Marxville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Marxville is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marxville
- Verona
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Verona is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verona
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,539 people
- Martinsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Martinsville is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
- Basco
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Basco is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Basco
- Ashton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ashton is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
- Grant County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgeway, with the one closest to Ridgeway listed first.
- Montfort
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Montfort is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montfort
- Population from the 2020 Census: 675 people
- Livingston
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Livingston is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livingston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 632 people
- Muscoda
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Muscoda is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muscoda
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
- Annaton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Annaton is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annaton
- Preston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Preston is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Preston
- Platteville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Platteville is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platteville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 11,650 people
- Green County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgeway, with the one closest to Ridgeway listed first.
- New Glarus
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- New Glarus is located in Green County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Glarus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,136 people
- Monticello
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Monticello is located in Green County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,185 people
- Dayton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Dayton is located in Green County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Browntown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Browntown is located in Green County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browntown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Attica
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Attica is located in Green County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Lafayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgeway, with the one closest to Ridgeway listed first.
- Blanchardville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Blanchardville is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchardville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 788 people
- Calamine
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Calamine is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calamine
- Argyle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Argyle is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 809 people
- Darlington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Darlington is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,317 people
- Wiota
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Wiota is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiota
- Woodford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Woodford is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
- Belmont
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Belmont is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 974 people
- Gratiot
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Gratiot is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gratiot
- Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
- South Wayne
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- South Wayne is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wayne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Elk Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Elk Grove is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Grove
- Richland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgeway, with the one closest to Ridgeway listed first.
- Lone Rock
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lone Rock is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Rock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 835 people
- Bear Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Bear Valley is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Valley
- Sextonville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sextonville is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sextonville
- Aubrey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Aubrey is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aubrey
- Ithaca
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ithaca is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ithaca
- Balmoral
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Balmoral is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balmoral
- Neptune
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Neptune is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neptune
- Richland Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Richland Center is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,949 people
- Sauk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ridgeway, with the one closest to Ridgeway listed first.
- Spring Green
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Spring Green is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Green
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,630 people
- Plain
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Plain is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 765 people
- Witwen
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Witwen is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witwen
- Leland
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Leland is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
- Prairie du Sac village
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Prairie du Sac village is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie du Sac village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,426 people
- Sauk City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Sauk City is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sauk City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,498 people
- Denzer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Denzer is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denzer
- Sandusky
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Sandusky is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Loganville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Loganville is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loganville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 297 people
- Moon Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Moon Valley is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moon Valley
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ridgeway, see our County-by-County Page for Ridgeway.
Cemeteries Near Ridgeway ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ridgeway.
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 Ridgeway - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ridgeway covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ridgeway, with the one closest to Ridgeway listed first.
- Eastside Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. Bridgets Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Jennieton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jennieton Baptist Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rockwell Mills Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ruggles Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Griffith Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Garrison Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- White Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Bethel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Valley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- East Side Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (168 more) ...
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Long Valley Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
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.<1>
While we didn't find Ridgeway in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ridgeway.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ridgeway, with the one closest to Ridgeway listed first.
- Barneveld
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Barneveld is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barneveld
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,252 people
- Dodgeville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Dodgeville is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodgeville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,677 people
- Jonesdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Jonesdale is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesdale
- Hollandale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Hollandale is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollandale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Blue Mounds
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Blue Mounds is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Mounds
- Population from the 2020 Census: 990 people
- Elvers
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Elvers is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elvers
- Wyoming
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wyoming is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming
- Helena
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Helena is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
- Spring Green
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Spring Green is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Green
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,630 people
- Arena
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Arena is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 831 people
- Mineral Point
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Mineral Point is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,454 people
- Yellowstone
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Yellowstone is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellowstone
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Moscow
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Moscow is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Forward
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Forward is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forward
- Mount Horeb
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Mount Horeb is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Horeb
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,563 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ridgeway. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ridgeway.
Newspapers Published in Ridgeway ...
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 166 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ridgeway.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ridgeway, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ridgeway.
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 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 Ridgeway:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Iowa County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dane County
- Grant County
- Green County
- Lafayette County
- Richland County
- Sauk County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Wisconsin
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Ridgeway, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Ridgeway) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |