Ridgeway, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Ridgeway is a town in Henry County
, Virginia
, United States
. The population was 775 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Martinsville
Micropolitan Statistical Area
. Ridgeway is also home to Martinsville Speedway
.
, who moved through the area in 1728 on his expedition to survey the dividing line
between Virginia and North Carolina.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 775 people, 310 households, and 221 families residing in the town. The population density
was 825.3 people per square mile (318.3/km²). There were 327 housing units at an average density of 348.2 per square mile (134.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 79.87% White, 16.00% African American, 2.45% Asian, 1.03% from other races
, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.32% of the population.
There were 310 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples
living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,196, and the median income for a family was $39,500. Males had a median income of $27,109 versus $21,146 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,054. About 12.1% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.
Henry County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 57,930 people, 23,910 households, and 16,952 families residing in the county. The population density was 152 people per square mile . There were 25,921 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 775 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Martinsville
Martinsville, Virginia
Martinsville is an independent city which is surrounded by Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 13,821 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Martinsville with Henry County for statistical purposes...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Martinsville micropolitan area
The Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Micropolitan Statistical Area in Virginia, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget as of June, 2003...
. Ridgeway is also home to Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
.
HIstory
Approximately three miles south of Ridgeway in Henry County on U.S. Route 220 is a Virginia State historic marker noting the passing of the surveying party of William Byrd IIWilliam Byrd II
Colonel William Byrd II was a planter, slave-owner and author from Charles City County, Virginia. He is considered the founder of Richmond, Virginia.-Biography:...
, who moved through the area in 1728 on his expedition to survey the dividing line
The History of the Dividing Line
The History of the Dividing Line Betwixt Virginia and North Carolina is an account by William Byrd II of the surveying of the border between the U.S. states of North Carolina and Virginia in 1728...
between Virginia and North Carolina.
Geography
Ridgeway is located at 36°34′45"N 79°51′36"W (36.579148, -79.860078).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 775 people, 310 households, and 221 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 825.3 people per square mile (318.3/km²). There were 327 housing units at an average density of 348.2 per square mile (134.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 79.87% White, 16.00% African American, 2.45% Asian, 1.03% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.32% of the population.
There were 310 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,196, and the median income for a family was $39,500. Males had a median income of $27,109 versus $21,146 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $16,054. About 12.1% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Jimmy HensleyJimmy HensleyJimmy Hensley is a former NASCAR driver. With a career spanning 27 seasons in all three of NASCAR's elite divisions, Hensley may be best remembered for his Rookie of the Year award won in 1992, his 15th season in the series, and for his nine career Busch Series wins. He spent most of his career...
, NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver - Roscoe ReynoldsRoscoe ReynoldsWilliam Roscoe Reynolds is an American politician. A Democrat, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates 1986–97 and was elected to the Senate of Virginia in a December 1996 special election. Prior to his election to the House of Delegates, Reynolds served as Commonwealth's Attorney for...
, State Senator - William F. Lemons, Proprietor