Ridgeway (town), Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Ridgeway is a town in Iowa County
, Wisconsin
, United States
. The population was 581 at the 2000 census. The Village of Ridgeway
is located within the town. The unincorporated community of Hyde
is also located in the town.
, the town has a total area of 42.7 square miles (110.6 km²), of which, 42.7 square miles (110.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.07%) is water.
of 2000, there were 581 people, 211 households, and 166 families residing in the town. The population density
was 13.6 people per square mile (5.3/km²). There were 237 housing units at an average density of 5.6 per square mile (2.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.80% White, 0.17% Black or African American
, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.17% from other races
, and 0.52% from two or more races. 0.34% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 211 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.7% were married couples
living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,938, and the median income for a family was $54,500. Males had a median income of $35,455 versus $27,344 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,419. About 8.4% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 19.2% of those age 65 or over.
." The Ridgeway Phantom has even reportedly killed someone, which is rare for ghost stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society points to an article in the New York Times, dated December 7, 1902. The stories number in the hundreds and include haunted houses, and even werewolf sightings.
Iowa County, Wisconsin
Iowa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 22,780. Its county seat and largest city is Dodgeville.Iowa County is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 581 at the 2000 census. The Village of Ridgeway
Ridgeway, Wisconsin
Ridgeway is a village in Iowa County, Wisconsin, United States. It is the fourth most populous community in Iowa County. The population was 689 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Ridgeway...
is located within the town. The unincorporated community of Hyde
Hyde, Wisconsin
Hyde is an unincorporated community located in the town of Ridgeway, Iowa County, Wisconsin, United States. Hyde is located on County Highway H north of the village of Ridgeway....
is also located in the town.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 42.7 square miles (110.6 km²), of which, 42.7 square miles (110.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.07%) is water.
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 581 people, 211 households, and 166 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 13.6 people per square mile (5.3/km²). There were 237 housing units at an average density of 5.6 per square mile (2.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.80% White, 0.17% Black or African American
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...
, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.17% 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 0.52% from two or more races. 0.34% of the population were Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race.
There were 211 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.7% 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, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,938, and the median income for a family was $54,500. Males had a median income of $35,455 versus $27,344 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 $18,419. About 8.4% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 19.2% of those age 65 or over.
History
Ridgeway is also very well known for its ghost stories. From the 1840s to as late as the 1990s there have been many reportings of the "Ridgeway GhostRidgeway Ghost
-Legend:According to legend, the Ridgeway Ghost is not only a ghost, but a “phantom that could change its appearance at will.”Anecdotes include people claiming to have seen the ghost of a man with a whip, walking with them or chasing them,domestic animals such as dogs, sheep or other farm animals,...
." The Ridgeway Phantom has even reportedly killed someone, which is rare for ghost stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society points to an article in the New York Times, dated December 7, 1902. The stories number in the hundreds and include haunted houses, and even werewolf sightings.