Ridgeland, South Carolina

Ridgeland, South Carolina
Town
The Ridgeland Street Clock
The Ridgeland Street Clock
Official seal of Ridgeland, South Carolina
Seal
Location of Ridgeland, South Carolina
Location of Ridgeland, South Carolina
Coordinates: 32°29′11″N 80°58′48″W / 32.48639°N 80.98000°W / 32.48639; -80.98000
CountryUnited States
StateSouth Carolina
CountiesJasper, Beaufort
Government
 • MayorJoseph Malphrus
Area
[1]
 • Total
48.81 sq mi (126.41 km2)
 • Land48.34 sq mi (125.20 km2)
 • Water0.47 sq mi (1.21 km2)
Elevation
56 ft (17 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total
3,758
 • Density77.74/sq mi (30.02/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
29912, 29936
Area code(s)843, 854
FIPS code45-60280[3]
GNIS feature ID1250384[4]
Websitewww.ridgelandsc.gov

Ridgeland is a town in Jasper and Beaufort counties, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,749 at the 2020 census,[5] a 7.1% decrease from 2010. It has been the county seat of Jasper County[6] since the county's formation in 1912. As defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, Ridgeland is included within the Hilton Head Island–Bluffton metropolitan area.

Ridgeland is home to the Ridgeland Correctional Institution, a medium-security prison operated by the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

Ridgeland was originally known as "Gopher Hill" in 1894, derived from the gopher tortoise, which is indigenous to the area. The name was not considered good enough for a new railroad station, so it was changed to "Ridgeland" in 1902 by the station ticket master, Frederick Henry Ingram, for the fact that the town stands on a sandy ridge that is some of the highest land in Jasper County.[7]

  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Ridgeland town, South Carolina". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  6. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  7. ^ Federal Writers' Project (1938). The Ocean Highway: New Brunswick, New Jersey to Jacksonville, Florida. Works Progress Administration. p. 139.