About – The Town of Ridgeway VA

About Ridgeway

Demographics and History

Demographics

Ridgeway Town Map

Ridgeway Road Map

Ridgeway is a town in Henry County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 census, Ridgeway had a population of 752. Employment Rate 54.8, Total Households 320, Median Household Income 76,875, Total Housing Units 397, Education (Bachelors Degree or Higher) 24.2%, Health (without healthcare coverage) 2.5%.

Ridgeway Through The Years

Excerpts of life in the Town of Ridgeway from years past can be found in a number of historical articles, brought to us by the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society. Visit the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society website, and read a few colorful excerpts below!

August, 1925 - A Delightful Dance

A delightful dance was held at Phospho Lithia Springs in Ridgeway, hosted by Mrs. W.M. Carpenter of Draper, N.C., in honor of Miss Susan Wyson of Charleston, West Virginia, a houseguest of Miss Georgia Griggs of Ridgeway. Couples from Martinsville, Ridgeway, Leaksville and elsewhere tripped the light fantastic until a late hour. Misses Matilda Gravely and Susan Sheffield served punch, and the Martinsville Orchestra performed music. Invited guests included Dr. and Mrs. M.E. Hundley, Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. R.P. Gravely, Mr. and Mrs. R.S. Brown and many more. – Courtesy of Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society

May, 1926 - The History of the Ridgeway Clock

The history of Ridgeway Clocks started exactly 100 years ago when Mr. R.P. Gravely and other local businessmen subscribed to $100,000 in stock to start a company to make furniture in the building in uptown Martinsville that at the time was that of B.F. and R.P. Gravely, being used for the manufacture of pins and brackets, etc., for telegraph and telephone companies. Gravely Furniture Company made household furniture until the early 1960’s when they started manufacturing grandfather clocks. The Martinsville Speedway has been giving a Ridgeway Clock grandfather clock as its race prize since 1964. In 1985, the Gravely Furniture Company was sold to Pulaski Furniture Corporation. In November 2004, Pulaski sold Ridgeway Clock to Howard Miller Clock Company in Zeeland, Michigan. Howard Miller announced they would shut down in 2025. – Courtesy of Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society

May, 1950 - The Ridgeway Sportsmen

A group called Ridgeway Sportsmen Inc. just had formed, and the group was set to begin construction on an 8-acre lake about 3 miles west of Ridgeway. The lake would be made on property on the road leading from Horsepasture to Ridgeway by damming up the headwaters of Marrowbone Creek. Officers of the club were Lloyd Doyle, T.B. Tatum and John Shumate, and they and other members of the board of directors were E.H. Knight, R.R. Young Jr., K.G. Tatum and George V. Conner Sr. The lake was being made for fishing and boating. – Courtesy of Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society

Ridgeway Train Station

The original train station in Ridgeway, Virginia, is no longer standing, as the historic wooden structure burned down several years ago. While it once served as a fully functioning passenger stop in the mid-20th century, there is currently no active train station in the town.

The Ridgeway train station was a simple wooden structure that played a key role in the town’s early 20th-century development.

The Golden Age:During the 1950s, the station was a bustling hub where travelers often dressed in their best attire to board trains.

Destruction:The building was eventually lost to a fire, leaving behind only historical photographs and local memories.

Historical Connection:Ridgeway was a stop for trains like the Norfolk and Western Railway and was situated about a 10-minute drive from the larger station in Martinsville.

Bee City, USA

Ridgeway, Virginia, is a designated “Bee City USA.” As part of this designation, our town has committed to creating and maintaining pollinator-friendly habitats, raising awareness about the importance of bees, and implementing practices that help support their populations.

Planting Pollinator-Friendly Plants: The Town encourages planting native flowering plants that attract and support pollinators like bees. This can include adding more wildflowers, shrubs, and trees to public spaces and gardens, providing bees with the nectar and pollen they need.

Creating Pollinator Habitats: Ridgeway has worked to create more natural spaces for bees to thrive, such as establishing pollinator gardens and habitats around town and are planning on creating more pollinator gardens in the future. These areas help provide safe places for bees to nest and forage.

Reducing Pesticide Use: The Town aims to reduce or eliminate harmful pesticide use in public spaces. Pesticides can be toxic to bees, so using safer alternatives or promoting organic practices can help protect pollinator populations.

Partnering with Local Organizations: Ridgeway collaborates with a local landscaping company who adheres to strict guidelines established by Bee City USA to promote, create and maintain our pollinator habitats. We also receive guidance from local beekeepers and garden clubs.

Ridgeway Pollinator Gardens

Since 2025, the Town of Ridgeway had planted four pollinator gardens. The first two are located on Main Street across from Ace Hardware at the Ridgeway gateway signs. One is a perennial garden and the other is an annual bed. The third garden is a perennial bed located at the inner section of Phosphorus Springs Road and Main Street near the Main Street Market. The fourth garden is a perennial bed at the northwest corner of the Ridgeway library.

In 2025 a perennial shrub bed was planted at the Mayor’s Office near the parking lot and at the inner section of 87 and Main Street.

2026 – A native shrub perennial bed was planted at the Ridgeway Ruritans Club.

Future Gardens:

2027- Perennial shrub bed at the pickleball courts.

2028 – Perennial shrub bed at the 1st Baptist Church.