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Ridgely, Maryland

Ridgely, Maryland
Town
Downtown Ridgely in March 2015.
Downtown Ridgely in March 2015.
Motto: "Dream City"
Location of Ridgely, Maryland
Location of Ridgely, Maryland
Coordinates: 38°56′42″N 75°53′1″W / 38.94500°N 75.88361°W / 38.94500; -75.88361Coordinates: 38°56′42″N 75°53′1″W / 38.94500°N 75.88361°W / 38.94500; -75.88361
Country  United States
State  Maryland
County Caroline
Area
 • Total 1.78 sq mi (4.61 km2)
 • Land 1.78 sq mi (4.61 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 59 ft (18 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 1,639
 • Estimate (2012) 1,616
 • Density 920.8/sq mi (355.5/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC−5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC−4)
ZIP code 21660
Area code 410
FIPS code 24-66000
GNIS feature ID 0586831
Website Town of Ridgely, Maryland

Ridgely is a town in Caroline County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,639 at the 2010 census.

The town was established on May 13, 1867 by the Maryland and Baltimore Land Association. The land around present day Ridgely was purchased by the Maryland and Baltimore Land Association from Thomas Bell and the Reverend Greenbury W. Ridgely. The town was named after the Rev. Greenbury W. Ridgely.

A railroad boom in the 1860s on the Delmarva Peninsula was fueling land speculation. Civil engineer J.J. Sickler from Philadelphia was commissioned to design the town's layout. The Land Association began construction and built four buildings, including a railroad station, hotel, and two private residences during the first year. James K. Saulsbury constructed a combined store and residence, now known as the Ridgely Ho

During the Land's Association's first year, it went bankrupt; Ridgely was left unfinished and sparsely populated. Most properties were sold at public auction, and Ridgely began to grow gradually as a result of its location on the railroad line now called the Maryland and Delaware.

Ridgely's economy flourished as a result of its flourishing local crop production, including strawberries, huckleberries, vegetables, eggs, and poultry. Most crops were processed in Ridgely or sent to various locations on the railroad. As the nation began to rely on highways instead of railroads for transportation and industry began to concentrate in larger urban areas, Ridgely's economy declined.

Ridgely became known as the "Strawberry Capital of the World" as a result of its prosperous agricultural business. Every May, Ridgely hosts the Strawberry Festival to celebrate its past. A Ridgely Historical Society was created in 2005 for the same purpose.

Ridgely is located at 38°56′42″N 75°53′1″W / 38.94500°N 75.88361°W / 38.94500; -75.88361 (38.944896, -75.883489).


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