Ridgeland dates to 1805, and 2 of its places are on the National Register
More historic than 45% of U.S. towns · #55 of 100 in Mississippi. What drives it
Most of Ridgeland was built recently: 1% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1991. Its Register listings are the Old Natchez Trace (170-30) and the Natchez Trace, Old, and Choctaw Agency Site. Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1905 on, and the census since 1910.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1897.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Ridgeland’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Ridgeland is more historic than 45% of U.S. towns, #55 of 100 in Mississippi. Its age holds the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
C+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Ridgeland’s overall grade.
Mississippi towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Mississippi town has 71.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Ridgeland’s 0.8 sits near the middle of its state (40% of Mississippi towns have fewer) while its 2 listings outnumber those of 60% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1805.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C− to B+. The pre-1940 share (±1.0 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Ridgeland’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
In 1805, the Choctaw Indian Agency, headed by Silas Dinsmoor, was located in what is now Ridgeland. The structure was then called "Turner Brashear's Stand" until about 1850. It was adapted for use as a hotel named the King's Inn. During the American Civil War, General Stephen Lee used the inn as a headquarters. The hotel continued to operate until 1896, when it was destroyed by fire.
In 1805, according to Wikidata. Ridgeland’s post office opened in 1897, and the census of 1910 counted 158 people here.
How does Ridgeland rank for history?
Ridgeland is more historic than 45% of U.S. towns, #55 of 100 in Mississippi. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Ridgeland?
Two places: the Old Natchez Trace (170-30) (listed 1976) and the Natchez Trace, Old, and Choctaw Agency Site (1995).
How old are the homes in Ridgeland?
1% of Ridgeland’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±1.0 points), against a typical 4.5% for a Mississippi town; the median home was built in 1991.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (6), the National Register of Historic Places (2), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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