Ridgedale, Hampshire County, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Ridgedale is an unincorporated area in Hampshire County
in the U.S. state
of West Virginia
. It is located within a horsehoe bend in the South Branch Potomac River between the communities of Blues Beach
and Wappocomo
. Ridgedale is named for the recently restored 1835 plantation
built by George W. Washington (a distant relative of George Washington
), also known as Washington Bottom Farm. Washington's plantation obtained its name due to its location at the foot of Mill Creek Ridge
at its northernmost extent. Ridgedale is located off the South Branch Valley Railroad
and is accessible from West Virginia Route 28 by way of Washington Road (West Virginia Secondary Route 28/3). Ridgedale once had a post office
and a school in operation there. Today, Ridgedale consists of the old Washington farm and a number of summer camps, cabins, and vacation homes on the South Branch.
Hampshire County, West Virginia
Hampshire County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,964. Its county seat is Romney, West Virginia's oldest town . Hampshire County was created by the Virginia General Assembly on December 13, 1753, from parts of Frederick and Augusta counties ...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. It is located within a horsehoe bend in the South Branch Potomac River between the communities of Blues Beach
Blues Beach, West Virginia
Blue Beach is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Blue Beach is a predominantly river camp community located south of Springfield and north of Wappocomo on West Virginia Route 28 along the South Branch Potomac River...
and Wappocomo
Wappocomo, West Virginia
Wappocomo is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The community is located south of Springfield on West Virginia Route 28 at Hanging Rocks along the South Branch Potomac River...
. Ridgedale is named for the recently restored 1835 plantation
Washington Bottom Farm
Washington Bottom Farm is a 19th century Greek Revival plantation house and farm on a plateau overlooking the South Branch Potomac River north of Romney, West Virginia, United States. The populated area adjacent to Washington Bottom Farm is known as Ridgedale...
built by George W. Washington (a distant relative of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
), also known as Washington Bottom Farm. Washington's plantation obtained its name due to its location at the foot of Mill Creek Ridge
Mill Creek Mountain
Mill Creek Mountain is a continuous mountain ridge that runs northeast through Hampshire and Hardy counties in the Eastern Panhandle region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. Rising to its greatest elevation of 2,648 feet above sea-level at High Knob, Mill Creek is a folded mountain ridge,...
at its northernmost extent. Ridgedale is located off the South Branch Valley Railroad
South Branch Valley Railroad
The South Branch Valley Railroad consists of a 52.4 mile length of railroad in the U.S. state of West Virginia extending north along the South Branch Potomac River from Petersburg to the CSXT mainline at Green Spring adjacent to the Potomac River...
and is accessible from West Virginia Route 28 by way of Washington Road (West Virginia Secondary Route 28/3). Ridgedale once had a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
and a school in operation there. Today, Ridgedale consists of the old Washington farm and a number of summer camps, cabins, and vacation homes on the South Branch.