Townapedia
Ridgway PA from Country Club Apr 10
Ridgway PA from Country Club Apr 10 · Pubdog ( talk ), Public domain
PA 120 wb at Osterhout Street, Ridgway, Aug. 2024
PA 120 wb at Osterhout Street, Ridgway, Aug. 2024 · Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact..., CC BY-SA 4.0
Ridgway, PA train station, Aug. 2024
Ridgway, PA train station, Aug. 2024 · Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact..., CC BY-SA 4.0
North Broad Street, Ridgway, Pennsylvania - 20201108
North Broad Street, Ridgway, Pennsylvania - 20201108 · Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Flickr - Nicholas T - Borough of Ridgway
Flickr - Nicholas T - Borough of Ridgway · Nicholas A. Tonelli from Pennsylvania, USA, CC BY 2.0
Truck US 219 nb, Ridgway, PA (2), Aug. 2024
Truck US 219 nb, Ridgway, PA (2), Aug. 2024 · Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact..., CC BY-SA 4.0

Ridgway, Pennsylvania

Ridgway is a borough of 3,969 people in Elk County, Pennsylvania, founded in 1824.

Loading the weather...
Population3,969 +4.1% since 2019
CountyElk County
Elevation1,424 ft 434 m
Founded1824
Land area2.6 sq mi
ZIP code15853
Nearest airportSaint Marys Municipal Airport (STQ) 12 mi

Why visit Ridgway

Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 2 parks and trails and 4 places to eat in and around town.

Highlights include Bonifels and O.B. Grant House.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 81°F; January lows average 16°F, and about 53 inches of snow fall in a normal year.

About Ridgway

Ridgway is a borough in and the county seat of Elk County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 4,039

From the Wikipedia article Ridgway, Pennsylvania (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Museums and landmarks6

Bonifels

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi

Historic house in Pennsylvania, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

O.B. Grant House

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi

Historic house in Pennsylvania, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Ridgway Armory

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi

Arsenal in Pennsylvania, United States of America

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Ridgway Historic District

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi

Historic district in Pennsylvania, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Elk County Council On the Arts

Museum · 0.7 mi

237 Main Street

Open in Google Maps

Elk County Historical Society

Monument and historic site · 0.8 mi

109 Center Street, Ridgway

Open in Google Maps

Parks, trails and playgrounds2

O.B. Grant Park

Park · 1.2 mi

Open in Google Maps

Olson Park

Park · 1.0 mi

Open in Google Maps

Restaurants and cafes4

Fox's Pizza Den

Restaurant · Pizza · 0.5 mi

144 North Broad Street, Ridgway

Mo-Th 10:30-20:00; Fr-Sa 10:30-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-814-776-2189

Joey's Bakery

Restaurant · 0.8 mi

204 Main Street, Ridgway

Su 07:00-13:00; Mo 05:30-13:00; Tu-Fr 05:30-14:00; Sa 06:00-13:00

Open in Google Maps · +18147734012

The Brew Bank Brewing Company

Restaurant · 0.7 mi

255 Main Street, Ridgway

Su 11:00-19:00; Tu-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +18149030022

Wilderness Trail

Restaurant · 0.8 mi

102 Main Street, Ridgway

Mo-Su 11:00-24:00

Open in Google Maps · +18149030076

Advertisement

Churches and places of worship4

First Presbyterian Church

Church · Presbyterian · 0.8 mi

119 Center Street, Ridgway

Open in Google Maps

St Leo's Catholic Church

Church · Roman Catholic · 0.6 mi

111 Depot Street, Ridgway

Open in Google Maps

Grace Episcopal Church

Church · Anglican · 0.8 mi

Open in Google Maps

St leo's RC church

Church · Roman Catholic · 0.6 mi

Open in Google Maps

History

Ridgway was founded by Philadelphian shipping merchant Jacob Ridgway and James Gillis. Jacob Ridgway earned substantial wealth both in Philadelphia and abroad in London. He constantly sent sums of money back to be invested in property. In the early 19th century as part of a larger land purchase, Ridgway acquired 40,000 acres (160 km2) that became Elk County. One of Jacob Ridgway's nephews by marriage, James Gillis, convinced Ridgway that the area could become a very lucrative spot for a lumber camp due to the proximity of Elk Creek and the Clarion River, a tributary of the Allegheny River. Coal and natural gas abound in the district. In the past, the industrial interests were manufacturing leather, iron, clay, and lumber products, silk goods, railroad snow plows, dynamos, and machine tools. In 1900, the people living here numbered 3,515; in 1910, 5,408; in 1940, 6,253, and in 2010, 4,078.

Many historic structures are located within the boundaries of the Ridgway Historic District, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. The O.B. Grant House and Ridgway Armory are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The lumber industry continued to flourish in Ridgway, to the degree that around the start of the 20th century, the town claimed it had more millionaires per capita than any other town in the U.S.

From the History section of Ridgway, Pennsylvania on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Shopping1

Gas and EV charging2

Advertisement

Schools, colleges and libraries9

Map of Ridgway

28 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

20°40°60°80°January: 3.4 in of rainFebruary: 2.7 in of rainMarch: 3.4 in of rainApril: 3.9 in of rainMay: 4.3 in of rainJune: 4.6 in of rainJuly: 4.6 in of rainAugust: 3.9 in of rainSeptember: 4.0 in of rainOctober: 3.8 in of rainNovember: 3.5 in of rainDecember: 3.5 in of rainJanuary: 34°FFebruary: 36°FMarch: 45°FApril: 59°FMay: 70°FJune: 77°FJuly: 81°FAugust: 80°FSeptember: 74°FOctober: 62°FNovember: 49°FDecember: 38°FJanuary: 16°FFebruary: 16°FMarch: 23°FApril: 33°FMay: 43°FJune: 52°FJuly: 56°FAugust: 55°FSeptember: 49°FOctober: 38°FNovember: 30°FDecember: 23°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan34°F16°F3.4 in15.3 in
Feb36°F16°F2.7 in12.5 in
Mar45°F23°F3.4 in7.5 in
Apr59°F33°F3.9 in1.5 in
May70°F43°F4.3 in0.0 in
Jun77°F52°F4.6 in0.0 in
Jul81°F56°F4.6 in0.0 in
Aug80°F55°F3.9 in0.0 in
Sep74°F49°F4.0 in0.0 in
Oct62°F38°F3.8 in0.4 in
Nov49°F30°F3.5 in3.2 in
Dec38°F23°F3.5 in12.3 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Ridgway Hcn (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$52,863median household income
$94,900median home value
$744median monthly rent
46.0median age
24.5%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
71.7%of homes are owner-occupied
19.7 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1822%18 to 3414%35 to 6445%65 and over19%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Elk County has had 7 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.

  • 2024-09-11: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
  • 2020-03-30: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
  • 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
  • 2012-10-29: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
  • 2005-09-10: Hurricane Katrina (Hurricane)
  • 2004-09-19: Tropical Depression Ivan (Hurricane)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Saint Marys Municipal Airport (STQ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 12 miles away.

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

Loading what members have shared...

Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.