Ringgold, Georgia

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement  | official_name = Ringgold, Georgia | other_name = | native_name =  | nickname = | settlement_type = [[City]] | motto =  | image_skyline = Ringgold City Hall, Ringgold (Catoosa County, Georgia).JPG | imagesize = | image_caption = Ringgold City Hall | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = Seal of Ringgold, Georgia.png | seal_size = 85px | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_blank_emblem = | blank_emblem_type = | blank_emblem_size = | image_map = Catoosa_County_Georgia_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Ringgold_Highlighted.svg | mapsize = 250px | map_caption = Location in [[Catoosa County, Georgia|Catoosa County]] and the state of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | image_dot_map = | dot_mapsize = | dot_map_caption = | dot_x = | dot_y = | pushpin_map =  | pushpin_label_position =  | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_mapsize =  | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]] | subdivision_name1 = Georgia | subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Georgia (U.S. state)|County]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Catoosa County, Georgia|Catoosa]] | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 =  | established_title = Founded | established_date = 1846 | established_title2 = Incorporated (city) | established_date2 = 1847 | named_for = [[Samuel Ringgold (United States Army officer)|Samuel Ringgold]]  | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Kelly Bomar | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_13.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=December 18, 2021}}</ref> | area_total_km2 = 12.99 | area_land_km2 = 12.99 | area_water_km2 = 0.00 | area_total_sq_mi = 5.02 | area_land_sq_mi = 5.02 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.00 | area_water_percent = | area_urban_km2 = | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank1_sq_mi =  | population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]] | population_footnotes = | population_note = | population_total = 3414 | population_density_km2 = 262.76 | population_density_sq_mi = 680.49 | population_metro = | population_density_metro_km2 = | population_density_metro_sq_mi = | population_urban = | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_density_urban_sq_mi = | population_blank1_title = | population_blank1 = | population_density_blank1_km2 = | population_density_blank1_sq_mi=  | timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]] | utc_offset = -5 | timezone_DST = EDT | utc_offset_DST = -4 | coordinates = {{coord|34|55|2|N|85|6|57|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}} | elevation_footnotes =  | elevation_m = 237 | elevation_ft = 778  | postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]] | postal_code = 30736 | area_codes = [[Area codes 706 and 762|706/762]] | blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]] | blank_info = 13-65324<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> | blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID | blank1_info = 0329441<ref name="GR3-u">{{cite gnis|329441|Ringgold|2026-02-24}}</ref> | website = {{URL|https://www.cityofringgoldga.gov/|cityofringgoldga.go}} | footnotes = | pop_est_as_of = | pop_est_footnotes = | population_est = | name = }}

'''Ringgold''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Catoosa County, Georgia]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Its population was 3,414 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1365324| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212181008/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1365324| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Ringgold city, Georgia| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=July 18, 2014}}</ref> It is part of the [[Chattanooga metropolitan area]].

==History== Ringgold was founded in 1846 and incorporated as a city in 1847.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=REtEXQNWq6MC&pg=PA243 | title=Historical Gazetteer of the United States | publisher=Routledge | date=May 13, 2013 | access-date=30 November 2013 | author=Hellmann, Paul T. | pages=243| isbn=978-1135948597 }}</ref> It was named after [[Samuel Ringgold (United States Army officer)|Samuel Ringgold]], a hero of the [[Battle of Palo Alto]] in the [[Mexican–American War]].<ref>{{cite book | url=http://www.kenkrakow.com/gpn/r.pdf| title=Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins | publisher=Winship Press | author=Krakow, Kenneth K. | year=1975 | location=Macon, GA | pages=189 | isbn=0-915430-00-2}}</ref>

Ringgold is where [[The General (locomotive)|''The General'']] locomotive stopped during the [[Great Locomotive Chase]] on April 12, 1862. Ringgold is also home to the historic Ringgold Depot, which still contains bullet marks from the [[American Civil War|Civil War]].

The [[Battle of Ringgold Gap]] took place on November 27, 1863. Confederate Major General [[Patrick Cleburne]] with 4,100 men used the mountain pass known as the Ringgold Gap to stall the advance of Union Major General [[Joseph Hooker]] and his troops. Hooker's troops were over 12,000 strong. It was a [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] victory because it allowed Confederate artillery and wagon trains to move safely through the Ringgold Gap unharmed while inflicting high [[Union Army|Union]] casualties.

The Whitman-Anderson House located in Ringgold is listed in the [[National Register of Historic Places]] (NRHP). From their house, the Whitman family watched the Battle of Ringgold Gap, during which William Whitman's [[general store]] was destroyed. After the Confederates evacuated Ringgold, General Grant requisitioned the Whitman's house as his headquarters. After General Grant moved on, General Sherman ordered the burning of the town of Ringgold, but spared the Whitman house, which remained in the Whitman family until 1902.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://forgottengeorgia2.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-whitman-anderson-house-in-ringgold.html |author=Sarge, Andy |title=Forgotten Georgia: The Whitman-Anderson House in Ringgold |date=14 February 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Whitman-Anderson House, Ringgold, Georgia|website=rs.locationshub.com|url=https://rs.locationshub.com/Home/LocationDetail?rsLocationId=042-10001788}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=9061 | title=The Whitman House Historical Marker, Ringgold, Catoosa County, Georgia|postscript=; erected 1955 by Georgia Histocial Commission (Marker Number 023-10)}}</ref>

[[Dolly Parton]] married her husband, Carl Dean, in Ringgold, in May 1966.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-03-03 |title=Carl Dean, Dolly Parton's husband of nearly 60 years, dies at 82 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/03/entertainment/carl-dean-death-dolly-parton-husband/index.html |access-date=2025-03-03 |work=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

On March 14, 2002, a sudden heavy fog played havoc with morning traffic and contributed to one of the worst traffic pileups in history; 125 vehicles crashed on [[Interstate 75]] North and four people died.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/03/14/highway.wreck/index.html |title=March 14, 2002 pileup on I-75 |access-date=April 26, 2013 |archive-date=September 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100909042318/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/03/14/highway.wreck/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Tornado=== [[File:Ringgold tornado damage.jpg|thumb|Houses in Ringgold destroyed by an EF4 tornado]] {{main|2011 Ringgold–Apison tornado}} On April 27, 2011, an EF4<ref name="EF4">[http://okcstormwatcher.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/ringgold-ga-tornado-confirmed-as-an-ef-4-tornado/ Ringgold, GA Tornado Confirmed as an EF-4 Tornado], The OKCStormWatcher Weather Blog, April 29, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2011.</ref> [[tornado]] touched down in Ringgold and Catoosa County, leaving a path of destruction. The tornado killed twenty people along a {{convert|48|mile}} path across [[Catoosa County, Georgia|Catoosa County]] and over the state line in [[Hamilton County, Tennessee|Hamilton]] and [[Bradley County, Tennessee|Bradley]] counties. Eight died in Ringgold, including an entire family of four,<ref name="Ringgold">[http://www.11alive.com/rss/article/188727/3/LIVE-VIDEO-At-least-11-killed-in-GA-deadly-storms Ringgold residents return to 'utter devastation' from tornadoes] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130101183902/http://www.11alive.com/rss/article/188727/3/LIVE-VIDEO-At-least-11-killed-in-GA-deadly-storms |date=2013-01-01 }}, [[WXIA-TV]], April 29, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2011.</ref> and at least thirty others were injured. Many homes, businesses, and schools were damaged or destroyed.<ref>[http://daltondailycitizen.com/local/x58991204/Ringgold-devastated-after-tornado-touchdown Ringgold devastated after tornado touchdown] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120707190019/http://daltondailycitizen.com/local/x58991204/Ringgold-devastated-after-tornado-touchdown |date=July 7, 2012 }}, ''[[Dalton Daily Citizen]]'', April 29, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2011.</ref>

==Geography== Ringgold is located near the center of Catoosa County at {{coord|34|55|2|N|85|6|57|W|type:city}} (34.917170, -85.115698).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> U.S. Routes [[U.S. Route 41 in Georgia|41]] and [[U.S. Route 76 (Georgia)|76]] pass through the center of town as Nashville Street, leading northwest {{convert|17|mi}} to downtown [[Chattanooga, Tennessee]], and southeast {{convert|15|mi}} to [[Dalton, Georgia]]. [[Interstate 75]] passes through the southern part of the city with access from 348; the highway leads northwest to Chattanooga and southeast {{convert|101|mi}} to [[Atlanta]].

[[File:Ringgold Exit.jpg|thumb|Ringgold, Georgia Exit]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|12.3|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.01|km2|order=flip|3}}, or 0.11%, is covered by water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

===Topography=== Ringgold is situated in the [[Valley and Ridge]] geologic province of the [[Appalachian Mountains]], characterized by long north-northeasterly trending ridges separated by valleys. The topography was formed by the erosion of alternating layers of hard and soft sedimentary rock that were folded and faulted during the building of the Appalachians.<ref>[http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-1163&hl=y Valley and Ridge geologic province], ''[[New Georgia Encyclopedia]]'', retrieved Nov. 8, 2011.</ref> [[Taylor Ridge (Georgia)|Taylor Ridge]] runs through Ringgold; a gap in the ridge is located just east of the city center, with the part of the ridge running to the south called Taylors Ridge and to the north called White Oak Mountain. South [[Chickamauga Creek]], a tributary of the [[Tennessee River]], runs through Ringgold.

===Climate=== The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], Ringgold has a [[humid subtropical climate]],''Cfa'' on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=984790&cityname=Ringgold%2C+Georgia%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Ringgold, Georgia]</ref>

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1870= 316 |1880= 436 |1890= 465 |1900= 437 |1910= 398 |1920= 472 |1930= 684 |1940= 882 |1950= 1192 |1960= 1311 |1970= 1381 |1980= 1882 |1990= 1675 |2000= 2422 |2010= 3580 |2020= 3414 |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref> | align = right | align-fn = center }}

===2020 census=== {| class="wikitable" |+Ringgold racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US1365324&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-17|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> !Race !Num. !Perc. |- |White (non-Hispanic) |2,799 |81.99% |- |Black or African American (non-Hispanic) |177 |5.18% |- |Native American |14 |0.41% |- |Asian |56 |1.64% |- |Pacific Islander |6 |0.18% |- |Other/mixed |211 |6.18% |- |Hispanic or Latino |151 |4.42% |} As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], Ringgold had a population of 3,414.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=place%3A65324&in=state%3A13|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> The median age was 39.1 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 81.9 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=place%3A65324&in=state%3A13|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

99.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.2% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=place%3A65324&in=state%3A13|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 1,515 households in Ringgold, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 36.0% were married-couple households, 18.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 40.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 1,598 housing units, of which 5.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.0%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2000 census=== At the 2000 [[census]],<ref name="GR2" /> 2,422 people, 1,033 households and 644 families were residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|617.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 1,116 housing units had an average density of {{convert|284.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 91.33% White, 6.32% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.58% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.82% of the population.

Of the 1,033 households, 30.3% had children under18 living with them, 41.6% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were not families. About 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.85.

The city's age distribution was 23.9% under 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The [[median household income]] was $26,834 and the median family income was $35,132. Males had a median income of $26,943 compared with $21,074 for females. The [[per capita income]] was $15,612. About 14.5% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 26.1% of those under 18 and 6.4% of those 65 or over. ==Education== ===Catoosa County Public Schools=== The [[Catoosa County Public Schools]] educates students from preschool to grade 12. As of 2010, the district had 10 elementary schools, three middle schools, and three high schools,<ref>[http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ReportingFW.aspx?PageReq=111&PID=62&PTID=69&CountyId=623&T=0&FY=2009 Georgia Board of Education]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Retrieved June 2, 2010.</ref> with 606 full-time teachers and over 9,809 students.<ref>[http://www.school-stats.com/GA/CATOOSA/CATOOSA_COUNTY.html School Stats] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716015122/http://www.school-stats.com/GA/CATOOSA/CATOOSA_COUNTY.html |date=July 16, 2011 }}, Retrieved June 2, 2010.</ref>

[[Ringgold High School (Georgia)|Ringgold High School]] is the zoned high school.

In 1954, the Ringgold Elementary School was destroyed in a fire.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gibson|first=Springer|title=745 Pupils Escape Flames As Ringgold School Burns|newspaper=[[Chattanooga Daily Times]]|place=[[Chattanooga, Tennessee]]|date=1954-03-30|pages=1, 9}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106643506/ Clipping of first] and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106643474/ of second page] at [[Newspapers.com]].</ref>

==Notable people== * [[Logan Baldwin]], professional baseball player *[[Edgar William Brown|Edgar William Brown Sr.]] (1859–1917) physician turned successful businessman in Texas lumber and oil industry, born in Ringgold * [[Austin Davis (American football)|Austin Davis]], professional football player, coach, born in Ringgold * [[David Dreyer]], American politician * [[Stacey Evans]], American politician * [[Randall Franks]] American film and TV actor, entertainer, author<ref>{{Cite web|title=Local entertainer reunites with "In the Heat of the Night" cast for homecoming|url=https://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/catwalkchatt/lifestyles/local_a_e/local-entertainer-reunites-with-in-the-heat-of-the-night-cast-for-homecoming/article_484c128a-79a0-11e5-8203-bff1bd764e07.html|access-date=2021-09-23|website=Northwest Georgia News|date=25 October 2015 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ringgold's Randall Franks inducted into America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame|url=https://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/catoosa_walker_news/lifestyles/local_a_e/ringgold-s-randall-franks-inducted-into-america-s-old-time-country-music-hall-of-fame/article_f907c074-ee95-11e9-9090-0f93b23fff32.html|access-date=2021-09-23|website=Northwest Georgia News|date=14 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=American Actor/Entertainer Randall Franks enjoys keeping cameras rolling in his home state|date=18 December 2019 |url=https://georgiaentertainmentnews.com/2019/12/american-actor-entertainer-randall-franks-enjoys-keeping-cameras-rolling-in-his-home-state/|access-date=2021-09-23|language=en-US}}</ref> * [[Roy Hawes]] (1926–2017), professional baseball player, died in Ringgold * [[Dewayne Hill]], American politician * [[Hugh Hill (baseball)|Hugh Hill]], (1879–1958), professional baseball player, born in Ringgold * [[Barbara Leigh]] (born 1946), actress, born in Ringgold * [[McCracken Poston]], attorney, author, politician * [[O. Wayne Rollins]] (1912–1991), co-founder of [[Rollins, Inc.]]<ref name="Pifer2001">{{cite book|author=Drury L. Pifer|title=Hanging the Moon: The Rollins Rise to Riches|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TqG8sh3yNiIC&pg=PA64|access-date=27 August 2015|year=2001|publisher=University of Delaware Press|isbn=978-0-87413-744-6|page=65}}</ref> * [[Cole Wilcox]], professional baseball player, [[Heritage High School (Ringgold, Georgia)|Heritage High School]] alumnus

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *[http://www.cityofringgoldga.gov/ City of Ringgold official website] *[http://ngeorgia.com/history/ringgold.html "Ringgold Gap; A Civil War Battle"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105053705/http://www.ngeorgia.com/history/ringgold.html |date=January 5, 2009 }}, at About North Georgia website

[[Category:Cities in Georgia (U.S. state)]] [[Category:Cities in Catoosa County, Georgia]] [[Category:County seats in Georgia (U.S. state)]] [[Category:Chattanooga metropolitan area]] [[Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1846]] [[Category:1847 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]] [[Category:Chattanooga metropolitan area county seats]]