Ridgeland is a town in Jasper County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 4,036 at the 2010 census, a 60% increase from 2000. It has been the county seat of Jasper County since its formation in 1912. As defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, Ridgeland is included within the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.Ridgeland is home to the Ridgeland Correctional Institution, a medium security prison operated by the South Carolina Department of Corrections.Ridgeland was originally known as Gopher Hill in 1894, derived from the "gopher tortoise," which is indigenous to the area but that name was not considered good enough for a new railroad station so it was changed to Ridgeland in 1902 for the fact the town stands upon the highest hill between Charleston and Savannah.GeographyAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.3 km²), of which 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) is land and 0.41% is water.DemographicsAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,518 people (2,612 in 2004 estimate), 517 households, and 332 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,046.6 people per square mile (403.4/km²). There were 597 housing units at an average density of 248.1 per square mile (95.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 44.64% White, 49.17% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 4.69% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.63% of the population.
