Dry Ridge

History

The community now known as Dry Ridge was settled about 1792 as "Campbell's Station" near a spring said to have medicinal qualities. A post office called "Dry Ridge" was established in 1815 at an inn. Dry Ridge takes its name from a ridge surrounded by inns where travelers stopped for water before proceeding. In 1909, the city was incorporated, the last incorporated in Grant County. That same year, a creamery company found mineral water which was believed to have medical properties. During the early part of the 20th century, Dry Ridge was the home of Kentucky Carlsbad Mineral Water Bottling Company, and home of the Carlsbad Hotel completed in 1911. People came to Dry Ridge from all over the eastern United States to take the mineral water of what was known as the Kentucky Carlsbad Springs, although it was not a spring, but a well. In 1937, a water distribution system was created with water from Williamstown, Kentucky's lake.

Geography

Dry Ridge is located north of the center of Grant County. It is bordered to the south by the city of Williamstown, the county seat. Interstate 75 passes through Dry Ridge, with access from Exit 159. I-75 leads north to Cincinnati and south to Lexington. U.S. Route 25 (Main Street) runs through the center of Dry Ridge, leading north to Crittenden and south to the center of Williamstown. According to the United States Census Bureau, Dry Ridge has a total area of , of which , or 0.72%, is water.

Most-observed species

• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  794
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  564
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  541
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  506
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  458
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  418
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  376
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  372

Largest nearby schools

• Grant County High School
  High · Dry Ridge · 1,078 students · 20.3:1 ratio
• Grant County Middle School
  Middle · Dry Ridge · 807 students · 17.9:1 ratio
• Crittenden-Mt. Zion Elementary
  Elementary · Dry Ridge · 433 students · 14:1 ratio
• Sherman Elementary
  Elementary · Dry Ridge · 433 students · 15.5:1 ratio
• Dry Ridge Elementary
  Elementary · Dry Ridge · 421 students · 14:1 ratio
• Williamstown Elementary
  Elementary · Williamstown · 385 students · 15.4:1 ratio
• Mason-Corinth Elementary
  Elementary · Williamstown · 285 students · 16.8:1 ratio
• Williamstown Sr. High
  High · Williamstown · 227 students · 13.4:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.51 — 2024-01-28
  3 km SW of Old Washington, Kentucky
• M 3.04 — 2021-12-12
  2 km E of Manchester, Ohio
• M 2.78 — 2017-12-17
  6 km ENE of Germantown, Kentucky
• M 2.62 — 2017-11-24
  5 km NNW of High Bridge, Kentucky
• M 2.78 — 2015-10-06
  9 km NNW of Shelbyville, Kentucky
• M 2.82 — 2015-08-20
  6 km SE of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky