Villa Ridge is an
unincorporated community
An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...
in
Pulaski County,
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
, United States. Villa Ridge has a post office with
ZIP code 62996.
The town is located north of
Mounds
A mound is an artificial heap or pile, especially of earth, rocks, or sand.
Mound and Mounds may also refer to:
Places
* Mound, Louisiana, United States
* Mound, Minnesota, United States
* Mound, Texas, United States
* Mound, West Virginia
* Moun ...
and was established in 1852 by the
Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, was a railroad in the Central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois, with New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama. A line also co ...
. An active rail line still runs through the town.
A post office was established in 1853 and named "Valley Forge"; it was changed to Villa Ridge in 1861. The present name is after a farm of the same name near the original town site.
Notable persons
* Villa Ridge is the birthplace of
John Morton Eshleman
John Morton Eshleman (June 14, 1876 – February 28, 1916) was an American lawyer and politician from California. He was Lieutenant Governor of California from 1915 to 1916.
A native of the Midwest, Eshleman was born in Villa Ridge, Illin ...
, who served as Lieutenant Governor of California during 1915 and 1916.
*
Laura Jacinta Rittenhouse was buried at Cairo City Cemetery (1911).
References
Unincorporated communities in Pulaski County, Illinois
Unincorporated communities in Illinois
{{PulaskiCountyIL-geo-stub