U.S. Route 301 runs through the east side of Ridge Manor, leading north 12 miles (19 km) to Bushnell and south 10 miles (16 km) to Dade City. U.S. Route 98 crosses the western side of Ridge Manor, leading west 13 miles (21 km) to Brooksville, the Hernando County seat, and south 10 miles to Dade City. Florida State Road 50 runs across the northern part of Ridge Manor, connecting US 98 and 301. SR 50 leads east 20 miles (32 km) to Mascotte and west with US 98 to Brooksville. Interstate 75 is 3 miles (5 km) west of Ridge Manor, with access via US 98 / SR 50. A portion of Ridge Manor along US 98 / SR 50 in the vicinity the Withlacoochee State Trail (originally the South Florida RailroadPemberton Ferry Branch) was the location of the ghost town of Rital.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 9.0 square miles (23.4 km2), of which 8.6 square miles (22.4 km2) are land and 0.42 square miles (1.1 km2), or 4.55%, are water.[4]
Ridge Manor Community Park, located off Ridge Manor Boulevard, has baseball fields used for Little League.
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 4,108 people, 1,712 households, and 1,225 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 471.2 inhabitants per square mile (181.9/km2). There were 2,099 housing units at an average density of 240.8 per square mile (93.0/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.52% White, 1.85% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 1.07% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.87% of the population.
There were 1,712 households, out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 21.4% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 23.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $30,875, and the median income for a family was $33,724. Males had a median income of $30,421 versus $24,492 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,722. About 9.9% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
