Ridout, Texas: A Historic Map Marker on the Wilson County Plains

Ridout is a historic locality in Wilson County, Texas, situated on the South Texas Plains southeast of San Antonio. Today, it is considered a former or historic community, with its name surviving mainly through geographic databases and historical maps rather than as an active settlement.

Location and Geography

Ridout is cataloged by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) as a populated place, although it is no longer an inhabited community. Its coordinates are approximately 29.08247° N, −98.14140° W, and it sits at an elevation of about 390 feet (119 meters) above sea level.

The area lies within Wilson County, a rural county bordered by Bexar County (home to San Antonio) to the northwest. The nearest larger towns include Floresville (the county seat), Poth, and La Vernia, all of which serve as regional hubs for residents of surrounding rural areas.

Historical Presence

Ridout does not appear to have developed into a formal town. Available records do not indicate the existence of a post office, businesses, or other civic infrastructure that would typically define an organized community. Instead, Ridout was likely a rural locality recognized by name for mapping purposes.

The community’s presence is confirmed on historical U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps dating from the mid-20th century. These maps show Ridout as a named site, though not as a developed settlement.

Modern geographic references such as RoadsideThoughts and Texas Hometown Locator classify Ridout as historic, meaning it is no longer functioning as an active community. No population data is available in census records, which suggests it was always very small or informal.

Present Status

Today, Ridout no longer functions as a settlement. There are no documented remaining structures, and its recognition comes primarily from archival sources, geographic databases, and historic map overlays.

Researchers, map collectors, and local historians sometimes consult these maps to trace the history of Wilson County’s rural localities. Ridout remains part of the record as a named place that once existed in the countryside but did not survive as a lasting town.

Key Facts

• Type: Historic locality (formerly classified as a populated place).

• County: Wilson County, Texas.

• Coordinates: 29.08247° N, −98.14140° W.

• Elevation: 390 ft (119 m).

• Status: No longer an active community; preserved mainly in GNIS, USGS maps, and historical references.