Ridgeway at a glance
- Population: about 314 residents, ranking 748th of 924 Census places in Ohio (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 318 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 1.3% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Ohio places: the 748th-largest of 924 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 19% of the Census places in Ohio (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 40.5122, -83.5691 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Mount Victory, OH (3 mi); Rushsylvania, OH (6 mi); West Mansfield, OH (8 mi); Belle Center, OH (9 mi); Kenton, OH (9 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller towns nearby: Zanesfield, OH (13 mi); Valley Hi, OH (15 mi); Marseilles, OH (16 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Ridgeway
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Ohio lending rules that apply in Ridgeway
Each row below is a Ohio rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed short-term lenders; interest capped at 28% per annum; total fees and charges capped at 60% of the originally contracted loan amount. Source says: "(A) Interest not exceeding a rate of twenty-eight per cent per annum" (Ohio Rev. Code 1321.40); total fees/charges capped at "a total amount of fees and charges that exceeds sixty per cent of the originally contracted loan amount" (1321.403). | Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance licenses required for non-depository lenders, including Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, short-term lenders, and small loan lenders. Source says: "We issue and manage licenses for companies and individuals under multiple Ohio statutes." (page's regulated-statutes list names Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, Short-term lenders, Small loan lenders). | Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions (Consumer Finance Section). Source says: "The Consumer Finance Section is responsible for regulating non-depository consumer lenders and related consumer finance businesses." | Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 8% per annum maximum by written agreement for the general case; higher rates permitted only in specified cases (e.g., principal over $100,000, business loans, certain mortgages). Source says: "may stipulate therein for the payment of interest upon the amount thereof at any rate not exceeding eight per cent per annum payable annually" (Ohio Rev. Code 1343.01(A)). [codes.ohio.gov content retrieved via search-engine fetch of the official section; direct connections blocked from our network] | Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Ridgeway
A few practical steps will make the process in Ridgeway less costly:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Ohio using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.