Gopher Tortoise Square

Prior to the 1890's, the town of Ridgeland was known as Gopher Hill, getting that name from the abundance of Gopher Tortoises that inhabited the sand hills of the area.<i><b>Gopherus Polyphemus,</b></i> commonly called the Gopher Tortoise, are long lived herbivores, typically living 40 to 60 years. They spend much of that life in the deep burrows that they dig. While they still can be found in the rural areas of Jasper County, they are no longer abundant and are now a protected endangered species.