Number of inhabitants (1 Jan 2003): 45.877; area: 25,32 km². Settlements:
Ridderkerk (seat), Bolnes, Oostendam, Rijsoord, Slikkerveer.
Ridderkerk was in olden times a lordship (heerlijkheid). The name is
derived from the church, which was the most important one in the Riederwaard,
the Riederkerk. Patron saint of this church was Saint George (Sint Joris).
His image was taken as Coat of Arms of the lordship, later of the municipality.
Source: the Ridderkerk municipal
website.