1950s: Steve and Gayle Henson create the original recipe for ranch dressing while living on a ranch in Santa Barbara, California.
1954: The Hensons open the Hidden Valley Guest Ranch, where they serve their homemade ranch dressing to guests. They also start selling packets of the dressing's dry mix.
1972: Clorox Company acquires the Hidden Valley Ranch brand and works on developing a bottled version of the dressing for wider distribution.
1983: Ranch dressing becomes the best-selling salad dressing in the United States, surpassing Italian dressing.
Late 20th Century: Ranch dressing gains widespread popularity and becomes a staple in American households, often used as a dip, dressing, and flavoring.
2000s: As health and dietary considerations grow, food manufacturers introduce variations of ranch dressing with reduced fat, calories, and sugars.
Beyond the U.S.: Ranch dressing's popularity spreads internationally, with various countries adopting and adapting the dressing to their tastes.
Homemade and Artisanal Trends: Homemade and artisanal versions of ranch dressing gain popularity as people become more conscious of ingredients and flavors.
