Ashland, Kentucky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ashland, Kentucky
City
Downtown Ashland, Kentucky in 2019.
Motto(s):  A proud past. A bright future.
Location of Ashland in Boyd County, Kentucky.
Ashland, Kentucky Location in Kentucky Show map of Kentucky Ashland, Kentucky Location in the United States Show map of the United States Ashland, Kentucky Location in North America Show map of North America
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
County	Boyd
Settled	Poage's Landing, 1786
Incorporated	Ashland, 1854
Area
• City	10.77 sq mi (27.89 km2)
• Land	10.73 sq mi (27.80 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)
Elevation	551 ft (168 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	21,625
• Density	2,014.44/sq mi (777.76/km2)
• Metro	287,702
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	41101, 41102, 41105
Area code(s)	606
FIPS code	21-02368
GNIS feature ID	0486092

Ashland is a home rule-class city in Boyd County, Kentucky, in the United States. Ashland, the largest city in Boyd County, is located upon a southern bank of the Ohio River. The population was 21,684 at the 2010 census. Ashland is the smaller of two primary cities in the Huntington-Ashland metropolitan area, which is referred to locally as the "Tri-State area" and had a population of 361,487 in 2017, while the Kentucky portion was home to 110,641 in 2017. Ashland serves as an important economic and medical center for northeastern Kentucky and is part of the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Kentucky.

History

Ashland dates back to the migration of the Poage family from the Shenandoah Valley via the Cumberland Gap in 1786. They erected a homestead along the Ohio River and named it Poage's Landing. Also called Poage Settlement, the community that developed around it remained an extended-family affair until the mid-19th century. In 1854, the city name was changed to Ashland, after Henry Clay's Lexington estate and to reflect the city's growing industrial base. The city's early industrial growth was a result of Ohio's pig iron industry and, particularly, the 1854 charter of the Kentucky Iron, Coal, and Manufacturing Company by the Kentucky General Assembly. The city was formally incorporated by the General Assembly two years later in 1856. Major industrial employers in the first half of the 20th Century included Armco, Ashland Oil and Refining Company, the C&O Railroad, Allied Chemical & Dye Company's Semet Solvay, and Mansbach Steel.

Geography

Downtown Ashland

Ashland is located at 38°27′50″N 82°38′30″W / 38.464017°N 82.641571°W / 38.464017; -82.641571 (38.464017, -82.641571). It lies within the ecoregion of the Western Allegheny Plateau.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.8 square miles (27.9 km²), of which 10.7 square miles (27.8 km²) is land and 0.039 square miles (0.1 km²), or 0.30%, is water.

Cityscape

Ashland's central business district extends from 12th Street to 18th Street, and from Carter Avenue to Greenup Avenue. It includes many historically preserved and notable buildings, such as the Paramount Arts Center and the Ashland Bank Building, which is built to Manhattan height and style standards and serves as a reminder of what Ashland leaders hoped it would become.

Climate

Ashland is in the humid continental climate zone, and distinctly experiences all four seasons, with vivid fall foliage and snow in the winter. Average high is 88 °F in July, the warmest month, with the average lows of 19 °F occurring in January, the coolest month. The highest recorded temperature was 105 °F in July 1954. The lowest recorded temperature was −25 °F in January 1994. Average annual precipitation is 42.8 inches (1,090 mm), with the wettest month being July, averaging 4.7 inches (120 mm).

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 21,981 people, 9,675 households, and 6,192 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,984.4 inhabitants per square mile (766.0/km²). There were 10,763 housing units at an average density of 971.7 per square mile (375.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.84% White, 2.30% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59% of the population.

There were 9,675 households, out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,309, and the median income for a family was $40,131. Males had a median income of $35,362 versus $23,994 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,218. About 14.0% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

Annual cultural events and fairs

• The Festival of Trees occurs at the Paramount Arts Center every winter

Historical structures and museums

The Paramount Arts Center

The Paramount Arts Center, an Art Deco style movie theater built in 1930, is located on Winchester Avenue. The converted theater serves as an important venue for the arts in eastern Kentucky and the neighboring sections of Ohio and West Virginia. It is well noted for its Festival of Trees event during the winter season. The Paramount is also devoted to teaching children the importance of the arts. Summer classes are offered for school-age children.

Also along Winchester Avenue is the Highlands Museum and Discovery Center. Among its numerous exhibits, one about Country Music Heritage pays tribute to the music artists from along U.S. Route 23 in Kentucky. Two locals, The Judds from Ashland, and Billy Ray Cyrus from nearby Flatwoods, are included.

The Pendleton Art Center, formed in 2005, is located within the downtown. The works produced include paintings, stained glass, carved gourds, and wood carvings by local artists. They are displayed at the Pendleton the first Friday and Saturday of every month and at other times by appointment.

The Jesse Stuart Foundation, an organization dedicated to the preservation of the literary legacy of Jesse Stuart and other Appalachian writers, was at one time located within an earshot of the Pendleton Arts Center. Jesse Stuart, a well-known 20th century author, was from nearby Greenup, Kentucky.

Media

Newspapers

Ashland is home to two newspapers: The Independent and The Greater Ashland Beacon.

The Independent is a seven-day morning daily newspaper which covers the city and the surrounding metropolitan area. In addition, it offers national, state and regional news/sports coverage via reprints of Associated Press and CNHI wire reports and columns. The newspaper is often called "The Daily Independent" or the "Ashland Daily Independent" by locals, as these were its former names. One of the paper's claims to fame is the first printings of a supposed image of Jesus in the clouds of Korea in 1951.

Ashland's other newspaper is The Greater Ashland Beacon. It is a free weekly circular published in full color every Tuesday. "The Beacon", as it is known by locals, is "hyper-local," meaning it is exclusively dedicated to covering the community. Highlights include, but are not limited to, local events, sports results, outdoor recreation and personal interest articles and columns penned by freelance Ashland-area journalists and quasi-celebrities.

Radio

Television

Ashland residents receive their network television primarily from stations in Huntington and Charleston, West Virginia. In addition, WKYT, the CBS affiliate in Lexington, Kentucky, is shown on cable TV in Ashland when its programming is different from Charleston's CBS affiliate WOWK. Also, some Ashland viewers can watch the Lexington NBC affiliate, WLEX, when its programming differs from Huntington's NBC affiliate WSAZ. There are also two television stations licensed to Ashland itself. Those are:

Parks and outdoor attractions

Central Park in the fall

Ashland boasts a 47-acre (190,000 m²) wooded Central Park, founded in 1854, with playgrounds and other amusements. It was bounded between Lexington and Central Avenue, and 17th and 22nd streets. In 1936, the Works Progress Administration constructed a central road through the park; one year later, a pond was constructed in the southeast quadrant. Twenty years later, after complaints of mosquito problems, the pond was filled in with five feet of dirt and it became a softball practice field. In the spring of 1995, the pond was excavated and was filled with water by September. The original water lilies that were planned in 1937 had come back in full bloom. A fountain was added in the center and numerous fish species were added. The park today features three separate children playgrounds, several baseball diamonds, a volleyball court and a traditional bandstand. Central Park also hosts an annual holiday light show, the Winter Wonderland of Lights.

In July 1976, a new 10-acre (40,000 m²) park at the former Clyffeside Park was envisioned. Named after Commissioner Johnny Oliverio, it features several baseball diamonds, and is located along Winchester Avenue near 39th Street.

In 2004, the AK Steel Sports Park was constructed along Blackburn Avenue in South Ashland. The sports-oriented park features several baseball diamonds, soccer fields and a skate park.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Air

Located just north of the city in Worthington is the Ashland Regional Airport. This airport is used for general aviation. The then-named Ashland-Boyd County Airport opened in 1953 and featured a 5,600 ft (1,700 m). runway with a 3,000 ft (910 m). clearance.

Tri-State Airport, located in nearby Ceredo, West Virginia, provides commercial aviation services for the city.

Rail

Amtrak serves Ashland with the three-days-a-week Cardinal, connecting New York City, Washington, Charlottesville, VA, Indianapolis, and Chicago. Westbound trains are scheduled to stop Sunday, Wednesday, Friday in the late evening. Eastbound the stops are early morning Wednesday, Friday, Sunday.

The Amtrak station is located at the Ashland Transportation Center, formerly the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway freight depot, located on 15th Street near the Ohio River. It does not have an Amtrak ticket counter or QuikTrak ticket machine, but E-tickets can be obtained from either Amtrak's website or mobile app.

The C&O freight depot, constructed in 1906 on the former Aldine Hotel site, had become an abandoned derelict. Then in the late 1990s it was renovated to become the city's unified transportation hub.

The former C&O passenger depot, at 11th Street and Carter Avenue, had been completed in 1925 but abandoned in the 1970s in favor of a downsized depot in nearby Catlettsburg. The rail lines to the building have since been removed. Today the building itself serves as the downtown branch of PNC Bank. Passenger rail service was moved from Catlettsburg to the Ashland Transportation Center in March 1998.

Bus

Ben Williamson and Simeon Willis Memorial Bridges connect Ashland to Southern Ohio

Greyhound Lines is the sole provider of intercity bus transportation out of Ashland. It operates out of the Ashland Transportation Center, along with the Ashland Bus System that provides five local bus routes.

Roads

Ashland is served by US 23 and US 60, several state routes, and is in close proximity to US 52 and Interstate 64. The state routes include:

• KY 5 never enters the city limits of Ashland, however does serve a sizable area surrounding the city.
• KY 168 crosses through the south Ashland region and is referred to as Blackburn Avenue and South Belmont Street.
• KY 766 Connects US 60 and 13th Street with KY 5
• KY 1012 is known as Boy Scout Road.
• KY 1134

Law enforcement

In the late 19th century, what is now the Ashland Police Department was organized when the town was still known as Poage's Landing. The first executive officer was a town marshal, who was soon replaced by a professional police department.

The city of Ashland currently has 49 sworn officers, three civilian employees who function as administrative support and six parapolice who handle tasks that do not require the services of a sworn officer.

Popular culture

• Ashland, Kentucky is mentioned at the beginning of Part 4 Chapter 2 in On the Road by Jack Kerouac.
• Ashland, Kentucky is mentioned as the location of the Rebel-Georgian Coalition camp in the NBC television series Revolution Episode 1.17 "The Longest Day" first aired May 13, 2013.

• Historical populations from A history of Ashland, Kentucky, 1786-1954, Ashland Centennial Committee, 1954, and Ashland City Directory, 1985.

Economy

King's Daughters Medical Center is Ashland's largest employer

AK Steel

American Rolling Mill Co. (ARMCO) opened its steel mill, Ashland Works, in 1922. The facility grew to cover 700 acres (280 ha) along the Ohio River. It set world records in production, and eventually employed about 7,000 people. Local scrap drives were held during World War II to support production at the plant.

ARMCO Steel partnered with Kawasaki Steel Corporation in 1994. AK Steel eventually purchased Armco Steel Inc. At one time Armco employed over 4,000 people at its West Works, Foundry, and Coke Plant. AK Steel employed under 1,000 after the closing of the Foundry and Coke Plant and the downsizing of its West Works. AK shut down completely in 2019.

King's Daughters Medical Center

King's Daughters Medical Center is the fourth largest hospital in Kentucky, the 465-bed not-for-profit institution is the city's largest employer at over 4,000 employees. It offers numerous inpatient and outpatient services for the region.

Education

Ashland Community and Technical College

All public schools within city limits are operated by the Ashland Independent School District. Public schools outside of city limits are operated by the Boyd County School District and the Fairview Independent School District.

Ashland has five public elementary schools, Hager Elementary, Oakview Elementary, Crabbe Elementary School, Poage Elementary and Charles Russell Elementary. Hatcher Elementary closed its doors in Spring 2010. Its students and much of its resources were consolidated with the other elementary schools in Fall 2010. The former Hatcher Elementary building now serves as the Ashland Independent Schools Central Office.

There is one public middle school, Ashland Middle School, formerly known as George M. Verity Middle School and Putnam Junior High School. The campus is home to Putnam Stadium which serves as the home field for Ashland Tomcats high school and middle school football.

One public high school serves the city of Ashland: Paul G. Blazer High School, named after philanthropist and founder of Ashland Inc., Paul G. Blazer. The high school is home to the Ashland Tomcats and Kittens athletic teams. The Ashland Tomcats football program has achieved 11 state championships. The Ashland Tomcats (boys') basketball program has accomplished 1 national championship, 4 state championships, 32 regional championships, and 55 district championships. The Ashland Tomcats and Kittens (girls') soccer teams play at the Ashland Soccer Complex at the high school. The school's marching band competes in the AAA class of the Kentucky Music Educators Association(KMEA). The marching band is commonly called "The Pride of Blazer" for its excellent performance in many KMEA marching band competitions.

Westwood, an unincorporated community just outside the Ashland city limits, is served by the Fairview Independent School District. The district operates Fairview High School, grades 6-12, and Fairview Elementary School, grades K-5.

The Boyd County Public Schools serves the rural part of Ashland and the remainder of Boyd County. It has four elementary schools, those being Ponderosa Elementary, Cannonsburg Elementary, Catlettsburg Elementary and Summit Elementary. Boyd County Middle School serves grades 6-8, while Boyd County High School serves grades 9-12.

The two private schools serving the Ashland area are the Holy Family School and the Rose Hill Christian School. Holy Family is affiliated with Holy Family Catholic Church and currently offers K–12 education. Rose Hill is affiliated with the Rose Hill Baptist Church and also offers K–12.

Post-secondary educational opportunities include Ashland Community and Technical College which has multiple campuses within the city. Morehead State University also has a satellite campus located in Ashland.

Ashland has a public library, a branch of the Boyd County Public Library.

Notable people

• Claria Horn Boom, U.S. federal judge
• Billy Ray Cyrus, country music singer, born and raised in Flatwoods, Kentucky, just outside Ashland
• Trace Cyrus, musician
• Mark Fosson, musician/songwriter
• Leigh French, actress
• Gina Haspel, director of Central Intelligence Agency
• Jillian Hall, WWE Diva
• Mabel Hite, vaudeville and musical comedy performer
• Chris Jennings, running back for NFL's Cleveland Browns
• The Judds, country music duo of mother Naomi and daughter Wynonna
• Allison Anders, filmmaker and director
• Steve Kazee, Broadway and film actor
• Sonny Landham, actor and former Kentucky gubernatorial candidate
• Michele Mahone, entertainment reporter, NINE Network, Australia
• Venus Ramey, first red-haired Miss America in 1944
• Charlie Reliford, Major League Baseball umpire
• Julie Reeves, country music singer
• Jay Rhodemyre, former NFL center
• Don Robinson, former Major League Baseball pitcher
• Robert Smedley, professional wrestler for World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment as Bobby Blaze
• Jean Bell Thomas, proprietress of American Folk Song Festival in Ashland area 1930 - 1972
• Alberta Vaughn, actress
• Brandon Webb, pitcher for Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks, 2006 National League Cy Young Award winner
• Keith Whitley, country music singer
• Chuck Woolery, game show host

See also

In Spanish: Ashland (Kentucky) para niños