Ashland, Kentucky is a city located in the northeastern part of the state along the Ohio River. It is part of Boyd County and is the largest city in the county. The population of Ashland was estimated to be 21,684 in 2019. Check Countryaah to see other cities in Kentucky.
The city was founded in 1854 by brothers William and James Poage, who named it after their hometown of Ashland, Virginia. The brothers had come to Kentucky seeking opportunity and were soon able to purchase over 500 acres of land where they founded their new town. They chose this area due to its location on the Ohio River which provided easy access to transportation and trade.
The first business opened in Ashland was a general store owned by William Poage, and this quickly attracted other businesses such as blacksmiths, mills, and tanneries. In 1873 Ashland officially incorporated as a town with a population of 1,000 people.
In the late 19th century, Ashland became an important industrial center for coal mining and steel production due to its location along the Ohio River which provided access to transportation for raw materials from other states such as West Virginia. This led to an influx of immigrants from Europe and other parts of America who came seeking employment opportunities here. As a result, many different cultures call Ashland home today including German-Americans, Irish-Americans, African-Americans and more recently Hispanic immigrants from Mexico and Central America.
The economy of Ashland has historically been centered around industry with coal mining being one major sector until its decline in the mid-20th century due to environmental regulations that made it difficult for companies to operate economically here. Other industries such as steel production have also played important roles in fueling economic growth in recent years but have also experienced some downturns due to global market conditions which have caused some layoffs here locally as well.
Today, Ashland is home to several higher education institutions including Marshall University which has campuses located throughout the area offering degree programs ranging from associate’s degrees through doctoral programs in various disciplines such as business administration, engineering management technology computer science nursing and much more. There are also several private colleges located here such as Paul G Blazer Community College which offers courses leading towards certificates or diplomas for those interested in pursuing further education or training but do not wish pursue a full degree program at this time.
History of Ashland, Kentucky
Ashland, Kentucky is a city located in the northeastern corner of the state. It is situated on the banks of the Ohio River and has a population of around 21,000 people. The area was first settled by Native Americans who lived in the region for centuries before white settlers arrived. The earliest recorded settlement in the area was established by John Poage in 1790.
In 1854, Ashland was formally incorporated as a city and began to grow rapidly as new industries took root. During this time, coal mining became a major industry for the city and several railroads were built to facilitate transportation of goods throughout the region. This led to an influx of immigrants from Europe who came in search of work and opportunity.
By 1880, Ashland had grown to over 5,000 residents and many businesses had established themselves on Main Street. This included banks, stores, hotels, saloons and more which helped spur further economic growth. In 1895 Ashland’s first public school was built which further contributed to its development as an educational center for the region.
Throughout much of the 20th century Ashland continued to grow steadily with new businesses being established and residents flocking to live there due to its close proximity to Cincinnati and other larger cities nearby. In 1978 a flood devastated much of downtown Ashland leading to extensive rebuilding efforts that continue today. Despite this setback, however, Ashland remains an important part of Kentucky’s economy with many major corporations having their headquarters located there including Marathon Petroleum Corporation and AK Steel Holding Corporation.
Today, Ashland is still known for its strong economy and vibrant culture with numerous attractions such as museums, parks, historic sites, theaters, shopping centers and more drawing visitors from around the world each year. There are also numerous festivals held throughout the year that celebrate local history such as Foothills Festival which celebrates Appalachian culture through music, food and art or the Catfish Festival which celebrates all things catfish related with live music performances, fishing competitions and more.
