Ashland, Virginia

Ashland, Virginia
Town

Ashland Town Hall
Nickname(s): The Center of the Universe[1]

Location in Virginia
Coordinates: 37°45′34″N 77°28′38″W / 37.75944°N 77.47722°W / 37.75944; -77.47722Coordinates: 37°45′34″N 77°28′38″W / 37.75944°N 77.47722°W / 37.75944; -77.47722
Country United States
State Virginia
County Hanover
Founded 1858
Government
 • Type Council-Manager
 • Mayor Dr. George F. Spagna, Jr.
 • Town Manager Charles W. Hartgrove
Area
 • Total 7.2 sq mi (18.7 km2)
 • Land 7.16 sq mi (18.6 km2)
 • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation 213 ft (65 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 7,225
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 23005
Area code(s) 804
FIPS code 51-03368[2]
GNIS feature ID 1492492[3]
Website http://www.town.ashland.va.us

Ashland is a town located 15 miles north of Richmond along Interstate-95 in Hanover County, Virginia, United States. Ashland is named after the Lexington, Kentucky estate of Hanover County native and statesman Henry Clay. The area known as The Slashes, that later became Ashland, was developed by the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad as a mineral springs resort in the 1840s. The population was 7,225 as of the 2010 census. It is the only incorporated town in Hanover County chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Ashland is home to Randolph-Macon College (1830).

Geography

Ashland is located at 37°45′34″N 77°28′38″W / 37.75944°N 77.47722°W / 37.75944; -77.47722 (37.759361, -77.477226).[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.7 km²), of which 7.2 square miles (18.6 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km²) (0.55%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1860148—
1870491231.8%
188076455.6%
189094824.1%
19001,14721.0%
19101,32415.4%
19201,290−2.6%
19301,2970.5%
19401,71832.5%
19502,61051.9%
19602,7736.2%
19702,9345.8%
19804,64058.1%
19905,86426.4%
20006,61912.9%
20107,2259.2%
Est. 20147,328[5]1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 7225 people with 2,863 households in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 71.1% White, 22.2% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.68% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.7% of the population.

The median income for a household in the town was $46,474. The per capita income for the town was $23,569. About 5.9% the population were below the poverty line.

History

Ashland Historic District
Ashland Theater
Location Center, Racecourse, James, Howard, Clay Sts., Hanover and Railroad Aves., Ashland, Virginia
Area 159 acres (64 ha)
Architectural style Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Late Victorian, Other, Early Commercial
NRHP Reference # 83003284[7]
Added to NRHP February 11, 1983

Developed by the railroad as a mineral springs resort, the origin of the town dates back to the late 1840s. Officially incorporated on February 19, 1858, the town was named “Ashland” after native son Henry Clay’s estate in Kentucky.

With the relocation of Randolph Macon College to Ashland in 1868, the town evolved from a railroad resort to a small college town. The construction of U.S. Route 1, and later I-95, further shaped the town character and development.

The Town of Ashland, when originally incorporated in 1858, consisted of one square mile. Today, the town has grown through several annexations to a size of 7.12 square miles, one of the larger towns in land area in Virginia.

This growth has produced a diverse collection of neighborhoods and businesses with a blend of architectural styles from large Victorian homes to modern office buildings. Therefore, as the town continues to evolve and expand.

Ashland was named "Best Place to Raise your Kids" in Virginia by Bloomberg Business in 2009. Ashland was named one of America's 10 best small towns by the www.movoto.com in 2014.

Ashland is home to one of the oldest churches in Virginia: Slash Church, built in 1729 by Anglican parishioners. The church is still in operation.[8]

Major Payne was filmed at the Ashland Train Station.

In October 2002, Ashland made national news as the site of one of the Beltway sniper attacks. 37-year-old Jeffrey Hopper was shot on October 19 at 8:00 pm in the parking lot of a Ponderosa Steakhouse as he was leaving the restaurant with his wife.

Fire Department

The Ashland Volunteer Fire Company, formed in 1890, is located on 501 Archie Canon Drive.[9]

Police Department

The Ashland Police Department has 25 sworn full-time officers and is Law Enforcement Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (C.A.L.E.A.)

Local Festivals

Ashland is home to the Strawberry Faire[10] that takes place every June. This festival brings vendors from all around the state who sell a variety of different things (with a strawberry theme). There is also a Strawberry Faire Pageant for Little Miss and Mister Strawberry. There is even a Strawberry Faire Scholarship awarded to ten Hanover County Schools students each year. The Faire also includes live performances from local artists. The 30th annual Strawberry Faire occurred on June 4, 2011.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Ashland has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "History of Ashland". Town of Ashland. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  2. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ Staff (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  8. ↑ "Slash Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)". Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "History". Ashland Volunteer Fire Company. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  10. ↑ "Ashland Strawberry Faire". Ashland Strawberry Faire. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  11. ↑ "Ashland, Virginia Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved 13 November 2015.

External links

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