Ashland, Virginia
| Ashland, Virginia | |
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| Town | |
Ashland Town Hall
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| Nickname(s): The Center of the Universe[1] | |
 Location in Virginia |
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| Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| 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).
Contents
Geography
Ashland is located at Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. (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 | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 148 | — | |
| 1870 | 491 | 231.8% | |
| 1880 | 764 | 55.6% | |
| 1890 | 948 | 24.1% | |
| 1900 | 1,147 | 21.0% | |
| 1910 | 1,324 | 15.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,290 | −2.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,297 | 0.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,718 | 32.5% | |
| 1950 | 2,610 | 51.9% | |
| 1960 | 2,773 | 6.2% | |
| 1970 | 2,934 | 5.8% | |
| 1980 | 4,640 | 58.1% | |
| 1990 | 5,864 | 26.4% | |
| 2000 | 6,619 | 12.9% | |
| 2010 | 7,225 | 9.2% | |
| Est. 2014 | 7,328 | [5] | 1.4% |
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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
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Ashland Historic District
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Ashland Theater
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| Location | Center, Racecourse, James, Howard, Clay Sts., Hanover and Railroad Aves., Ashland, Virginia |
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| 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
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External links
- Ashland Volunteer Fire Company
- TownHound
- Herald-Progress area newspaper
- Hanover County Economic Development
- Ashland Tourist Attractions
- City of Ashland Tourism Department
- Hanover County Stormwater Pollutant Removal and Filtration
- Ashland Weather and Air Quality/Pollution
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Municipalities and communities of Hanover County, Virginia, United States
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| Unincorporated communities |
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