Ashland, Virginia
Ashland, Virginia | ||
---|---|---|
FIPS code 51-03368[3] | | |
GNIS feature ID | 1492492[4] | |
Website | ashlandva |
Ashland is a
Ashland is named after the Lexington, Kentucky estate of Hanover County native and statesman Henry Clay. It is the only incorporated town in Hanover County. Although comprising only one square mile when originally incorporated in 1858, today Ashland has grown through several annexations to a size of 7.16 square miles (18.5 km2), one of Virginia's larger towns in terms of land area.[5][6]
History
The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad initially developed the town in the 1840s as a mineral springs resort with a racetrack. The town was named "Ashland" after native son Henry Clay's estate in Kentucky and was officially incorporated on February 19, 1858. The area had been known as "The Slashes", sometimes translated as "swamp", but which also reflected the small ravines that formed in the sandy clay soil after hard rains.[7]
Confederate troops trained on the former racetrack early in the American Civil War, but the war and its aftermath devastated Ashland. Randolph–Macon College (founded 1830) moved to Ashland in 1868 and began using buildings of the bankrupt hotel as well as building additional structures.
The railroad lines rebuilt and the town continued to expand. Even before the war, the railroad began offering monthly passes to Richmond to people buying lots and building houses in Ashland. When tycoon
Construction of U.S. Route 1 on the former Washington (or Richmond) Road, and later I-95, further shaped the town character and development.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Ashland%2C_Virginia.png/220px-Ashland%2C_Virginia.png)
One of Virginia's oldest churches is 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Ashland:
On October 19, 2002, Ashland made national news as the site of one of the
The local newspaper, The Herald-Progress, published its final edition on March 29, 2018.[13]
Geography
Ashland is located near the center of Hanover County at 37°45′34″N 77°28′38″W / 37.75944°N 77.47722°W (37.759361, −77.477226).[14] U.S. Route 1 passes through the east side of the center of town, leading north 8 miles (13 km) to Doswell and south 16 miles (26 km) to Richmond. Interstate 95 passes through the town limits further to the east, with access from Exit 92. I-95 leads north 38 miles (61 km) to Fredericksburg and 90 miles (140 km) to Washington, D.C., while to the south it leads 16 miles to Richmond and 40 miles (64 km) to Petersburg. Virginia State Route 54 goes through the center of Ashland as England Street and Thompson Street, leading east 6 miles (10 km) to U.S. Route 301 at Hanover, the county seat, and northwest 13 miles (21 km) to Montpelier.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Ashland has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.6 km2), of which 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2), or 0.43%, are water.[15] Ashland is drained to the north by tributaries of the South Anna River, part of the Pamunkey and York River watershed, and to the south by tributaries of the Chickahominy River, part of the James River watershed.
Climate
The climate in this area is humid subtropical (Cfa) and is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cold winters. Average monthly temperatures range from 36.4 °F in January to 77.4 °F in July.[16] The hardiness zone is 7a.
Climate data for Ashland, Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 82 (28) |
82 (28) |
92 (33) |
96 (36) |
97 (36) |
101 (38) |
103 (39) |
105 (41) |
105 (41) |
96 (36) |
88 (31) |
80 (27) |
105 (41) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 46.8 (8.2) |
51.1 (10.6) |
59.9 (15.5) |
71.1 (21.7) |
76.5 (24.7) |
82.9 (28.3) |
86.7 (30.4) |
85.1 (29.5) |
79.2 (26.2) |
68.9 (20.5) |
59.0 (15.0) |
49.9 (9.9) |
68.1 (20.1) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 37.0 (2.8) |
40.0 (4.4) |
47.8 (8.8) |
58.1 (14.5) |
65.6 (18.7) |
73.1 (22.8) |
77.2 (25.1) |
75.7 (24.3) |
69.3 (20.7) |
58.3 (14.6) |
48.2 (9.0) |
40.1 (4.5) |
57.5 (14.2) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 27.2 (−2.7) |
29.0 (−1.7) |
35.7 (2.1) |
45.2 (7.3) |
54.7 (12.6) |
63.2 (17.3) |
67.6 (19.8) |
66.2 (19.0) |
59.5 (15.3) |
47.7 (8.7) |
37.4 (3.0) |
30.2 (−1.0) |
47.0 (8.3) |
Record low °F (°C) | −18 (−28) |
−11 (−24) |
4 (−16) |
15 (−9) |
28 (−2) |
37 (3) |
43 (6) |
41 (5) |
33 (1) |
19 (−7) |
10 (−12) |
−4 (−20) |
−18 (−28) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.29 (84) |
2.82 (72) |
3.79 (96) |
3.41 (87) |
4.24 (108) |
4.58 (116) |
4.29 (109) |
3.91 (99) |
4.19 (106) |
3.69 (94) |
3.37 (86) |
3.72 (94) |
45.30 (1,151) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 5.9 (15) |
4.0 (10) |
1.8 (4.6) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
3.0 (7.6) |
14.7 (37) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.7 | 8.9 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 10.1 | 8.8 | 9.8 | 8.1 | 8.0 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 9.4 | 106.3 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 2.7 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 7.5 |
Source: |
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
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% | |
2020 | 7,565 | 4.7% |
As of the
The median income for a household in the town was $55,521. The
Public services
Ashland is governed by a five-member town council, and day-to-day activities are run by a town manager, appointed by the town council. Hanover County handles stormwater pollutant removal and filtration.[19] The town's library is part of the multi-county Pamunkey Regional Library System, although additional libraries are at the courthouse and Randolph Macon College.[20]
The Ashland Volunteer Fire Company, formed in 1890, is located on 501 Archie Canon Drive.[21] Hanover County Fire-EMS now[when?] provides 24/7 career staffing from this station and is supplemented by volunteers.[citation needed] 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. (CALEA).[citation needed]
Transportation
Ashland's major highway connection is to I-95 at exit 92, via Virginia State Route 54. Commercial airline service is provided at Richmond International Airport, 26 miles (42 km) distant, and general aviation is served by Hanover County Municipal Airport, 5 miles (8 km) south of downtown.
Proposals in the 2016 "DC2RVA" study to improve rail service between Washington, D.C., and Richmond by expanding the existing double-track railroad to triple-track have prompted concerns about its impact on the prized ambiance of downtown Ashland. The Main Street merchants' association said at a hearing that the additional track would result in "incalculable” loss to the city's "charm, the quaintness, and the aesthetic values".[22]
Local attractions and events
Ashland's tourist information center is located at the Ashland railroad station. Bloomberg Business in 2009 named Ashland "Best Place to Raise your Kids" in Virginia. In 2014, Movoto.com named Ashland one of America's 10 best small towns.[23]
Pufferbelly Park, located behind the Ashland Police Department,
For nearly 35 years, Ashland's main festival has been the "Strawberry Faire" in June,
The "Ashland Musical Variety Show" is a biennial talent show held in odd years.[27] It features songs and skits performed by area residents and raises funds for the Hanover Arts & Activities Center in Ashland. It started in 1982.
Another festival is the family-friendly annual "Ashland Train Day" on the last Saturday in April. Vendors can be found from around the country up and down Railroad Avenue. With the Quiet Zone rules in suspension, visitors are treated to frequent
In popular culture
Scenes from the 1995 film Major Payne were shot at Ashland's railroad station.
See also
- Ashland Skate Park
References
- ^ "History of Ashland". Town of Ashland. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
- ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ a b c "QuickFacts Ashland town, Virginia". QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ "Ashland by the Numbers". Department of Planning and Community Development, Town of Ashland. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
- ^ "History of Ashland". Town of Ashland. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
- ^ "Richmond and Chesapeake Bay Railway Car Barn". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ Don W. and Sue Massey, Colonial Churches of Virginia (Charlottesville, Howell Press, 2003) at pp. 54-55
- ^ "Slash Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)". Retrieved November 13, 2015.
- ^ R Stuart Grizzard (1941). "A history of Gwathmey Baptist Church". University of Richmond. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
- Raleigh News & Observer. p. 14.
- ^ "News, Newspaper, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Engagement, Obituaries, Births, Government, Football, Basketball, Baseball, Soccer, Advertising in Bowling Green, Va". The Herald-Progress. March 29, 2018. Archived from the original on July 28, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Ashland town, Virginia". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ "Time Series Values for Individual Locations". PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University. Northwest Alliance for Computational Science & Engineering. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "Station: Ashland, VA". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "Filterra - Stormwater Biofiltration". www.filterra.com. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
- ^ "Pamunkey Regional Library". www.pamunkeylibrary.org. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
- ^ "History". Ashland Volunteer Fire Company. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ Truong, Debbie (February 7, 2016). "Ashland not on board with one option for high-speed railway". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ "These Are The 10 Best Small Towns In America". Movoto Blog. August 1, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ "Kiwanis Pufferbelly Park". Town of Ashland, Virginia.
- ^ "Ashland Skate Park @ Pufferbelly Park". Town of Ashland, Virginia.
- ^ "Ashland Strawberry Faire". Retrieved November 13, 2015.
- ^ "Ashland Musical Variety Show". Hanover Arts and Activity Center.
- ^ "Ashland Train Day". Downtown Ashland, Virginia. Downtown Ashland Association.
- ^ Murray, Delaney (April 26, 2023). "Ashland Train Day brings road and parking closures throughout the city". WRIC-TV.
External links
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