Ashland, Alabama
Clay County Courthouse, Ashland, AL
Location in Clay County and the state of Alabama
Coordinates: 33°16′19″N 85°50′12″W / 33.27194, -85.83667
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Clay
Area
- Total	7.2 sq mi (18.8 km²)
- Land	7.2 sq mi (18.7 km²)
- Water	0 sq mi (0.1 km²)
Elevation	1,119 ft (341 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	1,965
- Density	272.9/sq mi (104.5/km²)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	36251
Area code(s)	256
FIPS code	01-02860
GNIS feature ID	0159091

Ashland is a city in Clay County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 1,965. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 1,885. [1] The city is the county seat of Clay County.

History

Ashland draws its name from the plantation home of Henry Clay, a nineteenth-century American statesman and orator who represented Kentucky in both the House of Representatives and Senate. Fifteen Clay counties in the United States are named for "The Great Compromiser," known for his ability to bring others to agreement during a most contentious era of American politics.

The century-old county courthouse on the town square entered the National Register of Historic Places on November 11, 1976. Visit Archiplanet to learn more about the structure.[2]

Geography

Ashland is located at 33°16′20″N, 85°50′13″W (33.272206, -85.836925)^[1].

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.3 square miles (18.8 km²), of which, 7.2 square miles (18.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.41%) is water.

At 1130 feet, Ashland is Alabama's highest elevated county seat^[2].

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 1,965 people, 854 households, and 519 families residing in the city. The population density was 271.5 people per square mile (104.8/km²). There were 975 housing units at an average density of 134.7/sq mi (52.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.74% White, 25.29% Black or African American, 0.10% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 2.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 854 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 82.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,469, and the median income for a family was $33,583. Males had a median income of $24,715 versus $18,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,927. About 12.2% of families and 19.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.2% of those under age 18 and 23.4% of those age 65 or over.

Notable natives

• Hugo Black, born in Harlan in Clay County, served as an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1937 until 1971. His first law office was on the square in Ashland.
• Jerry Weems- The winningest basketball coach in Ashland's history.
• Bob Riley, Alabama's 52^nd governor, is a native of Ashland.

Interesting facts

• The 2003 movie Big Fish (based on a book by Daniel Wallace of the same title) features the character Edward Bloom, who grew up in Ashland.

References

External links

• Ashland, Alabama is at coordinates 33°16′20″N 85°50′13″W / 33.272206, -85.836925 (Ashland, Alabama)Coordinates: 33°16′20″N 85°50′13″W / 33.272206, -85.836925 (Ashland, Alabama)

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Ashland, Alabama

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