article

Ashland is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located mostly in Ashland County but extending into Bayfield County as well. The city is a port on Lake Superior. The population was 8,620 at the 2000 census.

There is also a Town of Ashland in Ashland County located about 15 miles southeast of the city.

Northland College is located in Ashland.

History

Pre-settlement

Four flags have flown over this area: Spanish, French, English and American. This was part of the original Northwest Territory and was contained inside the borders of three states. Eight different Indian nations have lived on Chequamegon Bay. Later settlers included European explorers, missionaries and fur traders, and more recently the Yankees who platted and developed the lands, the railroaders, shippers, loggers, entrepreneurs and settlers.

All the people who came here seemed to have envisioned something special. They were optimists, opportunists, people of stubborn courage who braved harsh winters and primitive conditions to build a good life.

About the time Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World, the Chippewa people came to the land they called Sha-ga-waun-il-ong. This term has been translated numerous ways; it is either "lowlands" or the "needle". It may also be "the region of shallow water", where "there are large extended breakers". Each version is descriptive and suitably accurate.

The Chippewa stayed on Chequamegon Point for about a century before leaving it, first to settle on Madeline Island and then to move to the Sault region. In the years that followed, the Chippewa came and went to and from the Ashland area. Their travels were dictated by the necessities of hunting and gathering, by their long years of war with the Sioux and, after 1659, the fur trade.

French fur traders Pierre d'Esprit, le Sieur Radisson and Medard Chouart, le Sieur des Groseillers were the first Europeans of record to visit Chequamegon Bay. They arrived in 1659 and built what has been called the first European dwelling place in Wisconsin. A historical marker is located at Maslowski Beach on U.S. Route 2 on the west end of Ashland. The monument was erected in 1929 by the Old Settlers Club.

The Chippewa heartily welcomed the Frenchmen. Five years later, Father Claude-Jean Allouez arrived. He was a Jesuit missionary and he brought the first word of Christianity to Wisconsin's shores. Allouez built a chapel not far from Radisson's and Groseillier's stockade and remained at the Bay until 1669.

Settlement

In 1854, Asaph Whittlesey and another Ohioan named George Kilborn set out from La Pointe to explore the head of Chequamegon Bay. Whittlesey built a 10 ft × 14 ft cabin in Ashland. His wife, Lucy, and daughter, Eugenia, joined him in August and prepared to winter in their new home. Civilization quickly followed the Whittleseys to Ashland. The first community dance was held at their house. The Reverend L.H. Wheeler preached the first sermon on the first Independence Day that was observed there. It was the location of the first post office and polling place for county offices. Sunday school was also conducted on the premises.

Other dates of note:

  • 1856 — The first plat of Ashland was registered
  • 1870 — First Ashland brownstone quarried snd shipped
  • 1872 — First sawmill built by W.R. Sutherland
  • 1877 — Wisconsin Central Railway connects Ashland to Chicago
  • 1877 — Chequamegon Hotel opens (one block from current hotel)
  • 1887 — State legislature incorporate the City of Ashland
  • 1889 — Wisconsin Central Depot constructed
  • 1892 — Northern Wisconsin Academy opens (now Northland College)
  • 1894 — Post office built
  • 1904 — Ashland High School opens
  • 1929 — First airport opens
  • 1940 — WATW radio goes on the air
  • 1963 — Dedication of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
  • 1972 — Memorial Medical Center opens

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,620 people, 3,513 households, and 2,027 families residing in the city. The population density was 248.4/km² (643.3/mi²). There were 3,777 housing units at an average density of 108.8 persons/km² (281.9 persons/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.17% White, 0.32% African American, 6.30% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 2.23% from two or more races. 1.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,513 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 11.7% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 42.3% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 15.4% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,853, and the median income for a family was $40,549. Males had a median income of $30,122 versus $20,926 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,330. 12.7% of the population and 7.5% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 9.9% are under the age of 18 and 10.0% are 65 or older.

City administration

Ed Monroe was elected mayor in the 2006-04-04 local election, replacing Fred Schnook, who did not seek reelection.

The city is divided into 11 wards, each of which is represented by an elected alderperson.

Schools

Public schools

  • Lake Superior Primary/Intermediate School
  • Marengo Valley Elementary School
  • Ashland Middle School
  • Ashland High School

Private schools

  • Ashland 7th Day Adventist School
  • Celebration Christian Academy
  • Our Lady of the Lake School
  • Zion Lutheran Christian School

Colleges

Transportation

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations near Ashland:

Other public-use airports near Ashland:

Communications

Newspapers

Radio stations

Television stations

External links

Cities in Wisconsin | Ashland County, Wisconsin | Bayfield County, Wisconsin

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Ashland, Wisconsin".

Home Page • arts • business • computers • games • health • hospitals • home • kids & teens • news • physicians • recreation• reference • regional • science • shopping • society • sports • world