Ashland, Mississippi

Ashland is a town in Benton County, Mississippi, United States and the county seat.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The population was 551 at the 2020 census, down from 569 at the 2010 census.<ref name="Census 2010">Template:Cite web</ref> Ashland was incorporated on March 8, 1871, and has a Mayor-Aldermen form of government.

History

Ashland was established in 1871 as the county seat for the Benton County, which had been created the previous year. The Benton County Courthouse, the focus of the town's main square, was constructed in 1873. Many of Ashland's earliest residents had relocated from Salem, an older community to the west that had been destroyed during the Civil War.<ref>Phillip Knecht, "Ashland (1871)," Hill Country History, March 4, 2016.</ref>

Geography

Ashland is Template:Convert east of Holly Springs. The town is concentrated along Mississippi Highway 370, east of its intersection with Mississippi Highway 5. The Tennessee border is Template:Convert to the north.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Ashland has a total area of Template:Convert, all land.

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 577 people, 207 households, and 142 families residing in the town. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 227 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the town was 95.1% White, 0.8% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population.

There were 207 households, out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.68.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 15.9% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 31.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $28,088, and the median income for a family was $29,911. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $20,455 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,073. About 14.6% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.2% of those under age 18 and 22.1% of those age 65 or over. Template:Clear

Government

As of 2018, the mayor of Ashland is Mitch Carroll. Carroll was elected mayor in 2007 in a special election to fill the vacancy left by Bill Stone, who had been elected to the Mississippi State Senate. Carroll defeated his brother, Mike Carroll, by 17 votes to secure the position.

Education

Ashland Academy was established in Ashland in 1882.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Ashland is served by the Benton County School District. Ashland High School is the public high school in Ashland and serves students from Benton County, Mississippi.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable people

• Willie Mitchell, musician and owner of Hi Records<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Bill Renick, former Chief of Staff for Ronnie Musgrove<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Bill Stone, mayor of Ashland from 2001 to 2007<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Daniel B. Wright, U.S. Representative for Mississippi's 1st congressional district from 1853 to 1857<ref name="Congress1961">Template:Cite book</ref>
• Josephine McDonald Yarbrough, writer and clubwoman<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Town of Ashland official website