Ashland, Mississippi

Ashland is a town in Benton County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 569 at the 2010 census.[3] It is the county seat of Benton County.[4] Ashland was incorporated on March 8, 1871, and has a Mayor-Aldermen form of government. Mitch Carroll is the 28th mayor of Ashland.

Ashland, Mississippi
Town
Old Benton County Courthouse
Motto(s):  "Small Town Living, Big City Pride"
Location of Ashland, Mississippi
Ashland Location in Mississippi Show map of Mississippi Ashland Ashland (the United States) Show map of the United States Ashland Ashland (North America) Show map of North America
Coordinates: 34°49′57″N 89°10′45″W
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Benton
Area [1]
• Total	1.82 sq mi (4.72 km^2)
• Land	1.82 sq mi (4.72 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation	643 ft (196 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	569
• Estimate  (2019)[2]	519
• Density	284.54/sq mi (109.85/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	38603
Area code(s)	662
FIPS code	28-02140
GNIS feature ID	0692421
Website	www.ashland.ms

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 hailed from Salem, an older community to the west that had been destroyed during the Civil War.[5]

Geography

Ashland is 18 miles (29 km) east of Holly Springs. The town is concentrated along Mississippi Highway 370, east of its intersection with Mississippi Highway 5. The Tennessee border is 14 miles (23 km) to the north.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Ashland has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²), 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.[6]

Demographics

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 577 people, 207 households, and 142 families residing in the town. The population density was 316.0 people per square mile (121.7/km²). There were 227 housing units at an average density of 124.3 per square mile (47.9/km²). 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.

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	174		—
1890	138		−20.7%
1900	162		17.4%
1910	146		−9.9%
1920	190		30.1%
1930	228		20.0%
1940	354		55.3%
1950	328		−7.3%
1960	309		−5.8%
1970	348		12.6%
1980	532		52.9%
1990	490		−7.9%
2000	577		17.8%
2010	569		−1.4%
Est. 2019	519	[2]	−8.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

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.

Government

As of 2018, the mayor of Ashland is Mitch Carroll, and Sandra Gresham, Greg Thompson, Mark Ehrie, and Rocky Miller, make up the Board of Aldermen. 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 is served by the Benton County School District.

Notable people

• Willie Mitchell, musician and owner of Hi Records[9]
• Bill Renick, former Chief of Staff for Ronnie Musgrove[10]
• Bill Stone, mayor of Ashland from 2001-2007[11]
• Daniel B. Wright, U.S. Representative for Mississippi's 1st congressional district from 1853 to 1857[12]

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
3. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Ashland town, Mississippi". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
5. Phillip Knecht, "Ashland (1871)," Hill Country History, 4 March 2016.
6. Climate Summary for Ashland, Mississippi
7. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
9. Nager, Larry. "Willie Mitchell". Memphis Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
10. "Bill Renick Biography" (PDF). Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
11. "Bill Stone". Mississippi State Senate. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
12. United States. Congress (1961). Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1961: The Continental Congress, September 5, 1774, to October 21, 1788 and the Congress of the United States, from the First to the Eighty-sixth Congress, March 4, 1789, to January 3, 1961, Inclusive. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 1851.

External links

• Town of Ashland official website