Ashland Kentucky
Ashland Kentucky is located on the northeastern edge of the state. The
largest city in Boyd county, Ashland had at last count (2003) a
population of 21,491, down from 23,622 in 1990. Nestled in the foothills
of the Appalachians on the Ohio River, Ashland was first known as Poages
Settlement after the Scotch-Irish founders in the early 18th century. In
1847 the name was changed to Pollards Mill when the Pollards Mill Post
Office opened. The Kentucky Iron, Coal, and Manufacturing Company
renamed the city after the Lexington home of Henry Clay, Ashland. The
town is located on the state boarder in the tri-state Kentucky-Ohio-West
Virginia. Though a small town, it’s just a twenty minute drive from
Ashland, to either the pristine beauty of a local state park, or the
excitement of the big city.
Located in the Eastern Coal Field region of the state, Ashland offers
it’s residents and visitors camping, fishing, hiking, caving, swimming,
horseback riding, and canoeing, golfing, and the Ashland Tennis Club is
one of the best in the state. The Paramount Arts Center is an Art Deco
building restored with many of the original furnishings and fixtures.
Central Park is 47 acres of wooded beauty in the middle of downtown
Ashland. A bandstand located in the park is a great place for music
lovers to attend concerts. The Highlands Museum & Discovery Center,
promotes local artists, and displays objects from regional life from the
Native American Indians to World War II. Nearby Greenbo Lake offers many
outdoor activities as well, such as fishing, hiking, and camping.
The Winter Wonderland of Lights, is a multi-community celebration with
the neighboring communities of Ashland, Catlettsburg, Flatwoods,
Greenup, Russell, Worthington and Wurtland, Ky., participating. The
Wonderland starts the week prior to Thanksgiving and ends New Years Day.
With 45 displays, and over three quarters of a million lights, Ashland’s
Central Park is the focal point, and the starting spot for the biggest
Christmas Parade in the Tri-State area. Other area celebrations include
Old Fashion Days, Summer Motion, and Poages Landing Days.
Ashland is very aware of the need for jobs for it’s residents, and
residents for it’s jobs.
One thing Ashland looks to be very serious about is attracting business
and Industry.
The Ashland Alliance is made up of forward thinkers from Ashland,
Greenup County, and Boyd County. The Ashland Alliance has done extensive
studies on job opportunities not only in Ashland, or within the
Alliance, but in a 60 mile radius in the tri-state area encompassing all
possible workers. AK steel, and Marathon Oil are the largest employers
in the city, but Ashland is not satisfied, they offer excellent
incentives for new businesses to move in. Starting a business in the
area is made easier by loans, shell buildings, in a beautiful new
industrial park, the lowest power costs of any state in the country, an
educated, productive work force, loans, and tax incentives. They also
have a plan to keep existing businesses up and running. The river city
shipping, railroads, and good highways combine to make this an up and
coming industrial area. The Ashland Police Department will even escort
business people to the bank to make deposits, even though crime is just
about non-existent there. Author
Ron Stemple
Copyright 2006, Ron Dowell |
