Ashland

Ashland dates back to the migration of the Poage family from the Shenandoah Valley via the Cumberland Gap in 1786. In 1854, the city name was changed to Ashland, after Henry Clay's Lexington estate and to reflect the city's growing industrial base. The city's early industrial growth was a result of the Ohio Valley's pig iron industry and, particularly, the 1854 charter of the Kentucky Iron, Coal, and Manufacturing Company. Major industrial employers in the first half of the 20th century included Armco, Ashland Oil and Refining Company, the C&O Railroad, Allied Chemical & Dye Company's Semet Solvay, and Mansbach Steel. Ashland is in the humid subtropical climate zone, and distinctly experiences all four seasons, with vivid fall foliage and occasional snow in winter. The average high is 88 °F in July, the warmest month, with the average lows of 19 °F occurring in January, the coolest month. Average annual precipitation is 42.8 inches (1,090 mm), with the wettest month being July, averaging 4.7 inches (120 mm) Ashland's central business district extends from 12th Street to 18th Street, and from Carter Avenue to Greenup Avenue. It includes many historically preserved and notable buildings, such as the Paramount Arts Center and the Ashland Bank Building, which is built to Manhattan height and style standards and serves as a reminder of what Ashland leaders hoped it would become.

History

Ashland is the primary city name, but also Summitt are acceptable city names or spellings. The official name is City of Ashland. Ashland dates back to the migration of the Poage family from the Shenandoah Valley via the Cumberland Gap in 1786. In 1854, the city name was changed to Ashland, after Henry Clay's Lexington estate and to reflect the city's growing industrial base. The city was formally incorporated by the General Assembly two years later in 1856. Major industrial employers in the first half of the 20th century included Armco, Ashland Oil and Refining Company, the C&O Railroad, Allied Chemical & Dye Company's Semet Solvay, and Mansbach Steel. Ashland is located on the Ohio River and was once known as Poage's Landing. It is now a suburb of Lexington, Kentucky, and is home to the University of Kentucky's football team, the Kentucky Wildcats, and the Kentucky Museum of Natural History and Science, which was founded in 1894. The town's nickname is "Ashland" and the city was once called "Poage Landing" because of the family's homesteading along the Ohio. It was also known as "Poages Landing" due to its proximity to the Ohio Valley's pig iron industry, which began in the early 1800s. The name Ashland was first used in 1854 by the Kentucky Iron, Coal, and Manufacturing Company, which later became the Ashland Iron and Coal Company. The current name was given to the city by the state General Assembly after the 1856 incorporation of Ashland.

Geography

Ashland is located at 38°2750N 82°3830W (38.464017, 82.641571). It lies within the ecoregion of the Western Allegheny Plateau. The city has a total area of 10.8 square miles (27.9 km²), of which 10.7 square miles is land and 0.039 square miles, or 0.30%, is water. The central business district extends from 12th Street to 18th Street, and from Carter Avenue to Greenup Avenue. It includes many historically preserved and notable buildings, such as the Paramount Arts Center and the Ashland Bank Building. Ashland is in the humid subtropical climate zone, and distinctly experiences all four seasons, with vivid fall foliage and occasional snow in winter. Average annual precipitation is 42.8 inches (1,090 mm), with the wettest month being July, averaging 4.7 inches (120 mm). The average high is 88 °F in July, the warmest month, with the average lows of 19 °F occurring in January, the coolest month. The highest recorded temperature was 105 °f in July 1954, and the lowest recorded temperature in January 1994 was 25 °F. It has a population of 2,816. It is located on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which runs from West Virginia to New Jersey. The Turnpikes are the nation's second-busiest highway system, behind only New York City.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 21,981 people, 9,675 households, and 6,192 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,984.4 inhabitants per square mile (766.2/km²). There were 10,763 housing units at an average density of 971.7 per squaremile (375.2 /km²) The racial makeup of the city was 95.84% White, 2.30% African American, 0.12% Native American,0.39% Asian, 0,01% Pacific Islander, 0.,22% from other races, and 1.12%. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59% of the population. The city's population was spread out, with 21.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 19. 9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there are 83.9 males. For each 100 females age 18 and over, there is 79.3 males. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was2.82. The per capita income for the city is $19,218. About 14.0%. of families and 18.4%. of the residents were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18.

Economy

American Rolling Mill Co. (ARMCO) opened its steel mill, Ashland Works, in 1922. The facility grew to cover 700 acres (280 ha) along the Ohio River. At one time Armco employed over 4,000 people at its West Works, Foundry, and Coke Plant. King's Daughters Medical Center is the fourth largest hospital in Kentucky, the 465-bed not-for-profit institution is the city's largest employer at over 4, 000 employees. AK Steel employed under 1,000 after the closing of the Foundry and Coke. Plant and the downsizing of its West. Works. AK shut down completely in 2019. The city is home to the U.S. Air Force Academy and the University of Kentucky's football team, the K-State Cardinals. The Kentucky Derby is the state's largest sporting event, drawing over 100,000 fans each year. The state's economy is one of the fastest growing in the United States. The economy is the second largest in the nation, behind only the United Kingdom. It is the largest employer in the state of Kentucky, with over 7,000 employees, and the second-largest employer in Kentucky after Louisville. It has a population of 2.2 million. The U.K. has the highest percentage of women in the U.,S. and the lowest percentage of men in the country. The United States has the lowest unemployment rate, at 2.7%. The state has the third highest rate of youth unemployment, at 1.8%.

Arts and culture

The Paramount Arts Center is an Art Deco style movie theater built in 1930. The Pendleton Art Center, formed in 2005, is located within the downtown. The Highlands Museum and Discovery Center is located along Winchester Avenue. The Jesse Stuart Foundation, an organization dedicated to the preservation of the literary legacy of Jesse Stuart and other Appalachian writers, was at one time located within an earshot of the Pendleton Arts Center. The Festival of Trees is held at the Paramount every winter and is one of the town's major cultural events. The town's annual craft beer festival, Winter Wonderland, is held on the last Friday of each month until the end of the month. It is located on the banks of the Ohio River and is open to the public from September through October. The city is also home to the U.S. Route 23 Country Music Heritage, which pays tribute to country music artists from along the highway. Two locals, The Judds from Ashland, and Billy Ray Cyrus from nearby Flatwoods, are included in the museum's exhibits. The theater is also devoted to teaching children the importance of the arts. Summer classes are offered for school-age children, and the theater is a popular venue for cultural events in eastern Kentucky and the neighboring sections of Ohio and West Virginia. The Paramount is a converted theater that serves as an important venue for the arts in Eastern Kentucky and western West Virginia, and is well noted for its Festival of trees event during the winter season. It was built in the 1930s as a movie theater, but has since been converted into a cultural center.

Parks and recreation

Ashland boasts a 47-acre (190,000 m2) Central Park. Named after Commissioner Johnny Oliverio, it features several baseball diamonds, and is located along Winchester Avenue near 39th Street. In 2004, the AK Steel Sports Park was constructed along Blackburn Avenue in South Ashland. The sports-oriented park features severalBaseball diamonds, soccer fields and an incomplete skate park. In July 1976, a new 10-acre park at the former Clyffeside Park was envisioned. It features several Baseball diamonds, a soccer field, and a baseball field. The park is located on the former site of Clyffe's Park, which was built in the early 20th century. It is located at the intersection of Winchester Avenue and Blackburn Avenue, and features a baseball diamond, soccer field and a skate park, as well as several other sports fields. It was completed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 2010, the park was expanded to include a new baseball diamond and soccer fields. In 2012, it was expanded again to include another baseball diamond. It also features several soccer fields, a football field, a basketball court, and several other fields. There is also an unfinished skate park in the park, which will be completed in 2015. It has been named after former Ashland mayor and former mayor of the same name, who was killed in a car accident in the town in 1998. The city also has a public library, which is open to the public. The Ashland Public Library is located in the downtown area.

Government

Ashland is governed by a City Manager form of government. The City Manager is the chief administrative officer for the city who reports to a Board of Commissioners. The Mayor of Ashland is elected for a four-year term and is not term-limited. The current mayor is Matt Perkins. The United States Postal Service operates the Ashland Post Office and the Unity Contract Station. The Federal Bureau of Prisons operates the Federal Correctional Institution, Ashland in Summit, unincorporated Boyd County, 5 miles (8.0 km) southwest of central Ashland. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky maintains courtroom and office facilities in the Carl D. Perkins United States Courthouse & Federal Building in downtown Ashland, Kentucky. In 1925, a new city hall was erected at the corner of 17th Street and Greenup Avenue. In 1950, the government switched from a council-manager to a city commissioner-manager form ofGovernment. The city is located in Boyd County and is part of the Kentucky Bootleggers' Association, a non-profit organization that was founded in 1883. The Bootlegger's Association was formed in 1887 to help raise money for local charities and causes. It is based in Ashland and is run by a volunteer board of directors. It was founded by former bootlegger and Kentucky bootlegger, William "Bill" Bootle, Jr. in 1885. The Ashland Bootle was the first Bootle's Association to be chartered by the state.

Education

Ashland has five public elementary schools, Hager Elementary, Oakview Elementary, Crabbe Elementary School, Poage Elementary and Charles Russell Elementary. Hatcher Elementary closed its doors in Spring 2010. Public schools outside of city limits are operated by the Boyd County School District and the Fairview Independent School District. There is one public middle school, Ashland Middle School, formerly known as George M. Verity Middle School and Putnam Junior High School. The two private schools serving the Ashland area are the Holy Family School and the Rose Hill Christian School. Ashland Community and Technical College has multiple campuses within the city. Morehead State University also has a satellite campus located in Ashland. The Ashland Tomcats football program has achieved 11 state championships. The school's marching band competes in the AAA class of the Kentucky Music Educators Association(KMEA). The marching band is commonly called "The Pride of Blazer" for its excellent performance in many KMEA marching band competitions. The high school is home to the Ashlands Tomcats and Kittens athletic teams. The basketball program has accomplished 1 national championship, 4 state championships, 32 regional championships, and 55 district championships. It has a public library, a branch of theoyd County Public Library. The district operates Fairview High School, grades 6-12, and Fairview Elementary School, grades K-5. It also operates Ponderosa Elementary, Cannonsburg Elementary, Catlettsburg Elementary and Summit Elementary.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky = 51.4. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 70. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 81. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Ashland = 4.3 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 21,625 individuals with a median age of 42 age the population dropped by -3.53% in Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 2,014.44 residents per square mile of area (777.76/km²). There are average 2.18 people per household in the 9,543 households with an average household income of $35,031 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 7.70% of the available work force and has dropped -2.64% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 27.02%. The number of physicians in Ashland per 100,000 population = 436.7.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Ashland = 41.2 inches and the annual snowfall = 10.5 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 126. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 163. 88 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 22.3 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 39, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky which are owned by the occupant = 56.76%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 51 years with median home cost = $87,320 and home appreciation of 2.61%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $7.98 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $4,575 per student. There are 14.7 students for each teacher in the school, 465 students for each Librarian and 379 students for each Counselor. 5.78% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 10.20% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 8.19% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).