Editing Ashland, Mississippi

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Ashland, Mississippi
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|motto                    = "Small Town Living, Big City Pride"
|image_skyline            = Ashland-Benton-County-Courthouse-ms.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Old Benton County Courthouse
|image_flag               = Flag of Ashland, Mississippi.png
|image_seal               =
|image_map                = Benton_County_Mississippi_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Ashland_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Ashland, Mississippi
|pushpin_map              = Mississippi#USA#North America
|pushpin_label            = Ashland
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in Mississippi
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Mississippi]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Mississippi|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Benton County, Mississippi|Benton]]
<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =
<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_28.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 4.72
|area_land_km2            = 4.72
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.82
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.82
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 551
|population_density_km2   = 116.62
|population_density_sq_mi = 302.08
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 646
|coordinates              = {{coord|34|50|03|N|89|10|40|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 38603
|area_code                = [[Area code 662|662]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 28-02140
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2405174<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2405174}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|www.ashland.ms}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Ashland''' is a town in [[Benton County, Mississippi|Benton County]], [[Mississippi]], United States and the [[county seat]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archivedate=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The population was 551 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], down from 569 at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US2802140| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212190330/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US2802140| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Ashland town, Mississippi| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=January 21, 2014}}</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, Mississippi|Salem]], an older community to the west that had been destroyed during the Civil War.<ref>Phillip Knecht, "[https://hillcountryhistory.org/2016/03/04/hill-country-ashland-1871/ Ashland (1871)]," ''Hill Country History'', March 4, 2016.</ref>

==Geography==
Ashland is {{convert|18|mi}} east of [[Holly Springs, Mississippi|Holly Springs]]. The town is concentrated along [[Mississippi Highway 370]], east of its intersection with [[Mississippi Highway 5]].  The [[Tennessee]] border is {{convert|14|mi}} to the north.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Ashland has a total area of {{convert|1.8|sqmi|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=92022&cityname=Ashland,+Mississippi,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=ASHLAND, MISSISSIPPI|website=Weatherbase.com|access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref>

{{Weather box   <!-- Infobox begins -->
| single line = Y
| location    = Ashland, Mississippi (1991–2020)
<!-- Average high temperatures -->
| Jan high F  =49.0
| Feb high F  =53.7
| Mar high F  =62.3
| Apr high F  =71.5
| May high F  =79.2
| Jun high F  =86.0
| Jul high F  =88.8
| Aug high F  =89.2
| Sep high F  =84.4
| Oct high F  =73.5
| Nov high F  =61.4
| Dec high F  =52.0
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
| Jan mean F  =38.9
| Feb mean F  =42.9
| Mar mean F  =50.9
| Apr mean F  =60.0
| May mean F  =68.8
| Jun mean F  =76.0
| Jul mean F  =79.0
| Aug mean F  =78.1
| Sep mean F  =72.3
| Oct mean F  =61.2
| Nov mean F  =49.6
| Dec mean F  =42.1
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
| Jan low F  =28.7
| Feb low F  =32.1
| Mar low F  =39.4
| Apr low F  =48.4
| May low F  =58.3
| Jun low F  =66.0
| Jul low F  =69.1
| Aug low F  =67.1
| Sep low F  =60.2
| Oct low F  =48.9
| Nov low F  =37.8
| Dec low F  =32.2
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
| precipitation colour    =  green
| Jan precipitation inch  =4.62
| Feb precipitation inch  =5.22
| Mar precipitation inch  =5.74
| Apr precipitation inch  =5.87
| May precipitation inch  =5.22
| Jun precipitation inch  =4.29
| Jul precipitation inch  =4.20
| Aug precipitation inch  =3.64
| Sep precipitation inch  =3.63
| Oct precipitation inch  =4.35
| Nov precipitation inch  =4.23
| Dec precipitation inch  =6.00
<!-- Snowfall -->
| Jan snow inch  =1.0
| Feb snow inch  =0.7
| Mar snow inch  =0.3
| Apr snow inch  =0.0
| May snow inch  =0.0
| Jun snow inch  =0.0
| Jul snow inch  =0.0
| Aug snow inch  =0.0
| Sep snow inch  =0.0
| Oct snow inch  =0.0
| Nov snow inch  =0.0
| Dec snow inch  =0.0
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
| source = NOAA<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&station=USC00220290 |title=NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access |publisher=NOAA |access-date=2025-04-01 }}</ref>
}}<!-- Infobox ends -->

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1880= 174
|1890= 138
|1900= 162
|1910= 146
|1920= 190
|1930= 228
|1940= 354
|1950= 328
|1960= 309
|1970= 348
|1980= 532
|1990= 490
|2000= 577
|2010= 569
|2020= 551
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 577 people, 207 households, and 142 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|316.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 227 housing units at an average density of {{convert|124.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 95.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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 [[Marriage|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.
{{clear|left}}

==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 [[William H. "Bill" Stone|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>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i-REAQAAMAAJ&q=ashland+high+school+benton+county+mississippi&pg=PA343|title=Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi: Embracing an Authentic and Comprehensive Account of the Chief Events in the History of the State and a Record of the Lives of Many of the Most Worthy and Illustrious Families and Individuals|date=May 31, 1891|publisher=Goodspeed|via=Google Books}}</ref>

Ashland is served by the [[Benton County School District (Mississippi)|Benton County School District]]. Ashland High School is the public high school in Ashland and serves students from [[Benton County, Mississippi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/mississippi/districts/benton-county-school-district/ashland-middle-high-school-11212|title=Ashland Middle-High School |website=Usnews.com|access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Willie Mitchell (musician)|Willie Mitchell]], musician and owner of [[Hi Records]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nager |first1=Larry |title=Willie Mitchell |url=https://memphismusichalloffame.com/inductee/williemitchell/ |website=Memphis Music Hall of Fame |access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref>
* [[Bill Renick]], former Chief of Staff for [[Ronnie Musgrove]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Bill Renick Biography |url=http://www.mdah.ms.gov/arrec/digital_archives/musgrove/pdfs/25901.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821001845/http://www.mdah.ms.gov/arrec/digital_archives/musgrove/pdfs/25901.pdf |archive-date=August 21, 2016 |url-status=live |website=Mississippi Department of Archives and History |access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref>
* [[Bill Stone (politician)|Bill Stone]], mayor of Ashland from 2001 to 2007<ref>{{cite web |title=Bill Stone |url=http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/members/senate/stone.xml |website=Mississippi State Senate |access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref>
* [[Daniel B. Wright]], [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] for [[Mississippi's 1st congressional district]] from 1853 to 1857<ref name="Congress1961">{{cite book|author=United States. Congress|title=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|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZeBQAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA1851|year=1961|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|pages=1851}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ashland, Mississippi}}
*[https://archive.today/20130111202612/http://www.ashland.ms/ Town of Ashland official website]

{{Benton County, Mississippi}}
{{Mississippi county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Benton County, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Towns in Mississippi]]
[[Category:County seats in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1871]]
[[Category:1871 establishments in Mississippi]]