Editing Ashland City, Tennessee

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Ashland City, Tennessee
| official_name      = 
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = File:Cheatham-county-courthouse-tn1.jpg
| imagesize          = 250px
| image_caption      = [[Cheatham County Courthouse]] in Ashland City
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = 
<!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = File:Cheatham County Tennessee Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Ashland City Highlighted 4702180.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of Ashland City in [[Cheatham County, Tennessee]]
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Tennessee]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Tennessee|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Cheatham County, Tennessee|Cheatham]]

<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = JT Smith
| leader_title1      = Vice Mayor
| leader_name1       = Gerald Greer
<br/>{{URL|https://www.ashlandcitytn.gov/citycouncil|Government website}} (2023)
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1856
| established_title2 = Incorporated
| established_date2  = 1859<ref>''[http://www.state.tn.us/sos/bluebook/05-06/48-data.pdf Tennessee Blue Book]'', 2005–2006, pp. 618-625.</ref>

<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='47'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 29.56
| area_land_km2      = 27.63
| area_water_km2     = 1.93
| area_total_sq_mi   = 11.41
| area_land_sq_mi    = 10.67
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.75

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_total   = 5193
| population_density_km2 = 187.95
| population_density_sq_mi = 486.78

<!-- Notable Residents -->

<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="GR3"/>
| elevation_m        = 130
| elevation_ft       = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|36.2742207|-87.0641699|display=inline,title|format=dms}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 37015
| area_code          = [[Area code 615|615]], [[Area code 629|629]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 47-02180<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>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1304885<ref name="GR3">{{GNIS|1304885}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|https://www.ashlandcitytn.gov/}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| pushpin_map        = USA Tennessee#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Tennessee##Location within the United States
| pushpin_label      = Ashland City
| pushpin_relief     = Yes
}}

'''Ashland City''' is a town and the [[county seat]] of [[Cheatham County, Tennessee]]. Located in [[Middle Tennessee]], it is part of the [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville-Davidson]]–[[Murfreesboro, Tennessee|Murfreesboro]]–[[Franklin, Tennessee|Franklin]], TN [[Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the town's population was 5,193.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4702180| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Ashland City town, Tennessee| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=July 6, 2015| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213063714/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4702180| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

== History ==
Ashland City was created in 1856 as a county seat for the newly established [[Cheatham County]]. The county's commissioners purchased the initial {{convert|50|acre|km2}} of land (now the courthouse square) from James Lenox, and a temporary courthouse was erected shortly thereafter. The temporary structure was replaced by the present courthouse in 1869.<ref name="Cheatham County">James Hallums, "[http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=235 Cheatham County]." ''The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture'', 2002. Retrieved: February 11, 2008.</ref> Ashland City was officially incorporated in 1859.<ref>"{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070621192832/http://www.ashlandcity.net/past.htm Ashland City Past]}}," 2006–2012. Originally published as ''Goodspeed's History of Cheatham County, Tennessee'' by the Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887. Retrieved: February 11, 2008.</ref>

The first major industry in the Ashland City area was a [[forge]] operated by [[Montgomery Bell]] at the Narrows of the [[Harpeth River|Harpeth]], several miles to the southwest, which was established in 1818. In 1835, Samuel Watson established a [[gristmill]] and powder mill along Sycamore Creek, just north of Ashland City. Watson's mill developed into one of the largest powder mills in the South, making it a target during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. The mill continued in operation under various owners until 1904.<ref name="Cheatham County" />

The city was either named after [[Henry Clay]]'s estate [[Ashland (Henry Clay estate)|Ashland]] or by an act of the [[General Assembly of Tennessee]] in 1859, when the city was incorporated, who were inspired by the [[ash tree]]s in the area. Originally called Ashland, "City" was added to the name after the incorporation.<ref name="Miller2001">{{cite book|author=Larry L. Miller|title=Tennessee place names|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zOzPQYkkbaAC&pg=PA183|access-date=November 21, 2011|date=October 2001|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-21478-2|page=9}}</ref>

== Geography ==
Ashland City is located near the center of Cheatham County in a bottomland along the northeast bank of the [[Cumberland River]], a few miles upstream from the river's confluence with the [[Harpeth River]]. The Cheatham State Wildlife Management Area covers most of the hilly area on the opposite side of the Cumberland.

Ashland City is centered on the junction of [[Tennessee State Route 12]], which connects the town with [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] to the southeast and [[Clarksville, Tennessee|Clarksville]] to the northwest, and [[Tennessee State Route 49]], which connects the city to [[Springfield, Tennessee|Springfield]] and [[Kentucky]] to the northeast and [[Charlotte, Tennessee|Charlotte]] to the west.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]] in 2010, the town has a total area of {{convert|28.1|km2|order=flip}}, including {{convert|26.2|km2}} of land and {{convert|2.0|km2|order=flip}}, or 6.95%, water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

[[File:Ashland City Highway 49 TN.jpg|thumb|[[Tennessee State Route 49|State Route 49]] in Ashland City]]

=== Landmarks ===
Sydney's Bluff, located on the opposite bank of the Cumberland River, is visible from most parts of the city, especially from the residential districts which are built on hills rising to the north of the river flood plain. This jagged cliff system, which was carved by the Cumberland River, is popular with local rock climbers and hikers. The bluff was supposedly named after a girl who fell from the bluff while trying to escape hostile [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] in the early 19th century.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060728044629/http://www.savethecumberland.org/historic.htm "Save the Cumberland"], 1999. Retrieved: February 11, 2008.</ref>

Cheatham Lake is a large recreational area that extends up the Cumberland River past Ashland City and is operated by the [[US Army Corps of Engineers]]. The lake area, formed by Cheatham Lock and Dam {{convert|11|mi}} to the northwest of the town, offers many outdoor experiences such as camping, fishing, wildlife viewing, water sports, swimming, and multiple children's play areas. Cheatham Lake is a popular rustic weekend getaway for many surrounding areas.

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1870= 121
|1880= 170
|1890= 358
|1910= 641
|1920= 649
|1930= 712
|1940= 957
|1950= 1024
|1960= 1400
|1970= 2027
|1980= 2329
|1990= 2552
|2000= 3641
|2010= 4541
|2020= 5193
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="GR9">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=March 4, 2012|title=Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses }}</ref><ref name=CensusPopEst>{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2014/PEPANNRES/0400000US47.16200|work=Population Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 6, 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213154700/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2014/PEPANNRES/0400000US47.16200|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:47&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Ashland City racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4702180&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 26, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 4,175
| 80.4%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 309
| 5.95%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 10
| 0.19%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 32
| 0.62%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 11
| 0.21%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 230
| 4.43%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 426
| 8.2%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 5,193 people, 1,986 households, and 1,129 families residing in the town.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 3,641 people, 1,416 households, and 944 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|410.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,508 housing units at an average density of {{convert|170.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the town was 94.04% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.74% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.27% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.25% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.04% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.66% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] people of any race were 2.03% of the population.

There were 1,416 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44, and the average family size was 2.96.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,282, and the median income for a family was $39,550. Males had a median income of $29,694 versus $22,454 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $17,228. About 5.5% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 10.3% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.

== Economy ==
The largest manufacturing operation in Ashland City is [[A. O. Smith]] (State Industries until 2001), which fabricates [[water heating|water heaters]]. The city limits were recently extended southeast along State Highway 12 to the [[Davidson County, Tennessee|Davidson County]] line. This expansion incorporated the Cheatham County Industrial Park, which includes Caymas Boats (across from the former Triton Boats plant) as well as barge building operations, paper products, and concrete manufacturers along the Cumberland River. Ashland City industry is served by the Nashville & Western Railroad (which is a division of the [[Nashville and Eastern Railroad]] corporation).

[[File:Ashland City TN Water Tower.jpg|thumb|Ashland City water tower]]

== Government ==
The mayor of Ashland City, Gerald C. Greer, leads the city government with a 6-member council consisting of 2 council members from each ward, elected at large to serve a term of 4 years. The term date for Mayor Greer is August 2028.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mayor and Council |url=https://www.ashlandcitytn.gov/citycouncil |access-date=September 19, 2023 |website=Ashland City, Tennessee |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikivoyage|Ashland City}}
*[https://www.ashlandcitytn.gov/ Town of Ashland City official website]
*[http://www.mtas.tennessee.edu/public/CHARTERS.nsf/0/75F15F706420582F852568CC0061DA98/$File/ashland.cht.pdf?OpenElement Town charter]

{{Cheatham County, Tennessee}}
{{Tennessee county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Cheatham County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Towns in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Cities in Nashville metropolitan area]]
[[Category:County seats in Tennessee]]