Ashland is a city located in Boyd County, Kentucky, nestled along the banks of the Ohio River. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 21,981.
Ashland is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649.
Ashland is located at 38°27'50" North, 82°38'30" West (38.464017, -82.641571).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 31.6 km2 (12.2 mi2). 28.7 km2 (11.1 mi2) of it is land and 2.9 km2 (1.1 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 9.18% water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 21,981 people, 9,675 households, and 6,192 families residing in the city. The population density is 766.0/km2 (1,984.4/mi2). There are 10,763 housing units at an average density of 375.1/km2 (971.7/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 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% from two or more races. 0.59% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 9,675 households out of which 26.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% are married couples living together, 13.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% are non-families. 33.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 16.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.23 and the average family size is 2.82.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 83.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 79.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $30,309, and the median income for a family is $40,131. Males have a median income of $35,362 versus $23,994 for females. The per capita income for the city is $19,218. 18.4% of the population and 14.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 28.3% of those under the age of 18 and 12.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Ashland's recorded history begins with the migration of the Scotch-Irish Poage family from the Shenandoah Valley via the famed Cumberland Gap. They settled a homestead on the Ohio River in 1786 by the name of Poage's Landing. It was not until 1854 that Ashland received its modern name when a stockholder in the Kentucky Iron, Coal and Manufacturing Company suggested it be named after the famous statesman Henry Clay's home, "Ashland," located in Lexington, KY.
From its roots in iron manufacturing, Ashland has developed as a center of industry in Eastern Kentucky. Today, the Catlettsburg Marathon Oil Refinery (formerly Ashland Oil) and AK Steel (formerly Armco) remain pillars of Ashland's industrial economy. Currently, however, King's Daughters Medical Center is the city's largest employer.
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Ashland, KY
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