Ashland, Kentucky

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.

Related Topics:
Boyd County, Kentucky - Ohio River - 2000

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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 it's 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.

Related Topics:
Shenandoah Valley - Cumberland Gap - Ohio River - Henry Clay - Lexington, KY

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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.

Related Topics:
Marathon Oil - Ashland Oil

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The Paramount Arts Center, an art-deco converted movie theater built in 1930, is situated on Ashland's main thoroughfare, Winchester Avenue. The theater serves as an important venue for the arts in Eastern Kentucky and the tri-state (Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia) area. Also on Winchester Avenue is the Highlands Museum and Discovery Center. Among its exhibits, the museum hosts a Country Music Heritage exhibit that pays tribute to local music artists from along US 23, including the Judds and Billy Ray Cyrus who hail from Ashland. The city also boasts a 47-acre wooded Central Park that hosts an annual holiday light show, Winter Wonderland of Lights. The city is host to several summer events as well including Poage's Landing Days and Summer Motion.

Related Topics:
Paramount Arts Center - Kentucky - Ohio - West Virginia - US 23 - Judds - Billy Ray Cyrus

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The Daily Independent is Ashland's daily newspaper. With it's first publication made in 1896 in the nearby river city Catlettsburg, KY, the paper later moved its offices to Ashland in 1900. It now serves not only Ashland and Boyd County, but portions of the tri-state and surrounding counties as well with a circulation of more than 21,000.

Related Topics:
Catlettsburg, KY - Boyd County

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Ashland Community and Technical College has multiple campuses within the city. Morehead State University also has a satellite campus in town.

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