Ashland, Oregon

Ashland is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, near Interstate 5 and the California border. It was named after Ashland County, Ohio, point of origin of Abel Helman and other founders, and secondarily for Ashland, Kentucky, where other founders had family connections. It officially became a town with the name Ashland Mills in 1855. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 19,522. It is the home of Southern Oregon University and the nationally renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Economy

Income from tourism comprises a significant portion of Ashland's economy. Many hotels, bed and breakfasts and restaurants support visitors to the Shakespeare Festival as well as other attractions. The town's five largest employers are (in order) Southern Oregon University, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland Public Schools, Ashland Community Hospital and the City of Ashland.

Related Topics:
Hotel - Bed and breakfast

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The median income for a household in the city is $32,670, and the median income for a family is $49,647. Males have a median income of $36,825 versus $30,632 for females. The per capita income for the city is $21,292. 19.6% of the population and 12.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 22.0% of those under the age of 18 and 8.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Related Topics:
Per capita income - Poverty line

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Ashland's city-owned electronic company moved to improve the city's Broadband Internet access in 1999 by creating the Ashland Fiber Network (AFN), which built a $8.5 million fiber optic ring inside the city boundaries. This supports 3,700 cable modem customers (an estimated three-quarters of the market), and splits the local cable television market with Charter Communications. However, as of 2005, the city is currently facing difficulties servicing AFN's debt load.

Related Topics:
Broadband Internet access - 1999 - Fiber optic - Cable television - Charter Communications - As of 2005

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