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.

Institutions and Cultural events

Southern Oregon University, a four-year university, offers programs in science and liberal arts. It has an enrollment of 5700 students, and offers graduate programs in business, education, and the arts and sciences.

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Ashland is well-known for its annual Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which brings thousands of visitors to the city every year. The festival has grown from a summer outdoor festival to a season which stretches from February to October, incorporating Shakespeare and non-Shakespeare plays in three theaters.

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The National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory, located in Ashland, is the world's only crime lab dedicated to wildlife, and serves law enforcement both within and without the United States.

Related Topics:
National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory - United States

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[[Image:Demi-Lithia-Park-Green-20050305-port.jpeg|left|thumb|150px|OSF's theater

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above the main green of Lithia Park]]

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Lithia Park is a 100 acre (0.4 km²) park extending from the center of town ("The Plaza") up Ashland Creek to the foothills of Mount Ashland. It includes two ponds, tennis courts, two public greens, a bandshell (outdoor stage) and miles of hiking trails.

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Ashland is home to a thriving educational community. The Ashland School District oversees three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school.

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