Ashford, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ashford, Alabama
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Location of Ashford in Houston County, Alabama.
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Alabama | |
| County | Houston | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 6.22 sq mi (16.12 km2) | |
| • Land | 6.20 sq mi (16.06 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2) | |
| Elevation | 279 ft (85 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,246 | |
| • Density | 362.14/sq mi (139.81/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP code |
36312
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| Area code(s) | 334 | |
| FIPS code | 01-02836 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0113251 | |
Ashford is a town located in Houston County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the larger Dothan Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town officially became a town in June 1891.
For many years, Ashford was important for making naval stores (like tar and pitch), harvesting pulpwood (wood for paper), and growing cotton. In 2020, about 2,246 people lived in Ashford.
Contents
Exploring Ashford's Location
Ashford is found a little northeast of the center of Houston County. Its exact location is 31°11′3″N 85°14′7″W / 31.18417°N 85.23528°W. U.S. Route 84 runs through the southern part of the town.
This highway connects Ashford to Dothan, which is about 9 miles (14 km) to the west. It also leads southeast to Donalsonville, Georgia, about 24 miles (39 km) away. The Chattahoochee River, which forms the border with Georgia, is about 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Ashford.
The town covers a total area of about 6.22 square miles (16.12 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small part being water.
Ashford's Past: A Look at History
In March 1888, the Alabama Midland Railway built a small depot in Ashford. This depot was a stop along the train route from Bainbridge to Montgomery. It was the only building that survived a big fire in 1915 that destroyed the rest of the town.
The depot was expanded over time. It gained a warehouse and a loading dock. Later, separate waiting rooms for passengers were added. Trains used the depot to load products like turpentine and pulpwood. They also loaded cotton bales, fertilizer, and even sweet potatoes.
Over the years, the railroad companies changed hands. The Ashford Depot closed in 1978 and started to fall apart. In the 1980s, local citizens formed a group to save the depot. They got money to put a new roof on the building. They also got the depot listed on the Alabama Register of Historical Places.
Later, in the 2000s, the mayor helped restart the preservation efforts. The committee received several grants to fully fix up the depot. Work began in 2004, and the first part of the renovation was finished in November 2005. Today, the depot is used for community events like reunions and birthdays.
On October 10, 2018, Hurricane Michael passed through Ashford. The storm caused a lot of damage and left the entire city without power. Luckily, no one was hurt or died because of the hurricane.
Learning in Ashford: Schools and Education
Schools in Ashford are part of the Houston County Board of Education. Ashford has two main public schools. Ashford Elementary School teaches students from kindergarten through 5th grade. Ashford High School serves students from 6th to 12th grade.
The school mascot is the Yellow Jacket, and its name is Buzz! The current principal of Ashford Elementary School is Sharon LeRoy. Dr. Donnie Chambers is the principal of Ashford High School.
Ashford Academy was a private school in the town. However, it closed its doors at the end of the 2014–2015 school year.
Fun in Ashford: Recreation and Sports
The City of Ashford offers many fun activities throughout the year. Kids and teens can join in sports like baseball, softball, soccer, and basketball. Football and cheerleading are organized by the Ashford Youth Sports Association.
The main sports fields are located behind Ashford High School on 8th Avenue. These fields include areas for T-Ball, softball, and baseball. Basketball games are played at Watermark Church of Ashford.
Ashford has also hosted important sports events. In 2015, the town hosted the Alabama State Class "A" Baseball Tournament. In 2021, the Ashford recreation boys 8u all-star team won the state championship in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They then went on to play in the Dixie Youth World Series in Laurel, Mississippi, where they finished 3rd in their division.
Ashford's People: Demographics
Population Growth in Ashford
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 286 | — | |
| 1910 | 479 | 67.5% | |
| 1920 | 754 | 57.4% | |
| 1930 | 920 | 22.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,224 | 33.0% | |
| 1950 | 1,400 | 14.4% | |
| 1960 | 1,511 | 7.9% | |
| 1970 | 1,980 | 31.0% | |
| 1980 | 2,165 | 9.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,926 | −11.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,853 | −3.8% | |
| 2010 | 2,148 | 15.9% | |
| 2020 | 2,246 | 4.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Ashford first appeared in the U.S. Census in 1900 as a town in Henry County. In 1903, Ashford became part of the new Houston County.
Who Lives in Ashford?
According to the 2010 census, there were 2,148 people living in Ashford. Most residents were White (79.0%), followed by Black or African American (19.5%). A small number of people were Native American, Asian, or from two or more races. About 0.8% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
There were 867 households in the town. About 27.8% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.48 people.
The median age of people in Ashford was 41.2 years old. This means half the population was older than 41.2, and half was younger. About 23.7% of the population was under 18 years old.
In 2020, the population of Ashford grew to 2,246 people. The racial makeup was similar, with White residents making up about 73.29% and Black or African American residents about 20.39%.
Notable People from Ashford
- Robert Stewart, a former player in the Arena Football League.
See also
In Spanish: Ashford (Alabama) para niños
