Ashland, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ashland, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Mothers' Memorial has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places
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| Nickname(s):
Black Diamonds
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| Motto(s):
Preserving Anthracite's Legacy
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 Ashland, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Ashland, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Pennsylvania | |
| Counties | Schuylkill / Columbia | |
| Settled | 1820 | |
| Laid out | 1847 | |
| Incorporated | 1857 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Borough Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1.66 sq mi (4.29 km2) | |
| • Land | 1.66 sq mi (4.29 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | |
| Elevation | 980 ft (300 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,471 | |
| • Density | 1,490.35/sq mi (575.46/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP Code |
17921
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| Area codes | 570 and 272 | |
| FIPS code | 42-03264 | |
Ashland is a small town, called a borough, in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. It's about 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Pottsville. Most of Ashland is in Schuylkill County, but a tiny part is also in Columbia County.
Ashland is located in the anthracite coal region of eastern Pennsylvania. This means it was once a very important place for mining a special type of coal. The town was settled in 1850 and became an official borough in 1857. It was named after the home of a famous American, Henry Clay, in Kentucky.
In the early 1900s, Ashland was much larger, with thousands of people living there. Today, the population is smaller, with 2,471 residents counted in 2020. A cool place to visit in Ashland is the Pioneer Tunnel. It's a tourist spot where you can explore a real coal mine on mine cars. You can also ride a narrow-gauge steam train!
Contents
History of Ashland
For many years, the area where Ashland now stands was mostly wild land. There was just one hotel there in 1820. But a smart person named Burd S. Patterson thought the area would become a big mining town. In 1845, he bought 800 acres of land in Ashland with John P. Brock and James Hart.
In 1846, miners led by Patrick Devine found coal in the area. This discovery helped the town grow. By 1857, Ashland had 3,500 people and became its own borough. The first post office opened in 1853, and the first church was built in 1855.
Mothers' Memorial
The Mothers' Memorial is a special statue in Ashland. It's also known as the Whistlers Mother Statue. It's a bronze copy of a famous painting called "Whistler's Mother." This memorial honors all mothers in the United States. It's the only one of its kind in the world!
The statue was designed by Emil Siebern and built during the Great Depression. The Ashland Boys' Association helped make it happen. It was dedicated on September 4, 1938. The stone work was done by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a program started by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to help the economy. In 2020, the Mothers' Memorial became a part of the National Register of Historic Places.
Ashland Boys' Association
The Ashland Boys' Association (A.B.A.) is a touching story about people who grew up in Ashland. Many had to leave town to find work when coal mining slowed down in the late 1800s. But these men would come back to Ashland every Labor Day weekend for over a century. They visited family and friends and marched in a big parade.
This group showed how much they loved their hometown. They helped build the Mothers' Memorial statue. This statue became a symbol of motherhood in the United States. In 2013, the Ashland Boys' Association was honored with a special State Historical Marker.
Goyne Pump Company
Goyne Brothers started as a family business in 1881. They later changed their name to Goyne Steam Pump Company in 1903. They made machines for mining. By 1883, they decided to focus on making mining pumps.
By 1911, the Goyne Steam Pump Company was known as one of the biggest companies making only mine pumps in the United States. They invented and built over 250 different types of mining pumps. These pumps were used in coal mines all over Pennsylvania and the U.S. The company changed its name to Goyne Pump Company in 1955 and was bought by Goulds Pumps in 1979.
Points of interest
- Mothers’ Memorial (Whistler's Mother Statue)
- Ashland Boys’ Association Pennsylvania Historical Marker
- Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine and Steam Train
- Ashland Area Historic Preservation Society Museum
- Station House
- Dr. J. L. Hoffman Memorial
- The Museum of Anthracite Mining
- Military Veterans Monument
- World War I Field Piece
- Washington Fire Company Historic Bell Tower/Foghorn
- Ashland Town Clock
Geography
Ashland is located in Schuylkill County. A very small part of the borough also goes into Columbia County. The town is surrounded by Butler Township in Schuylkill County and Conyngham Township in Columbia County. Ashland covers about 1.66 square miles (4.3 square kilometers) of land.
Two main roads, Pennsylvania Route 54 and Pennsylvania Route 61, go through Ashland. These roads connect Ashland to other nearby towns like Girardville, Shenandoah, and Mount Carmel. Both highways share Centre Street, which is the main street in Ashland.
Most of Ashland is covered by forest. The center of town is more urban, with buildings and streets. The area has many steep hills, but they are flatter near the town center. Ashland Mountain is on the southern border of the borough. It rises about 400 to 600 feet (120 to 180 meters) above the town.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 224 | — | |
| 1860 | 3,880 | 1,632.1% | |
| 1870 | 5,714 | 47.3% | |
| 1880 | 6,052 | 5.9% | |
| 1890 | 7,346 | 21.4% | |
| 1900 | 6,438 | −12.4% | |
| 1910 | 6,855 | 6.5% | |
| 1920 | 6,686 | −2.5% | |
| 1930 | 7,164 | 7.1% | |
| 1940 | 7,045 | −1.7% | |
| 1950 | 6,192 | −12.1% | |
| 1960 | 5,237 | −15.4% | |
| 1970 | 4,737 | −9.5% | |
| 1980 | 4,235 | −10.6% | |
| 1990 | 3,859 | −8.9% | |
| 2000 | 3,283 | −14.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,817 | −14.2% | |
| 2020 | 2,471 | −12.3% | |
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In 2010, there were 2,817 people living in Ashland. There were 1,301 households, which are groups of people living together. About 776 of these were families.
The population of Ashland has changed a lot over the years. In 1900, there were 6,438 people, and in 1940, it reached 7,045. However, the population has slowly decreased since then. By 2020, there were 2,471 people living in the borough.
Education
All kids in Ashland who are old enough for school go to the North Schuylkill School District. The school is located at 15 Academy Lane, Ashland, in nearby Butler Township. The school district has two main schools:
- North Schuylkill Elementary School (for grades Kindergarten to 6th)
- North Schuylkill Junior Senior High School (for grades 7th to 12th)
The North Schuylkill School District serves students from both Schuylkill County and Columbia County, just like the Borough of Ashland. Students from several other nearby towns and townships also attend this school district. These include Butler Township, Conyngham Township, Frackville, Girardville, Gordon, Ringtown, and Union Township.
The school district also provides special education services for students who need extra help. For older students, there are programs for job training and adult education. These are offered through the school district and the Schuylkill Technology Centers.
Notable people
Ashland has been home to many interesting people, including:
- Janet Asimov: A science fiction writer and psychiatrist.
- Bill Dando: A professional football coach and player.
- Mickey Doolan: A professional baseball player and coach.
- Dennis Joseph Dougherty: A high-ranking leader in the Roman Catholic Church.
- Woody Erdman: A sportscaster and TV producer.
- Alfred Buckwalter Garner: A Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Griffith J. Griffith: An industrialist and giver of money to good causes.
- Robert Douglas Heaton: A Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Doggie Julian: A famous basketball coach.
- Carson Long: An NFL player who was part of a national champion college football team.
- George Robert Patterson: A Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Edmund William Samuel: A Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Emil Seidel: The first socialist mayor of a major U.S. city (Milwaukee, Wisconsin).
- Charles W. Staudenmeier: A Republican member of the PA House and Senate, and a judge.
- Jack Stivetts: A professional baseball player.
- William J. Waltersheid: A Bishop in the Roman Catholic Church.
Gallery
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Ashland Welcome Sign
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Museum of Anthracite Mining Ashland Borough Hall
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Ashland Town Clock
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Ashland Downtown
See also
In Spanish: Ashland (Pensilvania) para niños
