Ashland is a small town in Hanover County, Virginia. It is about 16 miles north of Richmond. You can find it along major roads like Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1.

In 2020, about 7,565 people lived in Ashland. The town is named after the famous statesman Henry Clay's home in Kentucky. Ashland is the only official "town" in Hanover County. It started as a small area but has grown to about 7.16 square miles today.

Ashland's Story: A Look Back in Time

Ashland has a rich history, starting as a resort town.

How Ashland Began

In the 1840s, the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad helped create Ashland. It was first a resort town with mineral springs and a racetrack. The town got its name, "Ashland," from Henry Clay's estate in Kentucky. It officially became a town on February 19, 1858. Before that, the area was known as "The Slashes." This name might have meant "swamp" or referred to small ditches in the soil.

Ashland During the Civil War

During the American Civil War, Confederate soldiers trained on the old racetrack. The war caused a lot of damage to Ashland. After the war, in 1868, Randolph–Macon College moved to Ashland. They used buildings from a hotel that had gone out of business.

Growing with Railroads and Roads

The railroad lines were rebuilt after the war. People started buying land and building homes in Ashland, using monthly train passes to Richmond. In 1907, a rich businessman named Jay Gould built an electric train line between Ashland and Richmond. This made Ashland one of the first "streetcar suburbs" of Richmond. This electric train line stopped running in 1938.

Later, the building of U.S. Route 1 and I-95 also helped shape the town.

Ashland station

Historic Churches in Ashland

Ashland is home to many old churches. One of Virginia's oldest churches, Slash Church, is about 5 miles away. It was built in 1729. Many churches were built in Ashland after the Civil War. Some historic churches still standing include:

Ashland Baptist Church (built 1860)
Shiloh Baptist Church (built 1866)
Duncan Memorial Chapel (Methodist, built 1879)
St. Ann's Catholic Church (built 1892)
Ashland Presbyterian Church (built 1875-1881)

Where is Ashland? Geography and Climate

Ashland is located in the middle of Hanover County.

Ashland's Location and Size

U.S. Route 1 runs through the east side of town. It goes north to Doswell and south to Richmond. Interstate 95 also passes through Ashland, with an exit at number 92. I-95 goes north to Fredericksburg and Washington, D.C., and south to Richmond and Petersburg. Virginia State Route 54 also goes through Ashland.

Ashland covers about 7.16 square miles of land. A very small part, about 0.03 square miles, is water. Rivers like the South Anna River and the Chickahominy River drain the area.

Ashland's Weather

Ashland has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cold. Temperatures in January average around 36.4°F, while in July they average about 77.4°F.

Who Lives in Ashland? Population Facts

Let's look at the people who call Ashland home.

Population Growth Over Time

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1860	148	—
1870	491	231.8%
1880	764	55.6%
1890	948	24.1%
1900	1,147	21.0%
1910	1,324	15.4%
1920	1,290	−2.6%
1930	1,297	0.5%
1940	1,718	32.5%
1950	2,610	51.9%
1960	2,773	6.2%
1970	2,934	5.8%
1980	4,640	58.1%
1990	5,864	26.4%
2000	6,619	12.9%
2010	7,225	9.2%
2020	7,565	4.7%

In 2020, there were 7,565 people living in Ashland. There were 2,660 households. Most residents were White (64.2%), and a significant number were African American (21.6%). About 13.5% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

The average income for a household in Ashland was $55,521.

How Ashland is Run: Public Services

Ashland has a local government and important services for its residents.

Town Government

Ashland is governed by a five-member town council. A town manager, chosen by the council, handles the daily operations.

Safety and Community Services

The Ashland Volunteer Fire Company started in 1890. Today, Hanover County Fire-EMS provides full-time staff, helped by volunteers. The Ashland Police Department has 25 full-time officers. They are recognized for their high standards by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

The town's library is part of the Pamunkey Regional Library System. There are also libraries at the courthouse and Randolph–Macon College.

Getting Around Ashland: Transportation

Ashland has good connections for travel.

Roads and Airports

The main highway connection is to I-95 at exit 92. For air travel, Richmond International Airport is about 26 miles away. There's also a smaller airport, Hanover County Municipal Airport, for private planes.

Train Travel

Ashland's train station is served by Amtrak trains. You can take trains to Richmond, Newport News, and Norfolk. Trains also go north to Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston.

Other long-distance Amtrak trains pass through Ashland without stopping. These trains use the CSX railroad tracks that go right through downtown. As these trains pass, announcers often point out the Randolph–Macon College campus and the buildings facing the tracks.

There have been talks about adding a third train track to improve service between Washington, D.C., and Richmond. However, some people in Ashland are worried this might change the town's unique charm.

Fun Things to Do in Ashland: Attractions and Events

Ashland is known for being a great place to live and visit.

Parks and Recreation

Pufferbelly Park is a fun spot with playground equipment. It also has the town's public skatepark, which opened in 2004.

Popular Festivals and Shows

Strawberry Faire: For nearly 35 years, Ashland has hosted the "Strawberry Faire" in June. Vendors sell many items, often with a strawberry theme. There's a pageant for Little Miss and Mister Strawberry, and local artists perform. Scholarships are also given to students.
Ashland Musical Variety Show: This talent show happens every two years. Local residents perform songs and skits. It raises money for the Hanover Arts & Activities Center.
Ashland Train Day: This family-friendly event takes place on the last Saturday in April. Vendors gather along Railroad Avenue. Visitors can see many CSX freight trains and Amtrak passenger trains. During the event, some streets are closed to cars.

Awards and Recognition

In 2009, Bloomberg Business called Ashland the "Best Place to Raise your Kids" in Virginia. In 2014, Movoto.com named Ashland one of America's 10 best small towns.

Images for kids

Location in Hanover County and the state of Virginia
Ashland Town Hall
Seal of Ashland, Virginia
Logo of Ashland, Virginia

Ashland, Virginia facts for kids

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