Ashland, Nebraska
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Ashland is a city located in Saunders County, Nebraska. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,262.
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History
Ashland is located at the site of a low-water limestone ledge forming the bottom of Salt Creek, an otherwise mud-bottomed waterway that was a formidable obstacle for wagon trains on the great westward migrations of the late 1840s and 1850s. The Ox-Bow Trail, a variant route of the Oregon Trail, ran from Nebraska City on the Missouri to Fort Kearny on the Platte, where it joined the main body of the Oregon Trail. The limestone bottom of the Salt at Ashland was a far superior crossing of that stream than any other, and a town, Saline Ford, was born.
Saline Ford was a trading post, and exemplified the 'wild west.' Proper families prospered by the trade at the crossing, but didn't want to live there. So up on a hill overlooking the Salt Valley, the village of Flora City was born. These twin towns later were incorporated as Ashland.
Today, Ashland benefits by its proximity to Interstate 80, and its position halfway between Nebraska's two largest cities. While in some respects Ashland is becoming a 'bedroom community' of those much larger cities, it retains a rural character, not a suburban one. That coherence as a community, and a 30-minute drive to either of the state's economic hubs, has led to a building boom, with housing developments geared to high income and middle-income families currently under construction (2004).
Other historical references on the web:
1983 Saunders County History (http://www.rootsweb.com/~nesaunde/1983hist/saco83-p44.html)
Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska (http://www.kancoll.org/books/andreas_ne/saunders/saunders-p5.html)
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.7 km² (1.1 mi²). 2.7 km² (1.1 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Geography
Ashland is located at 41°2'26" North, 96°22'21" West (41.040548, -96.372389)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.7 km² (1.1 mi²). 2.7 km² (1.1 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 2,262 people, 877 households, and 591 families residing in the city. The population density is 823.9/km² (2,130.2/mi²). There are 930 housing units at an average density of 338.8/km² (875.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 98.76% White, 0.13% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.27% from two or more races. 1.64% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 877 households out of which 33.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% are married couples living together, 10.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% are non-families. 26.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.47 and the average family size is 3.01.
In the city the population is spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $40,441, and the median income for a family is $47,428. Males have a median income of $32,339 versus $21,328 for females. The per capita income for the city is $19,072. 9.5% of the population and 9.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.6% of those under the age of 18 and 9.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External links
- City of Ashland (http://www.ashland-ne.com/)