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On July 5, 1854, Asaph Whittlesey and George Kilborn started the first settlement at what is now Ashland, Wisconsin, at the head of Lake Superior’s Chequamegon Bay. Asaph’s journey from Ashland to Chippewa Falls on snowshoes to catch a Madison-bound train is a favorite of local lore, and his attire on that day is depicted on a downtown Ashland mural. Asaph went to Madison to take a legislative seat, and so he is Ashland's first legislator.
Photo Courtesy: Ashland Historical Society.
Ashland County was formed in the 1860s, though the city of Ashland was deserted by nearly all settlers a few years later. In 1869, the settlers returned, and shortly thereafter industry started booming.
Sawmills opened, followed by construction of a commercial dock, and finally a rail line. In 1877, the first train came to Ashland and by 1880 there were 951 residents, though this number increased greatly in just one decade - in 1890 the city population was 9,956!
John F. Kennedy visited Northland College in 1963.
The city formally incorporated in 1887, was once home to four nursing schools, and was the starting point for John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1960.
The city hit its peak population of more than 21,000 – more than double its current population of 8,620 – in 1900.
Today, Ashland’s industries are centered on education, health care, and tourism. The city is a regional retail center and has a thriving cultural base.
For more information about the city of Ashland and its history, visit the Ashland Historical Society Museum, Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at 509 West Main Street, in Ashland. Or, look on the web: http://www.ashlandhistory.com/.
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