Ashland, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
Ashland is a town in Benton County
, Mississippi
, United States
. The population was 577 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Benton County
. Ashland was incorporated on March 8, 1871 and has a Mayor-Alderman form of government. Mitch Carroll is the 28th Mayor of the Town of Ashland, and Sandra Gresham, Fort Knighton, Bobby Miller, Billy Taylor and Shannon Wilburn make up the present Board of Aldermen. Bill Stone
was elected to Mississippi State Senate in November 2007 and a special election was held in the town of Ashland to fill mayoral vacancy. Mitch Carroll defeated brother Mike Carroll by 17 votes to secure the position.
Ashland is the home of the Farese Law Firm, a regional firm renowned for its criminal and civil work. The firm has most recently been involved in the high profile Mary Winkler
case from Selmer, Tennessee. Ashland is also home of Bill Renick
, a 2007 candidate for Governor of Mississippi. Willie Mitchell, the legendary Memphis
musician, owner of Hi Records
, and producer of Al Green
, is also from here.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 577 people, 207 households, and 142 families residing in the town. The population density
was 316.0 people per square mile (121.7/km²). There were 227 housing units at an average density of 124.3 per square mile (47.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.10% White, .75% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.17% from other races
, and 3.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.73% of the population.
There were 207 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples
living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.68.
In the town the population was spread out with 15.9% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 31.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,088, and the median income for a family was $29,911. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $20,455 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,073. About 14.6% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.2% of those under age 18 and 22.1% of those age 65 or over.
.
Benton County, Mississippi
-Demographics:At the 2000 census, there were 8,026 people, 2,999 households and 2,216 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 per square mile . There were 3,456 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 577 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Benton County
Benton County, Mississippi
-Demographics:At the 2000 census, there were 8,026 people, 2,999 households and 2,216 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 per square mile . There were 3,456 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
. Ashland was incorporated on March 8, 1871 and has a Mayor-Alderman form of government. Mitch Carroll is the 28th Mayor of the Town of Ashland, and Sandra Gresham, Fort Knighton, Bobby Miller, Billy Taylor and Shannon Wilburn make up the present Board of Aldermen. Bill Stone
William H. "Bill" Stone
Bill Stone is member of the Mississippi State Senate representing Senate District 2, Benton, Marshall and Tippah counties....
was elected to Mississippi State Senate in November 2007 and a special election was held in the town of Ashland to fill mayoral vacancy. Mitch Carroll defeated brother Mike Carroll by 17 votes to secure the position.
Ashland is the home of the Farese Law Firm, a regional firm renowned for its criminal and civil work. The firm has most recently been involved in the high profile Mary Winkler
Mary Winkler
Mary Carol Winkler was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the 2006 shooting death of her husband, Matthew Winkler, the pulpit minister at the Fourth Street Church of Christ in the small town of Selmer, Tennessee...
case from Selmer, Tennessee. Ashland is also home of Bill Renick
Bill Renick
Bill Renick is a former Mayor of Ashland, Mississippi, and campaigned for Governor of Mississippi as a Democrat before withdrawing on April 23, 2007. At the age of 18, he became one of the youngest elected officials in the history of Mississippi when he was elected an alderman for the city of...
, a 2007 candidate for Governor of Mississippi. Willie Mitchell, the legendary Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
musician, owner of Hi Records
Hi Records
Hi Records was a Memphis soul and rockabilly label started in 1957 by singer Ray Harris, record store owner Joe Cuoghi, Bill Cantrell and Quinton Claunch , and three silent partners, including Cuoghi's lawyer, Nick Pesce....
, and producer of Al Green
Al Green
Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
, is also from here.
Geography
Ashland is located at 34°49′57"N 89°10′45"W (34.832368, -89.179094).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²), all land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 577 people, 207 households, and 142 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 316.0 people per square mile (121.7/km²). There were 227 housing units at an average density of 124.3 per square mile (47.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.10% White, .75% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.17% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.73% of the population.
There were 207 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.68.
In the town the population was spread out with 15.9% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 31.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,088, and the median income for a family was $29,911. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $20,455 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $14,073. About 14.6% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.2% of those under age 18 and 22.1% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The Town of Ashland is served by the Benton County School DistrictBenton County School District (Mississippi)
The Benton County School District is a public school district based in Ashland, Mississippi . The district's boundaries parallel that of Benton County.-Schools:*Ashland Middle/High School *Ashland Elementary School...
.