Ashland

Formed March 27, 1860 (58^th county)

Ashland County (16,033), Ashland (7,913)

The masonry Neo-Classical and Beaux Arts facility was constructed in 1915.  It is on a square at Main Street, 2^nd Avenue, Lake Shore Drive, and 3^rd Avenue.  United States Highway 2 is Lake Shore Drive in this part of the town.  Henry Wildhagen provided the designs.  The courthouse overlooks Lake Superior to the north.  There was an 1877 courthouse previously also in Ashland.  Although La Pointe was designated the first county seat Ashland has had all courthouses since 1860.  The county was formed on March 27, 1860 from Bayfield County as the 58^th county.  Ashland County and its county seat are named for the estate of American statesman Henry Clay. 

Ashland County government consists of a sheriff and 21 Supervisors.  One Circuit Court Judge serves Ashland County.  Ashland County is on the northwest border with Minnesota and Canada.  Green Bay, Wisconsin is southeast and Minneapolis, Minnesota is southwest of the county.  Lake Superior forms its northern border.  The county center is 11 miles East-Southeast of Ashland nearer Odanah.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Minnesota, Canada, and Michigan and Iron, Price, Sawyer, and Bayfield counties. 

The area of the county is 1045.0 square miles.  It is 11 out of 72 in the state.  It ranks 63 out of 72 in population in the state.  It has a density of 15.3 persons per square mile making it 65 out of 72 in the state.  Ashland County has 56.0% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 2 crosses through the county from east to west from Iron County to Bayfield County.  The county is a multiple legged capital letter L with a number of bubbles coming out of its top.  The City of Ashland is located on the northwest border of the county and extends into Bayfield County.  Ashland is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 49.4% of the county population.