Ashland, Greene County, New York

Early settlements were abandoned during the American Revolution, but the town was re-settled in 1788.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}} The town was created from parts of the towns of Windham and Prattsville in 1848.{{Cite web |last=Hitchcock |first=O.B. |date=1884 |title=History of Greene County New York with Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men |url=https://sites.rootsweb.com/~nygreen2/beers_history_of_greene_county_ashland.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209091530/https://sites.rootsweb.com/~nygreen2/beers_history_of_greene_county_ashland.htm |archive-date=February 9, 2023 |access-date=February 9, 2023 |website=Rootsweb}}

When the town was still part of Windham, it was called Scienceville{{cite web |url= https://www.townofwindhamny.com/history-of-windham/ |title= History of Windham |website= townofwindhamny.com |publisher= Town of Windham, New York |access-date= October 12, 2023}} due to there being "some families of more than ordinary education"{{cite book |last= Dodd |first= Henry Martyn |date= 1903 |title= 1803-1903 Centennial of the Old First Congregational Church, Windham, New York, June 16th, 1903 |url= https://archive.org/details/cu31924010165953/page/n39/mode/2up |location= Windham, NY |publisher= Windham Journal Print |page=40 |isbn=}} in the area. When Scienceville became a separate community in 1848, it was renamed Ashland after the estate of Henry Clay.{{sfn|Dodd|1903|p=41}}

The presence of hemlock forests led to a tanning industry. Hemlock bark was an important raw material used for leather tanning,{{cite book |last=Hergert |first= Herbert L. |editor-first1= Richard W. |editor-first2= Joseph J. |editor-first3= Susan J. |editor-last1= Hemingway |editor-last2= Karchesy |editor-last3= Branham |date= 1989 |chapter= Hemlock and Spruce Tannins: An Odyssey |title= Chemistry and Significance of Condensed Tannins |chapter-url= https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4684-7511-1_1 |location= New York, NY |publisher= Plenum Press |page= 3 |doi= 10.1007/978-1-4684-7511-1 |isbn= 978-1-4684-7513-5}} due to it being a good source of tannic acid.{{cite web |url= https://northernwoodlands.org/articles/article/hemlock-and-hide-the-tanbark-industry-in-old-new-york |title= Hemlock and Hide: The Tanbark Industry in Old New York |author= Hugh O. Canham |date=Summer 2011 |website= northernwoodlands.org |publisher= Northern Woodlands |access-date=

}}

However, Ashland suffered a recession in the early 1850s when its tanning industry collapsed after the community exhausted its supply of hemlock bark. Around the same time, the cotton and wool mills lost business due to being located inland, resulting in expensive transportation rates.{{sfn|Dodd|1903|p=41}}

In 1890, the population was 560.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

A local YMCA was opened on March 29, 1895, but closed due to a lack of support in 1901.{{sfn|Dodd|1903|p=46}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|26.0|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

The town is at the northern border of the Catskill Park. The northern town line is the border of Schoharie County.

{{US Census population

|1850= 1290

|1860= 1212

|1870= 992

|1880= 899

|1890= 787

|1900= 692

|1910= 640

|1920= 560

|1930= 482

|1940= 566

|1950= 542

|1960= 548

|1970= 397

|1980= 744

|1990= 803

|2000= 752

|2010= 784

|2020= 682

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=Census of Population and Housing |publisher=Census.gov |accessdate=June 4, 2015 }}{{failed verification|date=November 2022|reason=no mention of Ashland at this link}} 2020

}}

{{update|section|date=November 2022|reason=Newer information is available from the 2010 and 2020 census reports}}

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 752 people, 304 households, and 214 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|29.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 603 housing units at an average density of {{convert|23.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 97.21% White, 0.53% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.53% Asian, and 1.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.93% of the population.

There were 304 households, out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,357, and the median income for a family was $42,031. Males had a median income of $34,750 versus $28,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,029. About 9.8% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.2% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

• Ashland – The hamlet of Ashland is in the southern part of the town on Route 23. It is located at the edge of the Catskill Park and at the southern town line. An early name for the community was "Scienceville".
• Batavia Kill – A westward-flowing stream that passes Ashland village.
• Four Corners – A hamlet on the western town line.
• North Settlement – A hamlet northeast of Ashland village, located on Route 10 by the eastern town line.
• West Settlement – A hamlet northwest of Ashland village, located on Route 10.

{{Coord|42|18|13|N|74|20|01|W|type:city_region:US-NY|display=title}}

{{portal|New York (state)}}

• [http://www.ashlandny.com Town of Ashland official website]

{{Greene County, New York}}

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Category:Towns in Greene County, New York

Category:Towns in New York (state)

Category:1848 establishments in New York (state)