Ashland County is located in northwest Wisconsin and was created in 1860 from a portion of the territory then known as La Pointe County.  Martin Beaser, one of the founders of the Town of Ashland and an ardent admirer of Henry Clay, named the town after Henry Clay's home in Kentucky.  The name Ashland was later designated as the name of the county. 

Ashland County is the home of the Great Divide, where the waters flow North to Lake Superior and South to join the Mississippi.  The county includes the Apostle Islands and Madeline Island of Lake Superior.  The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation is in Ashland County.

The county seat is Ashland, located on Chequamegon Bay of Lake Superior.  Legend says that Chequamegon Bay was the "Shining Big Sea Water" immortalized by Longfellow in his poem "Hiawatha."

Population:    16,651 (2003 estimate)

Land Area:     1,044 square miles

Information Links

• Ashland County Website
• U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts - Ashland County

Municipalities in Ashland County

Agenda, Town of     

Ashland, City of

Ashland, Town of

Butternut, Village of

Chippewa, Town of

Gingles, Town of

Gordon, Town of

Jacobs, Town of

La Pointe, Town of

Marengo, Town of

Mellen, City of

Morse, Town of

Peeksville, Town of

Sanborn, Town of

Shanagolden, Town of

White River, Town of

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