Ashland County is located in the northernmost part of Wisconsin and is bordered by Lake Superior to the north and the state of Michigan to the east. The county covers a total area of 1,524 square miles and has a population of 16,000 people. Ashland County has a diverse geography with rolling hills and forests in the western part of the county and lowlands along Lake Superior. The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is located off the coast of Ashland County, providing visitors with beautiful views of Lake Superior as well as access to recreational activities such as kayaking, sailing, camping and fishing. There are also several rivers that flow through Ashland County including the Bad River, which originates in Iron County and flows south into Lake Superior. Other rivers include the White River, Black River and Bois Brule River which all provide important habitats for fish species such as walleye, northern pike, lake trout and brook trout. In addition to its water resources, Ashland County also boasts large stands of old-growth forests that are home to wildlife species such as white-tailed deer, black bear and moose. These forests provide many recreational opportunities including hiking trails for visitors to enjoy nature at its finest.
Country seat and other main cities of Ashland County, Wisconsin
The county seat of Ashland County is the city of Ashland, which is located on the south shore of Lake Superior. The city has a population of 8,500 people and is home to Northland College and the annual Bayfield Apple Festival. It is also home to several major employers including technology company Larson Manufacturing and healthcare provider Ministry Health Care. The city offers visitors many recreational activities including boating, fishing, swimming, camping and hiking in the nearby Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
According to Countryaah, other cities in Ashland County include Mellen, Bayfield and Washburn. Mellen is a small town with a population of around 1,400 people located in the western part of the county near Lake Superior. It is home to numerous outdoor recreational activities such as skiing, snowmobiling and hunting. Bayfield is a port city located on the shoreline of Lake Superior with a population of around 500 people. It has become an increasingly popular tourist destination due to its proximity to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore as well as its thriving art community with many galleries, shops and restaurants for visitors to explore. Finally, Washburn is located at the mouth of the Bois Brule River where it empties into Lake Superior. The city has a population of around 2,400 people and offers visitors access to popular outdoor recreational activities such as fishing on Lake Superior or canoeing down the Bois Brule River.
History of Ashland County, Wisconsin
Ashland County was founded in 1856 and is located along the south shore of Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin. The area was originally inhabited by the Ojibwe people before being settled by European immigrants in the mid-19th century. The county was named after Henry Clay’s estate in Kentucky, Ashland, and the county seat is also named Ashland.
The timber industry played a major role in the development of Ashland County during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Logging camps were established throughout the county and timber companies built railroads to transport logs from remote areas to ports on Lake Superior. In addition to logging, farming also became an important industry throughout the county as settlers cleared land for crops such as potatoes, wheat and barley.
In more recent years, tourism has become a major economic driver for Ashland County due to its natural beauty and abundant outdoor recreational activities. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest covers over 1 million acres of land within the borders of Ashland County and offers visitors access to trails for hiking, biking and skiing as well as lakes for fishing, boating and swimming. In addition, visitors can explore nearby Apostle Islands National Lakeshore which features stunning sea caves formed by thousands of years of wave action along Lake Superior’s shoreline.
Economy of Ashland County, Wisconsin
Ashland County, Wisconsin is located along the south shore of Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin and has a population of around 16,000 people. The economy of the county is mainly driven by tourism and forestry, with some small-scale farming operations.
Tourism is a major contributor to the economy of Ashland County due to its natural beauty and abundance of outdoor recreational activities. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest covers over 1 million acres of land within the borders of Ashland County and offers visitors access to trails for hiking, biking and skiing as well as lakes for fishing, boating and swimming. In addition, visitors can explore nearby Apostle Islands National Lakeshore which features stunning sea caves formed by thousands of years of wave action along Lake Superior’s shoreline. In recent years, Washburn has become an increasingly popular tourist destination due to its proximity to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore as well as its thriving art community with many galleries, shops and restaurants for visitors to explore.
The forestry industry is also an important part of the economy in Ashland County. Logging camps were established throughout the county during the 19th century and timber companies built railroads to transport logs from remote areas to ports on Lake Superior. Today, there are several paper manufacturing plants scattered throughout Ashland County that employ many local residents.
In addition to tourism and forestry, small-scale farming operations are also present in Ashland County. Farmers grow potatoes, wheat and barley while dairy farmers produce cheese products such as cheddar cheese curds which have become popular statewide snacks.
Overall, Ashland County has a diverse economy that provides employment opportunities for local residents while attracting tourists from all over the world who come to enjoy its natural beauty and outdoor recreation activities.