Each month, we feature an Ohio City as part of our Ohio Community Spotlight series. This month we spotlight “Someplace Special,” Ashland!
Today we are visiting Ashland, Ohio as part of the monthly #GOPCThread. Ashland was settled in 1815 with the original name of Uniontown. Today, it is home to over 18,000 residents! Join us as we explore all @ashlandcityoh has to offer!
In 1822 the town’s first post office was established. There was another Uniontown already existing in Ohio and the post office needed its own name, so it was renamed Ashland.
Manufacturing has been an important industry in Ashland for more than two centuries. Past industries have included match production, folding chairs, veterinary supplies, and rubber products.
In 1912, Eagle Rubber Company, the first company to manufacture cigar-shaped ballons, was founded. By 1929 it had become the National Latex company, and Ashland became known as the “balloon capital of the world.”
The Ashland BalloonFest celebrates this heritage, and has been attracting visitors to @ashlandcityoh for 35 years. With over 25 vendors and 33 hot air balloons, this four-day event had over 25,000 attendees in 2024.
Come check out Brookside Park in @ashlandcityoh! From the Brookside pool to mini golf to shuffleboard this park has something for everyone. Even your four-legged friends can join at the Brookside Community dog park!
Calling all nature enthusiasts! The Audubon Wetlands Preserve in Ashland County is home to many amphibians and 96 species of birds. This 215-acre park offers walking trails, a boardwalk that crosses the marsh, and the Jerome Fork River to explore.
Ashland resident, Mary Freer raised 9 orphans in her home in the mid-late 1800s. Upon her death, she donated her property to Ashland County to be used as an orphanage. The Freer Home is now part of the Ashland County Historical Society.
Ashland University was founded in 1878. The private school offers degrees in arts & sciences, business & economics, education, nursing, & health sciences. The Ashbrook Center at AU has hosted numerous public figures over the years including Ronald Reagan & Margaret Thatcher.
@ashlandcityoh is the smallest community in the country with a professional symphony orchestra. The @AshlandSymphony performs with the Ashland Regional Ballet and hosts the Pops in the Park concert series each summer.
Whether you are a professional or aspiring artist, the @tincanartstudio in Ashland is for you. This open hangout space allows creatives to learn, teach, and share what inspires them. Partake in walk-in projects, classes, or workshops and let the creative juices flow!
The Ashland County Historical Society offers four historic buildings that allow visitors to connect with Ashland’s rich history. The Manor House, Noonan House, Freer Home, and Clark Carriage House host exhibits and are available for tours throughout the week.
Next we’re heading to Ashland’s downtown where there is always something going on. This month, check out the Christmas in July Shop Hop where you can spend time in the sun, in shops and enjoy a temporary DORA.
Today, Ashland continues to grow its industrial and logistics presence in the region. And is poised to add over 1,000 new units of housing in the next several years.
Ashland Co. is home to a large and growing Amish community. Many Amish families work in carpentry and food production and Amish buggies can be spotted around town.
Anyone who has ever traveled up or down I-71 through Ashland knows to stop at Grandpa’s Cheesebarn! Since 1978, Grandpa’s Cheesebarn offering the best locally-produced cheeses and candies at the gateway to Ohio’s Amish Country.
We hope you had fun traveling through @ashlandcityoh with the community spotlight today! Join us next month as we visit another Ohio city!
Cover Image: A view of downtown Ashland, Ohio on East Main Street. Date 23 September 2007 Source Self-photographed Author User:OHWiki