Welcome To The Town of Ashland

Sixty-six miles Northwest of Houlton, the County Seat, Settled about 1837 by people largely from Kennebec Valley. Incorporated February 18, 1862, under the name Ashland. Name changed 1869 to Dalton, in honor of the first settler. Changed back to Ashland, February 3, 1876. Sheridan Plantation annexed March 19, 1901 (Sheridan Plantation was organized in 1873; originally Twp. No. 12, R5, formerly Buchanan Plantation).

2000 Census: Population 1,474 ( Ranked 12th of 72 towns in Aroostook County)

Town Government

The Town of Ashland is governed by the traditional New England town meeting. An elected town council provides overall direction for administration by the town manager. An active planning board plays a key role in dealing with community issues. The town takes an assertive stance in balancing the quality of life and economic growth. Ashland has long supported regional development efforts and continues to play an development role, clearly demonstrating that this community is guiding its own growth.

Location - Transportation

The Town of Ashland is located along Route 11, forty-three miles North of I-95, 49 miles South of Fort Kent and twenty miles West of Presque Isle by way of Route 163 and Route 227. Forty miles of Route 11 continuing from Ashland to the northern border of Maine is designated as scenic highway by the State of Maine. Private woods roads maintained to support wood harvesting operations are open for the public by permit and stretch West from Ashland through 100 miles of forests, lakes, rivers, mountains and streams to the Province of Quebec. The Northern Maine Regional Airport in Presque Isle provides our region with full air transportation.

Economy

Ashland's diversified economy is based on forestry, agriculture, transportation, tourism, and recreation with industry and metal mining on the horizon. Ashland is the access point for a large portion of Aroostook County's 3.8 million acres of forest land. More than 88% of Aroostook County is forested and supports the area's diversified wood, lumber, and paper industries. Aroostook ranks first among Maine's counties in the amount of timber harvested. Agriculture also plays an important role in Ashland's economy. Much of Ashland's land is devoted to agriculture with potatoes and grain topping the list of crops raised. Recreation and tourism are growing segments of the economic picture. (Visit us and you'll see why!) By virtue of it's location, Ashland's transportation facilities provide another component of the local economy. West of Ashland, the potential exists for a sizeable copper and zinc mine. The development of metal mining could be a welcome addition to the local economy. The Machias River Industrial Park has Moose Crossing Lumber (Cedar Products) and Beaver Ashland, a 40 MW (wood fired) biomass energy plant as its' major tenants. (Approximately 16 acres of land adjacent to the energy plant with lots of excess steam and electricity is available for sale or lease). The J.P. Levesque & Sons sawmills (recently rated as 15th in a list of 181 top producing US softwood mills) and Kelly Lumber (specializing in pine products) are our other major industries.

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