Ashland County was created in 1860 as an organized county when the state legislature divided La Pointe County. In 1866 Ashland was de-organized and lost territory to Bayfield County, as La Pointe County was now known. Ashland lost more territory in 1869 and then was re-organized in 1873. Ashland lost some more territory in 1883 when Sawyer County was created. The final boundary change occurred in 1893 when the legislature split Ashland County; the easter portion became Iron County.
Ashland County was named after Ashland, the Kentucky estate of Henry Clay. Apparently one of the founders of the city of Ashland was a fan of Henry Clay who served in the United States Senate and House and also served as Secretary of State.
Ashland is the county seat of Ashland County so Ashland is one of the Eponymous Counties of Wisconsin. Ashland is located near the near the head of Chequamegon Bay on Lake Superior. A small portion of the city is actually in Bayfield County. The Europeans who visited were French fur traders who arrived in 1659. the were welcomed by the Ojibwe Native Americans who lived in the area. Jesuit missionary Father Claude-Jean Allouez visited about five years later and built a chapel. The first permanent settlers arrive din 1854 and Ashland was platted in 1856. The 870s saw the arrival of a train line, plus the first sawmills and a brewery. Ashland did well from both lumber and mining; the massive Soo Line ore dock was built in the port to load iron ore onto ships.
The Ashland County courthouse is located at 201 W Main Street in Ashland. It was built in 1915 in the Classical Revival style and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
I visited Ashland at least once as a child. I remember driving there with my grandparents from Ironwood (Michigan). The only thing I remember clearly about the trip was the Soo Line ore dock in the port. Sadly the ore dock had to be demolished in 2009 because it was a safety hazard due to lack of maintenance.