Ashland City For A -
A Bit Of History -
The city was either named after
Henry Clay's estate
Ashland or by an act of the
General Assembly of Tennessee in 1859, when the city was incorporated, who were inspired by the
ash trees in the area. Originally called Ashland, "City" was added to the name after the incorporation. Ashland City was created in 1856 as a county seat for the newly established
Cheatham County. The county's commissioners purchased the initial 50 acres (0.20 km2) of land (now the courthouse square) from James Lenox, and a temporary courthouse was erected shortly thereafter. The temporary structure was replaced by the present courthouse in 1869. Ashland City was officially incorporated in 1859. The first major industry in the Ashland City area was a
forge operated by
Montgomery Bell at the Narrows of the
Harpeth, several miles to the southwest, which was established in 1818. In 1835, Samuel Watson established a
gristmill and powder mill along Sycamore Creek, just north of Ashland City. Watson's mill developed into one of the largest powder mills in the South, making it a target during the
Civil War. The mill continued in operation under various owners until 1904.