Ashland, WI
Demographics And Statistics

Ashland was the absolute best place to be a kid at. Beautiful surroundings and very friendly people all looking out for one another. Barely locked a door and never seen drugs. Sure, there were more bars than churches but growing up I never heard about a lot of crimes. Maybe I just didn't hear about it but crime like you are referring to just wasn't there back then. Maybe some vandalism or pranks but nothing like violent crimes. I wouldn't trade my amazing childhood for anything.

The neighborhood sledding hill was the best times of my childhood. Didn't matter is it was winter or summer. I will always remember our neighborhood gang of kids.

I've lived in the greater Chequamegon Bay area for over 13 years. I lived in Ashland 5 of those years as a college student. Northland College is a really sweet little liberal arts school and I loved and value my experience there. My experience as a resident of Ashland is another story. In the 5 years I lived there, my home and vehicle were broken into on separate occasions, my car was egged in the dead of winter during extreme cold, making it impossible to get the egg off in a timely manner. I witnessed or was privy to numerous acts of bigotry and violence, including an attack on a friend on his way home late one night that left him lying half conscious in the street and resulting in multiple surgeries to repair his orbital bone and save his eye. The last thing he remembers hearing was something about how he was just a"dirty hippy". No one was charged. I worked in the school district and experienced an active shooter lock down due to a domestic dispute between a teacher and her estranged husband. I could go on. This little city on the beautiful shore of Lake Superior is being strangled by drug and poverty issues and racial tensions. This is exacerbated by residents who are resistant to change and who in many case refuse to support their greater community and schools. I chose to move outside the Ashland area, despite the lower cost of living offered there.

The lake shore path is lovely. Great Co-op, coffee house and bakery. Artesian well for fresh water. Northern Great Lakes Visitors Center is definitely worth a stop if you are passing through.

When first moved to Ashland everything was fine, but after mixing with everyone I shortly realized that it's mostly fighting, drugs, and robbery's. The middle school is full of many disrespectful kids. Most kids are know for smoking at a young age and it's not hard to find many older teens to buy.

The parks honesty stood out the most besides all the fights that occur and drugs being traded