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Bank of Protection Ashland, Kansas

Ashland, Kansas

Ashland, Kansas

Ashland was founded at the crossing of two great trails, the Camp Supply-Fort Dodge and the Sun City-Meade trails. In 1884 the Ashland Town Company of Winfield organized to establish a county seat town in western Kansas. The town, which was named for one of the founder's hometown of Ashland, Kentucky, quickly grew and prospered. Clark County, organized in 1885, chose Ashland as the county seat.

The rich heritage comes alive when visitors view the historical sites in the Ashland area. Mt. Jesus, located one mile east and seven miles north of Ashland was named in 1868 by General George A. Custer's Quartermaster, H.C. Inman, when they camped near the base of the hill as the troops moved from Camp Supply before the Battle of the Washita. Monte Casino is located on a hill about three miles north of Ashland on the State Lake Road. A marker is on the site of a monastery established by three Benedictine Brothers who came to Clark County in 1876. St. Jacob's Well is found 13 miles west of Ashland in the Little Basin, east of the Big Basin, a sinkhole created by underground erosion. St. Jacob's Well, which legend says has no bottom, never goes dry, and was a watering place for cattle being driven on the long cattle drives to Dodge City, is marked by a stone on the highest point. Today, a herd of buffalo can be seen grazing on the short prairie grass of the Big Basin Preserve.

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Old Stockgrowers Bank

The Old Stockgrowers State Bank Building is registered as a historic landmark by the United States Department of Commerce.

Ashland, KS Historic Buildings


Clark County Courthouse

The Clark County Courthouse is noted for a map of the county inscribed on the face of the building. Several historical sites are shown.

Ashland, KS Historic Courthouses

Clark County State Lake

Clark County Lake is nestled in a rugged area of Clark County north of Ashland. This 337

Ashland, KS Recreation

Big Basin Prairie Preserve

Big Basin is a large circular depression. It is about one mile in diameter and about 100 feet deep. The walls of the basin are nearly vertical. Scattered across the floor of Big Basin are a number of small ephemeral ponds that catch and temporarily hold the water that flows into the basin.

Ashland, KS Nature Preserves

Things to do near Ashland, KS

Meade State Lake Fishing Report

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ACCURATE FISHING REPORTS: This is just to remind you that fishing reports are given with the bes...