An area known to Little River County residents as "Turkey Flats" was the site for the original City of Ashdown, first named Keller. Another possible origin for the name of Ashdown is that Judge Byrne's mother was from Ashdown, England which is famous for the Ashdown Forest which was the model for the Hundred Acre Woods of Winnie The Pooh fame. Keller officially became Ashdown June 11, 1892. Soon afterward, businesses and families began to move in. By 1901 the town had a brick bank, a new steam gin and a population of 400.  Ashdown also had several saloons and was considered a lawless town not fit for respectable people.  In December, 1903 saloons were voted out. 

The 1910 population of Ashdown was 1,500.  Steady growth occurred until the Great Depression if the 1930's which found Ashdown with a population of around 2,200.  In 1960 the population was 2,725.  In 1968 Nekoosa-Edwards Paper Plant (now Domtar) located in Ashdown bringing an increase  population. 1990 census counted 5,245 residents. Ashdown now boasts of several light industries, a modern hospital, several medical clinics, restaurants, schools, churches and other amenities that make Ashdown a great place to live.