 The town was created on March 23, 1899, and supposedly named after Senator Albert W. Sanborn, a member of the Wisconsin State Senate, who held a large area of land in the vicinity.Sanborn is located in northern Ashland County, along the shore of Lake Superior.It is bordered by the city of Ashland and the town of Gingles to the west, by the town of White River to the west and the south, and by the towns of Ashland and Morse to the south.