Ashland is a city in Ashland County, Ohio, United States. The population was 21,249 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Ashland County, and the center of the Ashland Micropolitan Statistical Area (as defined by the United States Census Bureau in 2003). It was incorporated in 1916. The city is governed by a mayor, William E. Strine, and a five-person city council. The city includes the following schools: Taft Elementary, Osborn Elementary, Montgomery Elementary, St. Edward Elementary, Edison Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Junior High School, and Ashland High School.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.9 km² (10.4 mi²). 26.8 km² (10.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.38%) is water. As of the census of 2000, there were 21,249 people, 8,327 households, and 5,262 families residing in the city. The population density was 791.9/km² (2,051.5/mi²). There were 8,870 housing units at an average density of 330.6/km² (856.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.35% White, 1.19% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.85% of the population.