Your Guide to Ashland County, Ohio
Looking for trusted businesses, services and local resources in Ashland County, Ohio? FindItOhio.com helps residents and visitors discover local companies, professionals and community information across Ashland County, including Ashland, the county seat.
Quick answer: Ashland County is one of Ohio’s 88 counties. Its county seat is Ashland, it was established in 1846, and it has an estimated 52,523 residents as of 2025.
At a Glance
- County seat: Ashland
- Established: Feb 24, 1846
- Formed from: Wayne, Richland, Huron, and Lorain Counties
- Named for: Ashland, home of U.S. Senator from Kentucky Henry Clay
- Estimated population (2025): 52,523
- Total area: 424.37 sq mi
- FIPS code: 39005
About Ashland County
Ashland County is a county located in the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 52,447. Its county seat and largest city is Ashland. The county is named for “Ashland”, the home of Senator Henry Clay near Lexington, Kentucky. It was formed in 1846 from parts of Huron, Lorain, Richland and Wayne Counties.
Ashland County comprises the Ashland, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Mansfield Ashland Bucyrus, OH Combined Statistical Area.
History of Ashland County
Ashland County was formed on February 24, 1846, from portions of Huron, Lorain, Richland, and Wayne counties. Like the county seat, it was named after Ashland, the Lexington, Kentucky area home of Henry Clay, a Kentucky senator. Henry Clay was very popular in the area of north central Ohio due to the role he played in defusing the secession crisis of 1820 and the Nullification crisis of 1833. The region was settled overwhelmingly by migrants from New England and was culturally continuous with early New England. Part of this meant political support for Henry Clay, opposition to slavery and opposition to secession during the aforementioned crises.
Similarly, this meant the Whig Party was very popular in the region during that era. The first non Native American settlers in the area that became Ashland County were a group of families from Windham County, Connecticut. Subsequent migration from 1800 to the mid 1820s came almost exclusively from the regions of rural Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.
Cities and Villages in Ashland County
Cities
Ashland â€
Villages
Bailey Lakes, Hayesville, Jeromesville, Loudonville, Mifflin, Perrysville, Polk, Savannah
Find Local Businesses in Ashland County
Browse the FindItOhio.com business directory to find restaurants, contractors, professional services, shops and more serving Ashland County. Own a business here? Add your free business listing so local customers can find you.
Background Checks, Process Serving and Private Investigations
Residents and employers in Ashland County can get BCI and FBI LiveScan fingerprinting, FD-258 fingerprint cards, process serving and licensed private investigations from these Ohio providers:
- Ohio Security & Investigations, Youngstown: licensed private investigations and fingerprinting. Call (888) 341-6960 or visit ohioinvestigators.com.
- 10-8 Protective Services, Columbus: investigations, fingerprinting and process serving. Call (800) 949-8521 or visit 10-8protectiveservices.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the county seat of Ashland County, Ohio?
Ashland is the county seat of Ashland County, Ohio.
When was Ashland County established?
Ashland County was established on Feb 24, 1846. It was formed from Wayne, Richland, Huron, and Lorain Counties.
Who or what is Ashland County named for?
Ashland County is named for Ashland, home of U.S. Senator from Kentucky Henry Clay.
How many people live in Ashland County, Ohio?
Ashland County has an estimated population of 52,523 as of 2025.
What cities are in Ashland County, Ohio?
Cities in Ashland County include Ashland †.
Where can I find local businesses in Ashland County?
Search the FindItOhio.com business directory to find local businesses and services in Ashland County, Ohio.
How do I list my Ashland County business on FindItOhio.com?
Visit the free business listing page on FindItOhio.com and submit your business name, address, phone number and website.
Looking for another county? Explore all 88 Ohio counties on FindItOhio.com.
County background adapted from the Wikipedia article Ashland County, Ohio, available under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 4.0 license.