Ashland, Nebraska Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

The current estimated population of Ashland is 3,200, with a gender distribution of 50% male and 50% female. The population has grown in recent years due to its location between Omaha and Lincoln, making it an appealing commuter town.

City Facts

  • Year founded: 1870
  • County: Saunders County
  • Land area: 1.3 square miles
  • Population density: 2,462 people per square mile
  • Area code: 402
  • Zip code: 68003

Geography and Location

Ashland is located in eastern Nebraska, within Saunders County, about 30 miles southwest of Omaha and 25 miles northeast of Lincoln. The town’s location along U.S. Highway 6 and near Interstate 80 makes it a popular commuter town for those working in either Omaha or Lincoln. Ashland has a humid continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. The local economy is supported by small businesses, agriculture, and services that cater to the growing residential population. Ashland is also near several major attractions, including Mahoney State Park and the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum. The town’s proximity to larger cities, combined with its small-town charm and access to outdoor activities, makes it an attractive place to live in eastern Nebraska.

Demographics

Median resident age: 37.8 years
Median household income: $40,441
Median house value: $86,000

Population by Race

Races in Ashland:

  • White Non-Hispanic (97.4%)
  • Hispanic (1.6%)

Ancestries: German (37.4%), Irish (16.4%), English (12.1%), Swedish (7.4%), United States (4.3%), Danish (3.4%).

Elevation: 1096 feet

Land area: 1.1 square miles

Population by Education

Ashland, Nebraska is a small city of approximately 8,000 people. It is located in Saunders County, part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of Ashland is largely homogenous with 86% of residents identifying as white and 11% as Hispanic or Latino. The median household income in Ashland is slightly below the national average at $50,417 while the median age is slightly above at 38.6 years old.

The majority of Ashland’s population works in blue-collar jobs, including construction, manufacturing and transportation occupations. The city also has a small but growing retail sector that employs a significant number of workers. Education levels are also on the rise in Ashland with 79% having received a high school diploma or higher compared to 75% for Nebraska overall. The city also has a strong agricultural history and many residents are employed by local farms and ranches in some capacity. In addition to its strong agricultural roots, Ashland has been home to several large businesses over the years such as Nebraska Beef and the Schilling Family Farms which employ hundreds of local workers each year.

For population 25 years and over in Ashland

  • High school or higher: 80.8%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.6%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 3.3%
  • Unemployed: 3.6%
  • Mean travel time to work: 23.0 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Ashland city

  • Never married: 22.3%
  • Now married: 54.8%
  • Separated: 0.8%
  • Widowed: 10.9%
  • Divorced: 11.2%

2.2% Foreign born (1.1% Latin America, 0.6% Asia, 0.4% Europe).

Population change in the 1990s: +141 (+6.6%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Ashland:

  • SAUNDERS COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES (about 21 miles; WAHOO, NE)
  • NEBRASKA HEALTH SYSTEM (about 23 miles; OMAHA, NE)
  • ALEGENT HEALTH – MIDLANDS COMM HOSP (about 24 miles; PAPILLION, NE)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Ashland:

  • LINCOLN MUNI (about 30 miles; LINCOLN, NE; Abbreviation: LNK)
  • EPPLEY AIRFIELD (about 39 miles; OMAHA, NE; Abbreviation: OMA)
  • SIOUX GATEWAY/COL. BUD DAY FIELD (about 94 miles; SIOUX CITY, IA; Abbreviation: SUX)

Other public-use airports nearest to Ashland:

  • WAHOO MUNI (about 20 miles; WAHOO, NE; Abbreviation: AHQ)
  • MILLARD (about 22 miles; OMAHA, NE; Abbreviation: MLE)
  • FREMONT MUNI (about 29 miles; FREMONT, NE; Abbreviation: FET)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Ashland:

  • UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA (about 23 miles; OMAHA, NE; Full-time enrollment: 10,150)
  • CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY (about 23 miles; OMAHA, NE; Full-time enrollment: 5,806)
  • UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER (about 23 miles; OMAHA, NE; Full-time enrollment: 2,448)
  • UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT LINCOLN (about 27 miles; LINCOLN, NE; Full-time enrollment: 19,806)
  • SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE AREA (about 28 miles; LINCOLN, NE; Full-time enrollment: 5,137)
  • BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY (about 33 miles; BELLEVUE, NE; Full-time enrollment: 2,723)
  • METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE AREA (about 34 miles; OMAHA, NE; Full-time enrollment: 6,175)

Schools

Public high school in Ashland:

  • ASHLAND-GREENWOOD HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 246; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Ashland:

  • ASHLAND-GREENWOOD ELEM SCHOOL (Students: 389; Grades: PK – 06)
  • ASHLAND-GREENWOOD MIDDLE SCH (Students: 123; Grades: 07 – 08)
  • CLEAR CREEK PUBLIC SCHOOL (Students: 16; Grades: PK – 08)
  • WAHOO PRE-SCHOOL/ASHLAND (Students: 15; Grades: PK – PK)

Libraries

Library in Ashland:

  • ASHLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $54,345; Location: 207 NORTH 15TH STREET; 12,044 books; 235 audio materials; 171 video materials; 69 serial subscriptions)