Census Data for Ashland
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Ashland a population of 7,865 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Ashland a population of 7,225 people.
The town of Ashland is located in Hanover County. The 2010 Census gave Hanover County; a population of 99,902 people. This means that Ashland had 7.23% of the county's total population, making it Hanover's most populous community.
At the same time, Virginia had a population of 8,001,024 people, meaning that Ashland had 0.09% of the total population of Virginia - making it the state's 50th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Ashland has a total area of 7.16 square miles [18.6 km²]. Of this total, a small amount of the area is covered by water (0.03 square miles [0.1 km²]).
Hanover County has a land area of 468.5 square miles [1,213.5 km²]. At 7.13 square miles [18.5 km²], Ashland has 1.52% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a town like Ashland, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the town.
- Things like population, area and housing for Ashland reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Ashland might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 37° 45' 37" (or 37.76°)
- Lon: -77° 28' 14" (or -77.47°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Ashland had 2,863 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 7,225 people, this averages 2.52 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Ashland had a land area of 7.13 square miles [18.5 km²]. This translates to 399.6 Housing Units per square mile [154.3 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Ashland had 2,445 Housing Units, a population of 6,619 people and a land area of 7.18 square miles [18.6 km²]. This gives a density of 2.71 people per Housing Unit and 338.8 Housing Units per square mile [130.8 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Ashland and you need to be careful when comparing values between the censuses. More information about the nature of these the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Hanover County ...
The community of Ashland is located in Hanover County<4>.
The county had a population of 99,902 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 7,225 people, Ashland represented 7.23% of the county's total.
In addition, where the town of Ashland has a population density of 1,008 people per square mile [389.4 people/km²], Hanover County averages 213.2 people per square mile [82.3 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Hanover County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Ashland, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Ashland. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Ashland or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Ashland, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Ashland.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 37.760332° (or 37°45'37" N)
- Lon: -77.470734° (or -77°28'14" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 37.759361° (or 37°45'33" N)
- Lon: -77.477226° (or -77°28'38" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 1,904 feet to the east<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#2390708) to Ashland. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Ashland. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 37.759742° (or 37°45'35" N)
- Lon: -77.471483° (or -77°28'17" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 304.8 feet to the northeast<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Ashland. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Ashland.
Miscellaneous Information for Ashland ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Hanover County or the town of Ashland:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 51 (Virginia)
- County Code: 085 (Hanover County)
- Place Code: 03368 (Ashland)
- State & County Code: 51/085 (Virginia / Hanover County)
- State & Place Code: 51/03368 (Virginia / Ashland)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Ashland is located in Census Region #3 (the South Region) and Division #5 (the South Atlantic Division).
- The US Postal Service ZIP Code ...
- While some people have used a ZIP code to identify a community, the purpose of the ZIP code was to make mail delivery more efficient by grouping addresses together. Although the ZIP Code doesn't specifically identify a town like Ashland, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) Ashland. It's important to remember that the boundaries of a ZIP Code can be changed, re-assigned or overlapped with other ZIP Codes.
- The ZIP code for Ashland:23005<7>
- Census ZCTA Codes ...
- The US Census Bureau created statistical entities that they call ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) and these ZCTAs are frequently confused with the ZIP codes that come from the US Postal Service (USPS).
- ZCTAs were first created for the 2000 Census and at that time, they were based upon the USPS ZIP codes. While largely covering the same areas, the boundaries of a ZCTA do not necessarily match the boundaries of a postal ZIP code with the same number. For example, while a postal ZIP code can cross a county or state line, a Census ZCTA can not. They should be treated as separate entities with no correlation between them.
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Ashland.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Ashland: www.town.ashland.va.us/
The official website for Hanover County: www.co.hanover.va.us/
The official website for State of Virginia: https://www.virginia.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of Virginia's counties, including Hanover, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 280 degrees and a distance of 1,904 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 314 degrees and a distance of 304.8 feet. |
| <7> | When looking for a ZIP Code, whether Ashland or elsewhere, it's always best to check the website of the United States Postal Service (USPS). |