Editing Ashland, California

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Ashland
| settlement_type    = [[Unincorporated area#United States|Unincorporated community]]
| image_skyline      = Ashland_California_extra_close.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Ashland community marker painted on I-238 overpass at Mission Blvd
| image_seal         = 
| image_map          = Alameda_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Ashland_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location in [[Alameda County, California|Alameda County]] and the state of [[California]]
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| pushpin_map        = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|California}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Alameda County, California|Alameda]]
| government_type    = Unincorporated community
| leader_title       = [[California's 10th State Senate district|State Senate]]
| leader_name        = {{Representative|casd|10|fmt=sleader}}<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators 
 |title=Senators 
 |access-date=March 18, 2013
 |publisher=State of California}}</ref>
| leader_title1      = [[California's 20th State Assembly district|State&nbsp;Assembly]]
| leader_name1       = {{Representative|caad|20|fmt=sleader}}<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers
 |title=Members Assembly
 |access-date=March 18, 2013
 |publisher=State of California}}</ref>
| leader_title2      = [[California's 14th congressional district|U. S. Congress]]
| leader_name2       = {{Representative|cacd|14|fmt=usleader}}<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|14|access-date=March 9, 2013}}</ref>
| established_date   = 
<!-- Area------------------>
| area_magnitude     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 30, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.84
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.84
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
| area_water_percent = 0
| area_note          = 
| elevation_ft       = 43
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|1657955|Ashland}}</ref>
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 23823
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 12926.21
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| coordinates        = {{coord|37|41|41|N|122|06|50|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| timezone_DST       = PDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 94541, 94578, 94580
| area_codes         = [[Area codes 510 and 341|510, 341]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 06-02980
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS4|1657955}}, {{GNIS4|2407773}}
| footnotes          = 
| website            = 
| name               = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| area_total_km2     = 4.77
| area_land_km2      = 4.77
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| population_density_km2 = 4992.00
| leader_name3       = Nate Miley
| leader_title3      = District 4 Alameda County Supervisor
}}

'''Ashland''' is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) and [[Unincorporated area#United States|unincorporated community]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://communitylocator.acgov.org/ |website=Community Locator |publisher=Alameda County |access-date=12 February 2021}}</ref> in [[Alameda County, California|Alameda County]], [[California]], United States. The population was 23,823 at the 2020 census.<ref name="CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Ashland CDP, California|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ashlandcdpcalifornia/PST045219|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 26, 2021}}</ref> Ashland is located between the city of San Leandro to the north, the unincorporated community of [[Cherryland, California|Cherryland]] to the south, the unincorporated community of [[Castro Valley, California|Castro Valley]] to the east, and the unincorporated community of [[San Lorenzo, California|San Lorenzo]] to the southwest.

Ashland shares a postal zip code with the neighboring unincorporated community of [[San Lorenzo, California|San Lorenzo]] to the southwest, as well as the close by cities of [[Hayward, California|Hayward]] to the south and San Leandro to the north.
Ashland has been informally, albeit incorrectly, known as "unincorporated San Leandro" or "unincorporated Hayward" due to Ashland not having its own postal zip code designation.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|1.8|sqmi|km2}}, all of it land and sits at an elevation of 43 feet above sea level.
[[File:Jack Holland Skatepark, Ashland, California.png|thumb|Popular skatepark and playground on a sunny day in Ashland]]

==History==
Construction of the Oakland-San Leandro-Hayward Electric Railway began in 1891. By 1892 14.3 miles of track ran along what was then known as County Road, today's East 14th Street/Mission Boulevard between Hayward and Oakland. Electric train cars ran every half hour from 5 a.m. until midnight daily. Side feeder lines ran from Ashland Junction (near 150th St. and East 14th St.) along Telegraph, what today is known as Hesperian Boulevard and along Ashland Avenue to Lewelling Boulevard. Over time, the value of agricultural products which the area was famous for declined and the value of real estate rose, thus Ashland's urban/suburban character developed when farmlands and orchards were subdivided into town lots of about one acre each. New communities and subdivisions sprang up along the rail line including Ashland and Haywards Park Homestead (between Foothill Boulevard and Mission Boulevard bordered by Mattox Road and Grove Way).

San Lorenzo Grove, an eight-acre natural park located on today's Tracy Street, became a popular recreation destination for the region's community. The park was owned by the Oakland-San Leandro-Hayward Electric Railway and included a dance pavilion, picnic grounds, playing fields, concession area and an outdoor bandstand. The park operated until 1917 when it was converted to apricot orchards then into single family residential subdivisions.

World War II brought a large number of new people to unincorporated Alameda County and after the war; large scale "cookie-cutter" housing subdivisions replaced most of the remaining agriculture, nurseries, and greenhouses. Ashland's primary residential development took place during the post-war period; and after the closing of the Oakland-San Leandro-Hayward Electric Railway, Ashland remains mostly car dependent.

The Nimitz Freeway (Interstate 880) along with Interstate 238 opened in the late 1950s thus bisecting Ashland at Mission Boulevard continuing to Hesperian Boulevard. The creation of Interstate 238 has had the greatest effect on Ashland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alameda County |first=Planning Department |date=July 1, 2023 |title=Preliminary Cultural Resources Survey Ashland & Cherryland Districts |url=https://www.acgov.org/cda/planning/landuseprojects/documents/ashlandcherrylandsurvey.pdf |access-date=July 1, 2023 |website=acgov.org}}</ref>

Ashland developed as a residential suburb in the 1940s.<ref name="CGN">{{California's Geographic Names|597}}</ref>

Ashland is named after the [[Oregon ash]] tree which grew in abundance along the San Lorenzo creek and throughout the community.<ref name="CGN" />

The [[San Lorenzo Creek]] is the southern border of Ashland<ref>{{cite web|url=http://communitylocator.acgov.org/|access-date=12 February 2021|website=Community Locator|publisher=Alameda County}}</ref> and boasts the oldest bay tree in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-04-30 |title=In honor of Arbor Day, some notable trees are worth seeing in the Bay Area |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2004/04/30/in-honor-of-arbor-day-some-notable-trees-are-worth-seeing-in-the-bay-area/ |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=East Bay Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2020= 23823
|2010= 21925
|2000= 20793
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br>1850–1870<ref name=1870CensusCA1>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><ref name=1870CensusCA2>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County  |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1880-1890<ref name=1890CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1890/bulletins/demographics/134-population-of-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1900<ref name=1900CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/10-population-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1910<ref name=1910CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1920<ref name=1920CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-ca-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1930<ref name=1930CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1940<ref name=1940CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1950<ref name=1950CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-08.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1960<ref name=1960CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-d.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1970<ref name=1970CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ca1-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1980<ref name=1980CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caAB-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1990<ref name=1990CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
2000<ref name=2000CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
}}

The [[2020 United States Census]] reported that Ashland had a population of 23,823. The population density was {{convert|12,926.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Ashland was 15.1% [[White Americans|White]], 16.6% [[African Americans|African American]], 1.8% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 23.4% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 1.3% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 28.5% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 13.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 44.3% of the population.<ref name=DP1>{{cite web |title=Ashland CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=160XX00US0602980 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref>

The Census reported that 98.7% of the population lived in households, 0.7% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.6% were institutionalized.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 7,701 households, out of which 39.8% included children under the age of 18, 40.4% were married-couple households, 8.7% were [[cohabitation|cohabiting]] couple households, 31.5% had a female householder with no partner present, and 19.4% had a male householder with no partner present. 21.1% of households were one person, and 6.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.05.<ref name=DP1/> There were 5,421 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (70.4% of all households).<ref name=P16>{{cite web |title=Ashland CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=160XX00US0602980 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref>

The age distribution was 23.9% under the age of 18, 9.6% aged 18 to 24, 32.0% aged 25 to 44, 24.4% aged 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 34.5{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 7,992 housing units at an average density of {{convert|4,336.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 7,701 (96.4%) were occupied. Of these, 33.2% were owner-occupied, and 66.8% were occupied by renters.<ref name=DP1/>

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 37.0% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 43.4% spoke only English at home, 32.8% spoke [[Spanish language|Spanish]], 4.3% spoke other [[Indo-European languages]], 17.6% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 2.0% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 80.9% were high school graduates and 20.8% had a bachelor's degree.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ashland CDP, California; CP02: Comparative Social Characteristics in the United States - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSCP5Y2023.CP02?g=160XX00US0602980 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref>

The median household income was $81,604, and the [[per capita income]] was $35,603. About 13.5% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ashland CDP, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=160XX00US0602980 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref>

== Government ==
Ashland is an [[Unincorporated area#United States|unincorporated community]] outside the city limits of any neighboring city. Although it shares a [[zip code]] with a neighboring city, it does not receive any municipal services other than those provided by the [[County (United States)|county]] and is thus governed directly by the [[Alameda County Board of Supervisors]] and associated county agencies.

In 2019, the Eden Area [[Municipal Advisory Council]] was created by the [[Alameda County Board of Supervisors]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=Chan|first1=Wilma|title=Now All of Alameda County has Community Representation|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/01/30/opinion-now-all-of-alameda-county-has-community-representation/|access-date=12 February 2021|website=The Mercury News|date=30 January 2020 |publisher=Mercury News}}</ref> in order to advise the Board of Supervisors, the Alameda County Planning Commission<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Us - Planning Commission - Boards & Commissions - Alameda County|url=https://www.acgov.org/bc/pc/|access-date=2021-02-15|website=www.acgov.org}}</ref> and the West County Board of Zoning Adjustments,<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Us - West County Board of Zoning Adjustments - Boards & Commissions - Alameda County|url=https://www.acgov.org/bc/wcbza/|access-date=2021-02-15|website=www.acgov.org}}</ref> on policy and decision making for the unincorporated communities of Ashland, [[Cherryland, California|Cherryland]], [[San Lorenzo, California|San Lorenzo]] and Hayward Acres.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Us - Fairview Municipal Advisory Council - Boards & Commissions - Alameda County|url=http://www.acgov.org/bc/emac/aboutus.htm|access-date=2021-02-15|website=www.acgov.org}}</ref>

Ashland is policed by the [[Alameda County Sheriff's Office]], Eden Township Substation, and the California Highway Patrol.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alameda County Sheriff's Office|url=https://www.alamedacountysheriff.org/about.php|access-date=2021-02-15|website=www.alamedacountysheriff.org}}</ref>

Ashland is served by the [[San Lorenzo Unified School District]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=San Lorenzo Unified School District - School Locator|url=https://www.myschoollocation.com/slzusd/|access-date=2021-02-15|website=www.myschoollocation.com}}</ref> for public school services.

Ashland is served by the Alameda County Public Works Agency for road and public infrastructure design and maintenance.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alameda County Public Works Agency|url=https://www.acpwa.org/|access-date=2021-02-15|website=Alameda County Public Works Agency|language=en-US}}</ref>

Ashland is served by the [[Hayward Area Recreation and Park District|Hayward Area Recreation and Parks District]] for parks and recreation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Independent Special District {{!}} Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, CA|url=https://www.haywardrec.org/139/Independent-Special-District|access-date=2021-02-15|website=www.haywardrec.org}}</ref>

Ashland is served by the Oro Loma Sanitary District for waste water services<ref>{{Cite web|last=Green|first=Sally|title=About Oro Loma Sanitary District|url=https://oroloma.org/about-oro-loma-general-information/|access-date=2021-02-15|website=Oro Loma Sanitary District|language=en-US}}</ref> and the [[East Bay Municipal Utility District]] for freshwater services.<ref>{{Cite web|title=East Bay Municipal Utility District :: Service area|url=https://www.ebmud.com/about-us/who-we-are/service-area/|access-date=2021-02-15|website=www.ebmud.com}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
*{{Cite GNIS|1657955|Ashland}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ashlandedenchamber.com/ Ashland Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://sanlorenzoexpress.com ''San Lorenzo Express'' (local news)]

{{SF Bay Area}}
{{Alameda County, California}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Alameda County, California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1940s]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in California]]