Ashland County Demographics

A map of Ashland County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	13,065	12,678	81.3%	79.1%
Native American/Other	1,518	2,030	9.4%	12.7%
Multiracial	822	742	5.1%	4.6%
Hispanic	476	383	3.0%	2.4%
Asian	116	82	0.7%	0.5%
Black	83	112	0.5%	0.7%

Ashland County, Wisconsin has an estimated population of 16,080, a less than 1% change from the 16,027 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 81.3% White, 9.4% Native American/Other, 5.1% Multiracial, 3.0% Hispanic, 0.7% Asian, and 0.5% Black. This demographic dot map shows the population of Ashland County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Ashland has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is less diverse than Wisconsin overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Ashland County, that probability was 35.5% in 2020 and 32.7% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Ashland County is ranked the 62nd most populous county in Wisconsin, out of 72 counties. Ashland County was ranked the 63rd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Ashland County's White Population

13,065 residents of Ashland County, or 81.3% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Ashland County is slightly higher than in Wisconsin overall, where 78.6% of the population is White. Ashland County ranks 65th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 72 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ashland County's White population has grown by an estimated 3.1%. White residents' share of Ashland County's population has increased from 79.1% to 81.3%.

Ashland County is more White than neighboring Sawyer County (76.9% White). Ashland County is less White than neighboring Iron County (92.9% White), Bayfield County (83.7% White), Gogebic County (90.5% White), and Price County (93.1% White).

Ashland County's Black Population

83 residents of Ashland County, or 0.5% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Ashland County is lower than in Wisconsin overall, where 5.9% of the population is Black. Ashland County ranks 38th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 72 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ashland County's Black population has declined by an estimated 25.9%. Black residents' share of Ashland County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

Ashland County is more Black than neighboring Iron County (0% Black), Gogebic County (0.4% Black), and Price County (0.1% Black). Ashland County is less Black than neighboring Bayfield County (0.7% Black), and Sawyer County (0.6% Black).

Ashland County's Asian Population

116 residents of Ashland County, or 0.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Ashland County is slightly lower than in Wisconsin overall, where 2.9% of the population is Asian. Ashland County ranks 39th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 72 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ashland County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 41.5%. Asian residents' share of Ashland County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Ashland County is more Asian than neighboring Iron County (0.5% Asian), Bayfield County (0.4% Asian), Gogebic County (0.6% Asian), Sawyer County (0.6% Asian), and Price County (0.6% Asian).

Ashland County's Hispanic Population

476 residents of Ashland County, or 3.0% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Ashland County is slightly lower than in Wisconsin overall, where 8% of the population is Hispanic. Ashland County ranks 49th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 72 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ashland County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 24.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Ashland County's population has increased from 2.4% to 3.0%.

Ashland County is more Hispanic than neighboring Iron County (1.6% Hispanic), Bayfield County (2.1% Hispanic), Gogebic County (2% Hispanic), Sawyer County (2.4% Hispanic), and Price County (1.8% Hispanic).

Ashland County's Native American/Other Population

1,518 residents of Ashland County, or 9.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Ashland County is higher than in Wisconsin overall, where 0.9% of the population is Native American/Other. Ashland County ranks 4th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 72 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ashland County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 25.2%. Native American/Other residents' share of Ashland County's population has decreased from 12.7% to 9.4%.

Ashland County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Iron County (0.3% Native American/Other), Bayfield County (7.7% Native American/Other), Gogebic County (2.7% Native American/Other), and Price County (0.8% Native American/Other). Ashland County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Sawyer County (13.3% Native American/Other).

Ashland County's Multiracial Population

822 residents of Ashland County, or 5.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Ashland County is comparable to the share in Wisconsin overall, where 3.7% of the population is Multiracial. Ashland County ranks 2nd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 72 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ashland County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 10.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Ashland County's population has increased from 4.6% to 5.1%.

Ashland County is more Multiracial than neighboring Iron County (4.7% Multiracial), Gogebic County (3.8% Multiracial), and Price County (3.6% Multiracial). Ashland County is less Multiracial than neighboring Bayfield County (5.4% Multiracial), and Sawyer County (6.2% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.