The City of Ashland is a community of approximately 21,000 residents located near the south end of the Rogue Valley along Interstate 5 in Southern Oregon. Just 16 miles north of the Oregon-California border and a little more than a two-hour drive west to the Pacific Ocean, Ashland is nestled in the foothills of the Siskiyou Mountains and is one of the most scenic and picturesque communities in the Pacific Northwest. Nearby recreational and outdoor amenities include lakes, mountain trails for hiking and biking, downhill skiing runs, and beautiful, and the historical Lithia Park. Ashland is also home to Southern Oregon University and a public school district consistently rated among the top 100 school districts in the nation. Ashland has managed to maintain a strong sense of community, in part because of the quality services it offers to its citizens.