Ashland City serves as the Cheatham County seat. It is nestled in the rolling hills along the Cumberland River. Ashland City is a 25 minute drive from downtown Nashville. Ashland City provides the small town feel country living offers, yet the convenience of having a large city nearby. It has everything from a hospital and restaurants, to a Wal-mart.

Ashland City offers many outdoor activities, for adults and children alike. Activities along the Cumberland River as well as the four-mile Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail and 20,000-acre Cheatham Wildlife Management Agency, located near Ashland City, attract thousands of tourists each year. Summerfest is held each June, in Ashland City, at Riverbluff Park. Summerfest is a family-oriented event that draws many from the various counties outside Nashville, to the rides, concessions and musical entertainment.

Ashland City is home to the company, A.O. Smith. A.O Smith is the world's largest producers of water heaters. Nearly 2,000 people are employed at the Ashland City plant.

Ashland City has an interesting history. Ashland City history begins with and is connected with the organization of the County. It was surveyed and platted in 1856 under the direction of Commissioners appointed by the first County Court for that purpose. The Public Square, on which the Court House stands is 300x600 feet, and the town lots vary in size. The Court House is two-thirds of a mile from the River Landing.

In 1856 David McKelley and William Demonbreun opened the first Blacksmith Shop in town. The first merchants were Burke & Yeargin, who opened a general store at the temporary Court House on the corner of Main and Cumberland Street. W. W. Sanders opened a general store in 1858. G. W. Hale, J. N. Allen and Arnold Allen were also merchants before the War.

By an Act of the General Assembly, passed December 3, 1859, Ashland City became an incorporated town under the name of Ashland City, the original name having been only Ashland. The Act provided that a Mayor and six Alderman be elected and at the election held in January, 1861, for that purpose. W. C. Charlton was elected Mayor and John C. Hale, G. W. McQuarry, W. W. Sanders, Jesse Chadoin and James Gray were elected Aldermen. By an Act of the General Assembly, passed March 29, 1883, the Act of the Incorporation was repealed and the Charter abolished.

The first newspaper in the town was "The Cheatham County Plain Dealer", H. B. Stewart Publisher, and Captain S. D. Power as Editor. It existed for a few months and then suspended. "The Reporter" was established in September 1883, by W. H. Hooper, who sold it in August, 1884, to S. W. Barbee and edited by the publisher.

Dr. Joseph Hudson was the first Physician in the town. He relocated when the town was laid out and remained in the city in the practice of his profession for ten years. The Post Office was established in 1857, and J. N. Allen was the first Postmaster. He was followed by A. J. Bright and W. W. Sanders, who was appointed in 1866. Prior to 1867, there was only one weekly mail. From that date until 1877 the mail was semi-weekly, and later became daily, except Sunday. James Smith opened the first hotel after the town of Ashland City had become a town in name. This was about the year 1858, in a house on Main Street, and the following year Jesse Chadoin opened a hotel in the "Temporary Court House" known as the Central Hotel.

Today Ashland City proudly looks back on this history, and expands each and every year, growing from what it once was into what it is today. Enjoy a variety of activities. Go bird watching, biking, hiking, rollerblading, and enjoy nature of the Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail. Go horseback riding, swimming, boating, fishing, and participate in a variety of activities in and around Cheatham Lake, located in Ashland City.