The town of Ashley was platted in 1892 by the Wabash Railroad. According to the 2003 U.S. Census Bureau, its population is 997. The Indiana Improvement Company bought land and established the division of the Wabash Railroad that runs along the northern boundary of Dekalb County. The new railroad and the technology that accompanied it drew a large influx of people to the area. Ashley has been successful in recruiting industry to the area, furthering the town’s prosperity.

Ashley is known as the home of the Smiley Face and in recognition, its water tower is painted bright yellow with two large happy faces on each side, clearly recognizable from I-69.

The community is also home to Country Meadow Elementary School, located two miles south of town and serving students from Ashley, Fairfield, and Smithfield townships and a portion of Richland township. Junior and Senior High School students attend Dekalb Middle School and Dekalb High School.

The community offers many recreational activities. The Ashley-Hudson Festival is held annually the first weekend in August. Ashley has two parks: Ashley Memorial Park and Sunset Memorial Park, which includes two baseball diamonds, a tennis court, two basketball courts, a pavilion, a playground, and a walking trail.

A three-member town council meets on the second Monday of every month. The city has a town manager who serves the administrative needs of the town council. The local Police Department includes a town marshall, with two other full time officers. The Fire Department consists of a Fire Chief along with twenty-five volunteer firemen.

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