Population: 225,000

The city of Ashdod, located on a major road axis in a plain, is 35 kilometers from Tel Aviv, and equidistant from Jerusalem and Be'er Sheva (70 kilometers). Ashdod is proud to be the most active seaport in Israel, after Haifa, and a nerve center for internal and external transportation.

Its area is 60,000 dunams (60 km²), and adding the natural parks, the total area reaches 74,000 dunams (74 km²). The master plan of Ashdod divides the city into 17 residential quarters.

Most of the city's residents appreciate their living environment in this city where the mild climate and geographical location have transformed Ashdod into one of the most attractive cities in Israel, in terms of the many newcomers and citizens from various backgrounds. The population growth rate of Ashdod is the highest in Israel. The city, which initially had 22 families, now has 196,000 inhabitants. Approximately 38% of its residents are newcomers from the Commonwealth of Eastern countries, Ethiopia, France, Latin America, and other countries, who immigrated to Ashdod in the 1990s.

In ten years, the city has developed and become the fifth-largest city in Israel. With a growth rate of about 9,000 inhabitants per year, the city expects about 225,000 residents by 2005.

The new city of Ashdod was founded in 1955.

The name of the city has been mentioned several times in the Bible, in the book of Yehoshua (Joshua). The seaport of Ashdod was inaugurated in 1965. The city has also developed into an essential tourism destination with its kilometers of untouched beaches, the development of a large marina with a capacity of 50 pleasure boats. A multitude of new construction projects are flowing from all over the country, as it is expected that the city's population will reach a quarter of a million residents by 2020.

Ashdod is also significant for its rich and eventful history. Archaeological excavations have highlighted that since the 17th century BCE, Ashdod has always been inhabited, as shown by the findings of excavations uncovering fortifications dating from the Canaanites.