Ravenna is located at 41°9′31″N 81°14′36″W / 41.15861°N 81.24333°W / 41.15861; -81.24333 (41.158656, -81.243274).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.4 square miles (13.9 km²), of which, 5.3 square miles (13.9 km²) of it is land and 0.19% is water.

The following highways pass through Ravenna:

Ravenna is located south of Interstate 80/Ohio Turnpike exit 193, and north of Interstate 76 exit 38.

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,771 people, 4,980 households, and 2,997 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,199.2 people per square mile (849.5/km²). There were 5,313 housing units at an average density of 992.6/sq mi (383.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.03% White, 4.42% Black, 0.25% American Indian, 0.39% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.91% of the population.

There were 4,980 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,650, and the median income for a family was $46,090. Males had a median income of $33,574 versus $25,320 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,862. About 6.0% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.9% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

Elementary and secondary education for students in Ravenna and Ravenna Township is provided by the Ravenna School District, which includes: Ravenna High School, Brown Middle School, Carlin Elementary, Willyard Elementary, Tappan Elementary, West Park Elementary, and West Main Elementary. Ravenna is also home to the Maplewood Career Center, a vocational school which serves high school-aged students from ten high schools in Portage and Summit counties and offers adult education programs.

Bohecker College, a small two-year professional school, is located in northern Ravenna near State Route 14.