[5] It lies in southeastern Ohio, in the Appalachian Plateau of the Appalachian Mountains about 75 miles (121 km) east of Columbus and approximately 124 miles (200 km) south of Cleveland.

It is the principal city of the Cambridge micropolitan area and is located adjacent to the intersection of Interstates 70 and 77.

The Cambridge area is also noted for its S-shaped bridges, dating back to the building of the National Road in 1828.

In 1796, Col. Ebenezer Zane received funds to blaze a road suitable for travel by horse through the Ohio wilderness from a point on the Ohio River opposite Wheeling, Virginia (now Wheeling, West Virginia) to another point opposite Maysville, Kentucky.

Where this road, known as Zane's Trace, crossed Wills Creek, a ferry was established in 1798.

Also in 1806, another group of early settlers from the Isle of Guernsey in the English Channel pitched camp in Cambridge, reportedly because the women in the party refused to move on.

The Cambridge area experienced massive flooding in late June 1998.

[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.35 square miles (16.45 km2), all land.

There were 5,267 housing units at an average density of 717.11 per square mile (276.9/km2).

32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

38.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Route 40 acting as the de facto "main street", and is not too far away from Cambridge Municipal Airport, primarily used for general aviation.