Alliance is a city in Stark and Mahoning counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 23,253 at the 2000 census. Alliance's nickname is "The Carnation City" and the city is home to Mount Union University. The Stark County portion of Alliance is part of the Canton–Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the small Mahoning County portion is part of the Youngstown–Warren–Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.