Mahoning Valley

The Youngstown–Warren–Boardman, OH–PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, typically known as the Mahoning Valley or the Steel Valley, is a metropolitan area in Northeast Ohio in the United States, with the city of Youngstown, Ohio, at its center. According to the US Census Bureau, the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) includes Mahoning and Trumbull counties in Ohio and Mercer County in Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the MSA had a population of 565,773.

This article is about the metropolitan area. For the geographic area, see Mahoning Valley (geographic).

Mahoning Valley Youngstown–Warren–Boardman, OH–PA MSA Youngstown–Warren, OH–PA CSA
Metropolitan area
Map of metro area (MSA in red, CSA in pink)
Nickname(s):  Steel Valley
Country	United States
States	Ohio  Pennsylvania
Largest city	Youngstown
Elevation	660–3,001 ft (200–915 m)
Population  (2012/2010)
• Urban	602,964
• MSA	565,773
• CSA	715,039
	MSA/CSA = 2012, Urban = 2010
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	16xxx to 44xxx
Area code(s)	330, 234, 724

This area also has a strong commuter interchange with Cleveland and Pittsburgh and their metropolitan areas. It is located in the Rust Belt, which stretches from Minneapolis in the west to Scranton in the east.

Steel industry history

Although steel has been produced in the Mahoning Valley since the mid-1800s, after the Civil War, the valley was primarily known for its iron production. Conversion to steel manufacturing began during the economic depression of the 1890s.[1] The Mahoning Valley is suitable for steel manufacture because of "its proximity to the Lake Erie ports that receive iron ore…the coal fields of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia; and to limestone deposits."[2] The "25-mile stretch of steel mills and related industries" along the Mahoning River is similar to the Ruhr Valley in Germany."[2] Historically, it was the largest steel producing region in the world (including all of Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania).

The local steel industry declined during the 1970s steel crisis. A notable plant closure occurred on September 19, 1977, when Youngstown Sheet and Tube abruptly closed its Campbell Works and furloughed 5,000 workers.[3] Today the area produces little steel, and is home to many scrap metal yards and aluminum plants.[4] A 2009 documentary titled "Steel Valley: Meltdown" describes "the past, present and future of the Mahoning Valley" through the eyes of local experts, including one local organizer who stated, "We are the first generation completely removed from the days when steel mills were active."[5]

The Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corporation, founded in 1979, is active in economic revitalization and diversification. It owns two industrial parks, and has purchased local rail lines, including the Youngstown and Austintown Railroad and the Warren and Trumbull Railroad.[6]

Municipalities

Largest municipalities

2017 rank	City	County (State)	2017 estimate	2010 Census	Change	Peak Population (Year)
1	Youngstown	Mahoning (OH)	65,469	66,982	−2.26%[7]	170,002 (1930)
2	Warren	Trumbull (OH)	38,752	41,557	−6.75%[7]	63,494 (1970)
3	Boardman	Mahoning (OH)	35,376	35,376	0.00%[8]	39,161 (1980)
4	Austintown	Mahoning (OH)	29,677	29,677	0.00%[9]	33,636 (1980)
5	Niles	Trumbull (OH)	18,176	19,266	−5.66%[7]	23,072 (1980)
6	Hermitage	Mercer (PA)	15,471	16,365	−5.46%[7]	16,365 (1980)
7	Sharon	Mercer (PA)	12,933	14,038	−7.87%[7]	26,454 (1950)
8	Salem	Columbiana (OH)	11,612	12,303	−5.62%[10]	14,186 (1970)
9	East Liverpool	Columbiana (OH)	10,817	11,195	−3.38%[10]	26,243 (1970)
10	Struthers	Mahoning (OH)	10,111	10,713	−5.62%[7]	15,631 (1960)

Cities, villages, and boroughs

Mahoning County Alliance (partly in Stark County) Austintown Beloit Berlin Center Boardman Campbell Canfield Craig Beach Lowellville Maple Ridge Mineral Ridge New Middletown Poland Sebring Struthers Youngstown

Trumbull County Cortland Girard Hubbard Newton Falls Niles Warren Lordstown McDonald Orangeville West Farmington Yankee Lake

Columbiana County (CSA) Columbiana East Liverpool East Palestine Hanoverton Leetonia Lisbon Minerva New Waterford Rogers Salem Salineville Summitville Washingtonville Wellsville

Mercer County Clark Farrell Fredonia Greenville Grove City Hermitage Jackson Center Jamestown Mercer New Lebanon Sandy Lake Sharon Sharpsville Sheakleyville Stoneboro West Middlesex Wheatland

Townships

Mahoning County Austintown Beaver Berlin Boardman Canfield Coitsville Ellsworth Goshen Green Jackson Milton Poland Smith Springfield

Trumbull County Bazetta Bloomfield Braceville Bristol Brookfield Champion Farmington Fowler Greene Gustavus Hartford Howland Hubbard Johnston Kinsman Liberty Mecca Mesopotamia Newton Southington Vernon Vienna Warren Weathersfield

Columbiana County (CSA) Butler Center Elkrun Fairfield Franklin Hanover Knox Liverpool Madison Middleton Perry Salem St. Clair Unity Washington Wayne West Yellow Creek

Mercer County Coolspring Township Deer Creek Township Delaware Township East Lackawannock Township Fairview Township Findley Township French Creek Township Greene Township Hempfield Township Jackson Township Lackawannock Township Lake Township Liberty Township Mill Creek Township New Vernon Township Otter Creek Township Perry Township Pine Township Pymatuning Township Salem Township Sandy Creek Township Sandy Lake Township Shenango Township South Pymatuning Township Springfield Township Sugar Grove Township West Salem Township Wilmington Township Wolf Creek Township Worth Township

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	174,112		—
1910	246,616		41.6%
1920	364,018		47.6%
1930	458,451		25.9%
1940	473,605		3.3%
1950	528,498		11.6%
1960	636,525		20.4%
1970	663,178		4.2%
1980	659,649		−0.5%
1990	613,622		−7.0%
2000	602,978		−1.7%
2010	565,773		−6.2%
Est. 2018	538,952	[11]	−4.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 602,978 people, 238,319 households, and 162,896 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 86.88% White, 10.78% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.70% of the population.

The median income for a household in the MSA was $36,071, and the median income for a family was $44,055. Males had a median income of $35,626 versus $23,186 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $18,547.

Sports

Main article: Youngstown, Ohio § Sports

Mahoning Valley area teams

Club	Sport	League (Conf)	Venue	Location
Mahoning Valley Scrappers	Baseball	New York–Penn League	Eastwood Field	Niles
Youngstown Phantoms	Ice hockey	United States Hockey League	Covelli Centre	Youngstown
Youngstown Nighthawks	Indoor soccer	Premier Arena Soccer League	Farmer Jim's Sports Complex	Cortland
Youngstown State University Penguins	various	NCAA (Horizon League, MVFC)	various, including Stambaugh Stadium	Youngstown

College sports

NCAA Division I sports are played in the region, with Youngstown State University fielding eight men's and ten women's teams.

Combined statistical area

The Youngstown–Warren combined statistical area is made up of four counties – three in northeast Ohio and one in western Pennsylvania. The statistical area includes one metropolitan area and one micropolitan area.[14] The Youngstown-Warren media market serves all three counties in the CSA, as well as the New Castle, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

• Metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs)
  • Youngstown–Warren–Boardman (Mahoning County and Trumbull County, Ohio, and Mercer County, Pennsylvania)
• Micropolitan statistical areas (μSAs)
  • Salem (Columbiana County, Ohio)

See also

• Mahoning River
• Republic Steel
• Youngstown Sheet and Tube
• Steel crisis
• Economy of Youngstown, Ohio

References

1. "Ohio: Rise and Fall of the Steel Industry in the Mahoning Valley". (Local Legacies: Celebrating Community Roots – Library of Congress). Retrieved 2014-03-03.
2. "Mahoning Valley". Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission. Archived from the original on 2014-03-15. Retrieved 2014-03-03.
3. Christie, Les. "The incredible shrinking city". CNNMoney.com. Retrieved 2004-04-24.
4. Linkon, Sherry Lee; John Russo (2002). Steeltown U.S.A: work and memory in Youngstown. Lawrence, Kan.: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 978-0-7006-1161-4.
5. Libecco, Katie (2009-09-19). "Local documentary gathers expert insight". Valley24.com. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
6. "Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corporation – Revitalizing the Mahoning Valley". Retrieved 2014-03-03.
7. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Struthers city, Ohio; Hermitage city, Pennsylvania; Sharon city, Pennsylvania; Niles city, Ohio; Warren city, Ohio; Youngstown city, Ohio". www.census.gov. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
8. "Decennials - Census of Population and Housing". 8 February 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
9. "CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING (1790-2000)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
10. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
11. "US Census QuickFacts". Retrieved July 3, 2016.
12. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved July 3, 2016.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
14. "Table 2. Annual Estimates of the Population of Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 (CBSA-EST2009-02)". 2009 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2010-03-23. Archived from the original (CSV) on April 20, 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-30.

Further reading

• Blue, Frederick J.; Jenkins, William D.; Lawson, William H.; Reedy, Joan M. (1995). Mahoning Memories: A History of Youngstown and Mahoning County. Virginia Beach, VA: The Donning Company. ISBN 0-89865-944-2.
• Ruminski, Clayton J. Iron Valley: The Transformation of the Iron Industry in Ohio’s Mahoning Valley, 1802—1913 (Ohio State University Press, 2017).