Mahoning Valley

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

The Youngstown–Warren, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, typically known as the Mahoning Valley, is a metropolitan area in Northeast Ohio with Youngstown, Ohio, at its center. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) includes Mahoning and Trumbull counties.^[3] As of the 2020 census, the region had a population of 430,591, making it the 125th-largest metro area in the country.^[1]

Mahoning Valley Youngstown–Warren, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Downtown Youngstown as viewed from Wean Park
Map of Youngstown–Warren–Salem, OH CSA   Youngstown–Warren MSA   Salem µSA   City of Youngstown   City of Warren
Country	United States
State	Ohio
Largest city	Youngstown
Other cities	Boardman Warren Austintown Niles Salem East Liverpool
Elevation	660–3,001 ft (200–915 m)
Population  (2020[1])
• Urban	320,901 (US: 127th)[2]
• Urban density	1,637.6/sq mi (632.3/km2)
• Metro	430,591 (US: 125th)
• CSA	532,468 (US: 87th)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	4xxxx
Area code(s)	330, 234

Taking its name from the Mahoning River, the area has a large commuter population that works in Cleveland and Pittsburgh and their metropolitan areas. It is located in the Rust Belt, the former industrial region of the northern United States. The Youngstown–Warren–Salem combined statistical area adds the Salem micropolitan area and Columbiana County, Ohio to the region, increasing the total population to 532,468.^[4] The Youngstown–Warren media market serves all three counties in the CSA, as well as the Mercer County, Pennsylvania and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania.

Steel industry

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.^[5] 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."^[6] The "25-mile stretch of steel mills and related industries" along the Mahoning River is similar to the Ruhr Valley in Germany."^[6] Historically, it was part of the largest steel producing region in the world, leading to the historical "Steel Valley" moniker that the area shared with the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[7] Today the area produces little steel, and is home to many scrap metal yards and aluminum plants.^[8] A 2009 documentary, Steel Valley: Meltdown, addresses "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."^[9]

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.^[10]

Municipalities

Mahoning Valley's cities (dark blue) and villages and boroughs (light blue)

Largest municipalities

Population rank	City	County	State	2020 census	2010 census	Change	Peak population (year)
1	Youngstown	Mahoning	Ohio	60,068	66,982	−10.32%[11]	170,002 (1930)
2	Boardman	Mahoning	Ohio	40,213	40,889	−1.65%[12]	42,518 (2000)
3	Warren	Trumbull	Ohio	39,201	41,557	−5.67%[11]	63,494 (1970)
4	Austintown	Mahoning	Ohio	29,594	29,677	−0.28%[13]	33,636 (1980)
5	Niles	Trumbull	Ohio	18,443	19,266	−4.27%[11]	23,072 (1980)
6	Salem	Columbiana	Ohio	11,915	12,303	−3.15%[14]	14,186 (1970)
7	Struthers	Mahoning	Ohio	10,063	10,713	−6.07%[11]	15,631 (1960)
8	East Liverpool	Columbiana	Ohio	9,958	11,195	−11.05%[14]	26,243 (1970)
9	Girard	Trumbull	Ohio	9,603	9,958	−3.56%[14]	14,119 (1970)
10	Campbell	Mahoning	Ohio	7,852	8,235	−4.65%[14]	14,673 (1930)

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

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

Demographics

CSA Population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	185,315		—
1910	245,536		32.5%
1920	353,361		43.9%
1930	445,689		26.1%
1940	462,687		3.8%
1950	515,464		11.4%
1960	616,010		19.5%
1970	644,313		4.6%
1980	644,922		0.1%
1990	600,895		−6.8%
2000	594,746		−1.0%
2010	556,976		−6.4%
2020	532,468		−4.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]

As of the census^[16] of 2000, there were 602,978 people, 238,319 households, and 162,896 families residing within the MSA, which included Mercer County, Pennsylvania. 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.

Results from the past four Presidential elections in the Mahoning Valley

County	2020 Census	2010 Census	Change	Area	Density
Mahoning County	228,614	238,823	−4.27%	425 sq mi (1,100 km2)	538/sq mi (208/km2)
Trumbull County	201,977	210,312	−3.96%	637 sq mi (1,650 km2)	317/sq mi (122/km2)
Columbiana County	101,877	107,841	−5.53%	535 sq mi (1,390 km2)	190/sq mi (74/km2)

Transportation

Airports

The Youngstown–Warren area is served by one regional and several county and local airports, including:

• Columbiana County Airport
• Koons Airport
• Lansdowne Airport
• Miller Airport
• Salem Airpark
• Warren Airport
• Youngstown Elser Metro Airport
• Youngstown–Warren Regional Airport
• Youngstown Air Reserve Station

Major highways

• Interstate 76
• Interstate 79
• Interstate 80
• Interstate 376
• Interstate 680
• Ohio Turnpike
• U.S. Route 19
• U.S. Route 30
• U.S. Route 62
• U.S. Route 224
• U.S. Route 322
• U.S. Route 422

Public transit

The Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA) operates a metropolitan public busing system in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. In Columbiana County, the Community Action Rural Transit System (CARTS) operates a rural public busing system.

Colleges and universities

Jones Hall at Youngstown State University

The Mahoning Valley is home to a number of higher education facilities, including:

• Butler County Community College (Hermitage)
• Eastern Gateway Community College (Youngstown)
• Grove City College (Grove City)
• Kent State University at East Liverpool (East Liverpool)
• Kent State University at Salem (Salem)
• Kent State University at Trumbull (Warren)
• New Castle School of Trades (East Liverpool)
• Pennsylvania State University Shenango (Sharon)
• Thiel College (Greenville)
• Youngstown State University (Youngstown)

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

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

See also

• Republic Steel
• Economy of Youngstown, Ohio

References

1. "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
2. United States Census Bureau (December 29, 2022). "2020 Census Qualifying Urban Areas and Final Criteria Clarifications". Federal Register.
3. "OMB Bulletin No. 23-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). United States Office of Management and Budget. July 21, 2023.
4. "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.
5. "Ohio: Rise and Fall of the Steel Industry in the Mahoning Valley". (Local Legacies: Celebrating Community Roots – Library of Congress). Retrieved 2014-03-03.
6. "Mahoning Valley". Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission. Archived from the original on 2014-03-15. Retrieved 2014-03-03.
7. Christie, Les. "The incredible shrinking city". CNNMoney.com. Retrieved 2004-04-24.
8. 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.
9. Libecco, Katie (2009-09-19). "Local documentary gathers expert insight". Valley24.com. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
10. "Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corporation – Revitalizing the Mahoning Valley". Retrieved 2014-03-03.
11. "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.
12. "Decennials - Census of Population and Housing". 8 February 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
13. "CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING (1790-2000)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
14. "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.
15. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved July 3, 2016.
16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

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).

41°15′N 80°43′W