Youngstown (pop. 60,068) is an industrial city in northeastern Ohio. With Warren, it forms a metropolitan area with 430,591 people.
Youngstown has many parks and recreation areas. Mill Creek Park contains woodlands, meadows, streams, lakes, and trails. It covers about 2,700 acres (1,100 hectares) and is one of the nation’s most beautiful natural parks. Youngstown institutions include the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Youngstown State University, Butler Institute of American Art, Stambaugh Auditorium, DeYor Performing Arts Center, and the Youngstown Playhouse.
Youngstown has foundries, machine shops, metal fabricators, and mill equipment suppliers. Youngstown’s factories produce aluminum products, automotive parts, electrical equipment, and plastic and rubber goods.
Youngstown was settled in 1797 and named in honor of John Young of New York, who bought the site of the future city from the Connecticut Land Company. The town was incorporated in 1848. For many years, Youngstown was a leading steel-producing city in the United States. Its first steel mill was built in 1891. By the 1930’s, Youngstown ranked third in steel production among U.S. cities. During the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, a number of economic factors made the production of steel in the Youngstown mills unprofitable. As a result, most of the area’s steel plants closed. Youngstown is the seat of Mahoning County and has a mayor-council form of government.
