Mahoning Valley Youngstown–Warren, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area | |
|---|---|
 Downtown Youngstown as viewed from Wean Park | |
 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| Largest city | Youngstown |
| Other cities | Boardman Warren Austintown Niles Salem East Liverpool |
| Elevation | 656–3,002 ft (200–915 m) |
| Population (2020[2]) | |
| • Urban | 320,901 (US: 127th)[1] |
| • Urban density | 1,638/sq mi (632.3/km2) |
| • Metro | 430,591 (US:125th) |
| • CSA | 532,468 (US:87th) |
| GDP | |
| • Metro | $24.990 billion (2022) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 4xxxx |
| Area codes | 330, 234 |
TheYoungstown–Warren, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, typically known as theMahoning Valley, is ametropolitan area inNortheast Ohio withYoungstown, Ohio, at its center. According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) includesMahoning andTrumbull counties.[4] As of the2020 census, the region had a population of 430,591, making it the125th-largest metro area in the country.[2]
Taking its name from theMahoning River, the area has a large commuter population that works inCleveland andPittsburgh and their metropolitan areas. It is located in theRust Belt, the former industrial region of the northern United States. The Youngstown–Warren–Salemcombined statistical area adds theSalemmicropolitan area andColumbiana County, Ohio to the region, increasing the total population to 532,468.[5] The Youngstown–Warren media market serves all three counties in the CSA, as well as the Pennsylvania counties ofMercer andLawrence.
Althoughsteel has been produced in the Mahoning Valley since the mid-1800s, after theCivil War, the valley was primarily known for itsiron production. Conversion to steel manufacturing began during theeconomic depression of the 1890s.[6] The Mahoning Valley is suitable for steel manufacture because of "its proximity to theLake Erie ports that receiveiron ore…thecoal fields of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia; and tolimestone deposits."[7] The "25-mile stretch of steel mills and related industries" along theMahoning River is similar to theRuhr Valley in Germany."[7] 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 thePittsburgh metropolitan area.[citation needed]
The local steel industry declined during the1970s steel crisis. A notable plant closure occurred on September 19, 1977, whenYoungstown Sheet and Tube abruptly closed its Campbell Works andfurloughed 5,000 workers.[8] Today the area produces little steel, and is home to manyscrap metal yards andaluminum plants.[9] 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."[10]
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 theYoungstown and Austintown Railroad and theWarren and Trumbull Railroad.[11]
| Pop rank | City | County | State | 2020 census | 2010 census | Change | Peak population (year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Youngstown | Mahoning | Ohio | 60,068 | 66,982 | −10.32%[12] | 170,002 (1930) |
| 2 | Boardman | Mahoning | Ohio | 40,213 | 40,889 | −1.65%[13] | 42,518 (2000) |
| 3 | Warren | Trumbull | Ohio | 39,201 | 41,557 | −5.67%[12] | 63,494 (1970) |
| 4 | Austintown | Mahoning | Ohio | 29,594 | 29,677 | −0.28%[14] | 33,636 (1980) |
| 5 | Niles | Trumbull | Ohio | 18,443 | 19,266 | −4.27%[12] | 23,072 (1980) |
| 6 | Salem | Columbiana | Ohio | 11,915 | 12,303 | −3.15%[15] | 14,186 (1970) |
| 7 | Struthers | Mahoning | Ohio | 10,063 | 10,713 | −6.07%[12] | 15,631 (1960) |
| 8 | East Liverpool | Columbiana | Ohio | 9,958 | 11,195 | −11.05%[15] | 26,243 (1970) |
| 9 | Girard | Trumbull | Ohio | 9,603 | 9,958 | −3.56%[15] | 14,119 (1970) |
| 10 | Campbell | Mahoning | Ohio | 7,852 | 8,235 | −4.65%[15] | 14,673 (1930) |
Mahoning County | Trumbull County | Columbiana County (CSA)
|
Mahoning County | Trumbull County | Columbiana County (CSA)
|
| 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[16] | |||
As of thecensus[17] of 2000, there were 602,978 people, 238,319 households, and 162,896 families residing within the MSA, which includedMercer 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% fromother races, and 1.17% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino 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. Theper capita income for the MSA was $18,547.
In July 2023, Mercer County, Pennsylvania was removed from the Youngstown–Warren MSA, renamed the Hermitage, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area and attached to thePittsburgh-Weirton-Steubenville, PA-OH-WV CSA.[4]
| 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) |
The Youngstown–Warren area is served by one regional airport:
The area is also served by several county and local airports, including:
Interstate 76
Interstate 80
Interstate 680
Ohio Turnpike
U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 62
U.S. Route 224
U.S. Route 422
SR 5
SR 7
SR 11
SR 82
SR 193
SR 711Youngstown is directly served byI-680, which connects the city withInterstate 80,Interstate 76 (theOhio Turnpike), andState Route 11. I-680 begins at a junction with I-80 and SR 11, the start of the latter two routes' concurrency, inAustintown Township. Traveling southeast, I-680 passes through Youngstown, exiting southward from the city. After running through south suburban communities, it reaches its terminus at the Ohio Turnpike (I-76) inBeaver Township. TheSR 711 freeway begins at a junction with I-680 in Youngstown and runs northeast and north out of the city and Mahoning County before terminating at a junction with I-80 and SR 11, the end of the latter two routes' concurrency, inLiberty Township. In addition to non-freeway sections of US 62, US 422, SR 7 and SR 193, state routesSR 170,SR 289,SR 616 andSR 625 serve the city.
The Ohio Turnpike passes to the west and south of Youngstown. Coming from theCleveland area to the northwest, the turnpike carriesInterstate 80 (I-80). InJackson Township, Mahoning County, approximately 10 miles (16 km) west ofDowntown Youngstown, the turnpike has a junction withI-76 (coming fromAkron to the west) and the two interstates swap rights-of-way; the turnpike continues to the southeast as I-76, on its way towardPittsburgh. I-80 continues east, passing north of Youngstown, then crosses the Pennsylvania state line. Just 4 miles (6.4 km) into Pennsylvania, I-80 has a junction withInterstate 376, providing another connection to Pittsburgh.
Ohio State Route 11 (SR 11), a north–southfreeway, runs to the west of Youngstown, joins aconcurrency with I-80, traveling near the northwest of the city, then leaves the concurrency heading north; at some points SR 11 is no more than2+1⁄2 miles (4.0 km) from the city limits. The route runs south toEast Liverpool on theOhio River; running north, it passes close toNiles andWarren before reachingI-90 in northeast Ohio, finally terminating inAshtabula atLake Erie.
TheWestern 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.
The Mahoning Valley is home to a number of higher education facilities, including:
| Club | Sport | League (Conf) | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahoning Valley Scrappers | Baseball | Collegiate summer baseball | Eastwood Field | Niles |
| Youngstown Area Roller Derby | Roller derby | Women's Flat Track Derby Association | various | Youngstown |
| Youngstown Nighthawks | Indoor soccer | Major Arena Soccer League 3 | Farmer Jim's Sports Complex | Cortland |
| Youngstown Phantoms | Ice hockey | United States Hockey League | Covelli Centre | Youngstown |
| Youngstown State University Penguins | various | NCAA (Horizon League,MVFC) | various, includingStambaugh Stadium | Youngstown |
NCAA Division I sports are played in the region, withYoungstown State University fielding eight men's and ten women's teams.
The area is served mainly by zoned editions ofThe Vindicator out of Youngstown and theTribune Chronicle in Warren. They are published together inbroadsheet at theTribune Chronicle in Warren. The two newspapers, along with the,Lisbon-basedMorning Journal, were independent until in June 2019 it was announced thatThe Vindicator would cease publication by mid-August of the same year.[18] Although this newspaper carries the name of the oldVindicator,[19] its scope is comparatively limited, with the majority of previousVindicator journalists not being carried over to the new edition.[20]
Other newspapers that print in Youngstown include bi-monthlyThe Business Journal,The Metro Monthly, and the bi-weeklyThe Jambar, published by the students of Youngstown State University on Tuesdays and Thursdays while classes are in session.
Mahoning Valley is part of the Youngstown media market, which includes Trumbull, Mahoning, and Columbiana counties in Ohio and Mercer County in Pennsylvania. As of 2024–25, with 263,000 television households, the Youngstown market is the nation's 118th largest, according toNielsen Media Research.[21]
The market is served is served by four full power television stations.[22] includingWFMJ-TV (channel 21,NBC, withThe CW channel 21.2 under theWBCB call letters),WKBN-TV (channel 27,CBS),WYTV (channel 33,ABC, withMNTV on33.2), andWNEO channel 45 (PBS).
Low power stationWYFX-LD channel 62 serves as Youngstown'sFox affiliate, and is simulcast on WKBN 27.2.
The following stations are part of the Youngstown media market:
| Neighborhoods |
|  | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| History |
| ||||||
| Sports |
| ||||||
| Education |
| ||||||
Great Lakes megalopolis as defined by theRPA | ||
|---|---|---|
Includes all metropolitan areas that have a population of 150,000 or greater according to the most recent national census. | ||
| Great Lakes region cities |  | |
| Surrounding cities |
| |
| Cities of states south of region | ||
| Other metro-regions | ||
