Mahoning County, Ohio | |
|---|---|
 Mahoning County Courthouse | |
 Flag .svg) Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofOhio | |
 Ohio's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:41°01′N80°46′W / 41.02°N 80.77°W /41.02; -80.77 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Ohio |
| Founded | March 1, 1846 |
| Named after | ANative American word forsalt lick |
| Seat | Youngstown |
| Largest city | Youngstown |
| Area | |
• Total | 425 sq mi (1,100 km2) |
| • Land | 412 sq mi (1,070 km2) |
| • Water | 14 sq mi (36 km2) 3.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 228,614 |
• Estimate (2021) | 226,762 |
| • Density | 555/sq mi (214/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | www |
Mahoning County is located in theU.S. state ofOhio. As of the2020 census, the population was 228,614.[1] Itscounty seat and largest city isYoungstown.[2] The county isnamed after theMahoning River and was formed on March 1, 1846; the 83rd county in Ohio.[3][4]
Present-day Mahoning County was part ofTrumbull andColumbiana counties until 1846, when the counties were redefined and Mahoning County was established as a new county.[5] Mahoning County is part of theYoungstown–Warren, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area.
In the year 1600, Mahoning County was likely divided between two nations ofNative Americans, theErie people in the east and theWhittlesey culture in the west.[6][7] It is unknown where the actual boundaries between these cultures lay, though the nearest confirmed Whittlesey settlement was atCleveland and the nearest confirmed Erie settlement was just barely across the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, inAshtabula County. The Erie were anIroquoian people who likely arrived sometime between the years 1100-1300 AD, after chasing out an older nation of "Mound Builders."[8] The Whittlesey were likely Algonquian, but lived in longhouses rather than the traditionalAlgonquian wigwams.
Following theBeaver Wars, when theIroquois Confederacy declared war on many of the tribes of the Great Lakes region over several decades and destroyed them, new tribes moved into this area. The tribes who shared the resources of the Mahoning Valley included theSeneca,Lenape (Delaware),Shawnee, andWyandot. The Seneca and Wyandot were Iroquoians, and the Lenape and Shawnee were Algonquians. As northeast Ohio later came to be under control of the settlers as part of theConnecticut Western Reserve, all tribes were pushed further westward or southward, before eventually being removed from Ohio by the United States in the early-mid 1800s.
Some former known Native American sites that existed in Mahoning County include the council rock and theNorth Benton burial mound.[9][10] Council Rock was where the Shawnee and Lenape were known to gather for collective holiday celebrations, religion ceremonies and political meetings and once sat in the center of Youngstown. Though the rock was moved long ago, it still rests in what is now Lincoln Park. The North Benton burial mound was once located on the outskirts of North Benton and was removed by archeologists. It was attributed to theHopewell culture, but contained unique features, such as sculptures of constellations made of white rocks and clay laid out at ground level and a pit full of mixed human bones in one corner. It shared features with two other burial mounds found and excavated inKent, Ohio andWarren, Pennsylvania represents a completely unique style of burial mound in Ohio.
Prior to its formation of a county in 1846, Mahoning County was a destination for a family ofHuguenot refugees in the early 1800s.[11]
In the 1900s, Youngstown was a hub for theAmerican steel industry and for local mob groups, who gained their power through the liquor and gambling industries during prohibition, remaining a key safety issue for the region until the 1990s. It was also the home toWarner Theatre, where theWarner Bros. film studio got its start and remained a hub for early film and television for decades. An extensive German community used to exist in the township ofBerlin, until pressure to fully assimilate after the World Wars against Germany ended it. Brier Hill Pizza was invented in Youngstown'sBrier Hill neighborhood and is considered a local delicacy.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has an area of 425 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 412 square miles (1,070 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (3.2%) is water.[12]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 23,735 | — | |
| 1860 | 25,894 | 9.1% | |
| 1870 | 31,001 | 19.7% | |
| 1880 | 42,871 | 38.3% | |
| 1890 | 55,979 | 30.6% | |
| 1900 | 70,134 | 25.3% | |
| 1910 | 116,151 | 65.6% | |
| 1920 | 186,310 | 60.4% | |
| 1930 | 236,142 | 26.7% | |
| 1940 | 240,251 | 1.7% | |
| 1950 | 257,629 | 7.2% | |
| 1960 | 300,480 | 16.6% | |
| 1970 | 303,424 | 1.0% | |
| 1980 | 289,487 | −4.6% | |
| 1990 | 264,806 | −8.5% | |
| 2000 | 257,555 | −2.7% | |
| 2010 | 238,823 | −7.3% | |
| 2020 | 228,614 | −4.3% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 225,786 | [13] | −1.2% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14] 1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16] 1990-2000[17] 2010-2020[1] | |||
The county has shrunk in population, after peaking around 1970.
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[18] | Pop 1990[19] | Pop 2000[20] | Pop 2010[21] | Pop 2020[22] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 241,706 | 218,122 | 204,969 | 185,230 | 169,090 | 83.49% | 82.37% | 79.58% | 77.56% | 73.96% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 40,778 | 39,213 | 40,270 | 36,400 | 33,770 | 14.09% | 14.81% | 15.64% | 15.24% | 14.77% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 325 | 409 | 378 | 392 | 332 | 0.11% | 0.15% | 0.15% | 0.16% | 0.15% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 701 | 962 | 1,203 | 1,647 | 1,952 | 0.24% | 0.36% | 0.47% | 0.69% | 0.85% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[23] | x[24] | 54 | 36 | 59 | x | x | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 595 | 154 | 237 | 249 | 708 | 0.21% | 0.06% | 0.09% | 0.10% | 0.31% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[25] | x[26] | 2,804 | 3,733 | 8,610 | x | x | 1.09% | 1.56% | 3.77% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5,382 | 5,946 | 7,640 | 11,136 | 14,093 | 1.86% | 2.25% | 2.97% | 4.66% | 6.16% |
| Total | 289,487 | 264,806 | 257,555 | 238,823 | 228,614 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2010 census, there were 238,823 people, 98,712 households, and 62,676 families living in the county.[27] The population density was 580.2 inhabitants per square mile (224.0/km2). There were 111,833 housing units at an average density of 271.7 units per square mile (104.9 units/km2).[28] The racial makeup of the county was 79.9% white, 15.7% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.4% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.7% of the population.[27] In terms of ancestry, 21.4% wereGerman, 18.4% wereItalian, 16.6% wereIrish, 8.9% wereEnglish, and 4.2% wereAmerican.[29]
Of the 98,712 households, 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.5% were non-families, and 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 42.9 years.[27]
The median income for a household in the county was $40,123 and the median income for a family was $52,489. Males had a median income of $44,516 versus $31,969 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,824. About 12.6% of families and 16.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 25.9% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.[30]
As of thecensus[31] of 2000, there were 257,555 people, 102,587 households, and 68,835 families living in the county. The population density was 620 inhabitants per square mile (240/km2). There were 111,762 housing units at an average density of 269 units per square mile (104 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 81.04%White, 15.87%Black orAfrican American, 0.17%Native American, 0.47%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 1.03% fromother races, and 1.38% from two or more races. 2.97% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
93.1% spokeEnglish, 2.6%Spanish, 1.0%Italian, and 0.5%Greek as their first language.[32]
There were 102,587 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.00% weremarried couples living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 17.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,248, and the median income for a family was $44,185. Males had a median income of $36,313 versus $23,272 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $18,818. About 9.60% of families and 12.50% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 19.10% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.
According to the county's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[33] the top employers in the county are:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercy Health | 3,000 |
| 2 | Youngstown City School District | 1,791 |
| 3 | Mahoning County | 1,600 |
| 4 | Youngstown State University | 1,200 |
| 5 | VXI Global Solutions | 1,100 |
| 6 | City of Youngstown | 1,063 |
| 7 | Infocision Management | 1,050 |
| 8 | Windsor House Assisted Living | 850 |
| 9 | Austintown Local School District | 800 |
| 10 | Akron Children's Hospital | 800 |
Mahoning County is historicallyDemocratic-leaning, voting for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election from 1976 through 2016. Circa 1972 to 2016,[34] the majority of voters in Mahoning County and Youngstown chose Democratic Party candidates in U.S. presidential elections.[35] In2016,Hillary Clinton won the county overDonald Trump by 3.3 percent, the smallest margin since 1972; in2012,Barack Obama carried the county overMitt Romney by a solid 28.3 percent.[citation needed]
However in the2020 U.S. presidential election in Ohio, the majority in those areas selectedDonald Trump. Andrew Gumbell ofThe Observer stated that Trump gained popularity from 2017 to 2020 even though the Youngstown economy declined in the same period; Trump in 2017 made statements saying that he will revive the area economically.[35] Donald Trump flipped the county Republican for the first time since Richard Nixon's national landslide victory in 1972, carrying it by a margin of 1.9 percentage points.
In the2024 U.S. presidential election in Ohio, Trump won the county by 9 points. Gumbell cited "disillusioned working-class voters" and their feelings for the rising popularity of Trump in the area; according to Gumbell, the voters believe that Trump would abolish a system that disadvantages them, but that the majority of area voters do not believe that, in Gumbell's words, that Trump will "fix everything or believe him when he says he will."[35] In 2024, Trump won 54.09% of the vote in the county, the largest for a Republican since 1928.
At the statewide level, Mahoning County generally votes Democratic as well. Since 1970, the county has only voted Republican three times at the gubernatorial level – in the landslide elections of1994,2014, and2022.
Between 2012 and 2022, Mahoning County was split betweenOhio's 13th congressional district andOhio's 6th congressional district. After the 2020 redistricting cycle, the county was moved entirely into the 6th district.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 61,249 | 54.09% | 50,636 | 44.72% | 1,348 | 1.19% |
| 2020 | 59,903 | 50.26% | 57,641 | 48.36% | 1,646 | 1.38% |
| 2016 | 53,616 | 46.23% | 57,381 | 49.48% | 4,974 | 4.29% |
| 2012 | 42,641 | 35.07% | 77,059 | 63.38% | 1,884 | 1.55% |
| 2008 | 45,319 | 35.50% | 79,173 | 62.02% | 3,167 | 2.48% |
| 2004 | 48,761 | 36.69% | 83,194 | 62.60% | 949 | 0.71% |
| 2000 | 40,460 | 35.45% | 69,212 | 60.65% | 4,447 | 3.90% |
| 1996 | 31,397 | 26.57% | 72,716 | 61.53% | 14,065 | 11.90% |
| 1992 | 31,191 | 24.82% | 64,731 | 51.52% | 29,728 | 23.66% |
| 1988 | 43,722 | 36.40% | 75,524 | 62.87% | 880 | 0.73% |
| 1984 | 53,424 | 40.65% | 76,514 | 58.21% | 1,500 | 1.14% |
| 1980 | 50,153 | 40.07% | 63,677 | 50.88% | 11,331 | 9.05% |
| 1976 | 46,314 | 36.96% | 75,837 | 60.53% | 3,143 | 2.51% |
| 1972 | 64,144 | 49.69% | 62,428 | 48.36% | 2,516 | 1.95% |
| 1968 | 42,948 | 34.75% | 68,433 | 55.38% | 12,197 | 9.87% |
| 1964 | 33,775 | 27.08% | 90,934 | 72.92% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 51,927 | 38.73% | 82,143 | 61.27% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 63,992 | 51.98% | 59,126 | 48.02% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 53,164 | 43.98% | 67,722 | 56.02% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 37,365 | 36.94% | 62,468 | 61.76% | 1,313 | 1.30% |
| 1944 | 35,184 | 33.42% | 70,102 | 66.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 37,496 | 32.91% | 76,441 | 67.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 24,825 | 27.32% | 64,886 | 71.41% | 1,147 | 1.26% |
| 1932 | 39,713 | 52.35% | 33,139 | 43.68% | 3,009 | 3.97% |
| 1928 | 48,341 | 63.82% | 26,928 | 35.55% | 479 | 0.63% |
| 1924 | 37,647 | 68.12% | 9,335 | 16.89% | 8,282 | 14.99% |
| 1920 | 29,736 | 63.85% | 14,941 | 32.08% | 1,893 | 4.06% |
| 1916 | 11,256 | 44.62% | 13,013 | 51.59% | 956 | 3.79% |
| 1912 | 5,839 | 28.20% | 6,838 | 33.03% | 8,026 | 38.77% |
| 1908 | 10,760 | 51.18% | 9,312 | 44.29% | 951 | 4.52% |
| 1904 | 10,404 | 59.97% | 4,436 | 25.57% | 2,510 | 14.47% |
| 1900 | 8,939 | 53.57% | 7,402 | 44.36% | 345 | 2.07% |
| 1896 | 8,529 | 55.27% | 6,772 | 43.88% | 131 | 0.85% |
| 1892 | 5,806 | 45.54% | 6,358 | 49.87% | 586 | 4.60% |
| 1888 | 6,162 | 51.31% | 5,337 | 44.44% | 511 | 4.25% |
| 1884 | 6,007 | 55.59% | 4,432 | 41.01% | 367 | 3.40% |
| 1880 | 4,943 | 53.33% | 4,044 | 43.63% | 282 | 3.04% |
| 1876 | 3,921 | 48.47% | 3,691 | 45.62% | 478 | 5.91% |
| 1872 | 3,757 | 59.13% | 2,518 | 39.63% | 79 | 1.24% |
| 1868 | 3,387 | 55.13% | 2,757 | 44.87% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1864 | 3,044 | 55.71% | 2,420 | 44.29% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1860 | 2,907 | 57.51% | 1,990 | 39.37% | 158 | 3.13% |
| 1856 | 2,323 | 54.16% | 1,937 | 45.16% | 29 | 0.68% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 54,067 | 48.49% | 53,847 | 48.29% | 3,585 | 3.22% |
| Party | Name | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R | Geno DiFabio | Commissioner | |
| D | Carol Rimedio-Righetti | Commissioner | |
| D | Anthony Traficanti | Commissioner | |
| R | Ralph Meacham | Auditor | |
| R | Michael P. Ciccone | Clerk of Courts | |
| D | David Kennedy | Coroner | |
| D | Patrick Ginnetti | Engineer | |
| R | Lynn Maro | Prosecuting Attorney | |
| R | Richard Scarsella | Recorder | |
| R | Jerry Greene | Sheriff | |
| D | Daniel Yemma | Treasurer | |
| Party | Name | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | Anthony M. D'Apolito | Court of Common Pleas | |
| D | Anthony Donofrio | Court of Common Pleas | |
| D | John M. Durkin | Court of Common Pleas | |
| R | R. Scott Krichbaum | Court of Common Pleas | |
| R | Maureen A. Sweeney | Court of Common Pleas | |
| D | Beth A. Smith | Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division | |
| R | Theresa F. Dellick | Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division | |
| I | Robert N. Rusu, Jr. | Court of Common Pleas Probate Court | |
| R | Joseph M. Houser | Mahoning County Court #2 - Boardman | |
| D | Joseph L. Schiavoni | Mahoning County Court #3 - Sebring | |
| R | Scott D. Hunter | Mahoning County Court #4 - Austintown | |
| R | Molly K. Johnson | Mahoning County Court #5 - Canfield | |
| I | Mark J. Kolmacic | Campbell Municipal Court | |
| D | James A. Melone | Struthers Municipal Court | |
| D | Carla J. Baldwin | Youngstown Municipal Court | |
| R | Renee M. DiSalvo | Youngstown Municipal Court | |
| D | Cheryl L. Waite | 7th District Court of Appeals | |
| R | Carol Ann Robb | 7th District Court of Appeals | |
| R | Kaitlyn Dickey | 7th District Court of Appeals | |
| R | Mark A. Hanni | 7th District Court of Appeals | |
| Party | Name | District | Body | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | Tex Fischer | 58 | Ohio House of Representatives | |
| D | Lauren McNally | 59 | Ohio House of Representatives | |
| R | Alessandro Cutrona | 33 | Ohio Senate | |
| R | Michael Rulli | 6 | U.S. House of Representatives | |
| R | Bernie Moreno | Statewide | U.S. Senate | |
| R | Jon Husted | Statewide | U.S. Senate | |
School districts include:[39]
The population ranking of the following table is based on the2020 census of Mahoning County.[1]
*minority of municipality located in Mahoning County
†county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Population (2010 Census) | Municipal type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | †Youngstown | 60,068 | City |
| 2 | Austintown | 29,594 | CDP |
| 3 | Alliance* | 21,672 | City |
| 4 | Salem* | 11,915 | City |
| 5 | Struthers | 10,063 | City |
| 6 | Campbell | 7,852 | City |
| 7 | Canfield | 7,699 | City |
| 8 | Columbiana* | 6,559 | City |
| 9 | Sebring | 4,191 | Village |
| 10 | Mineral Ridge* | 3,951 | CDP |
| 11 | Poland | 2,463 | Village |
| 12 | Woodworth | 1,784 | CDP |
| 13 | New Middletown | 1,507 | Village |
| 14 | North Lima | 1,369 | CDP |
| 15 | Craig Beach | 1,076 | Village |
| 16 | Lowellville | 996 | Village |
| 17 | Beloit | 903 | Village |
| 18 | Washingtonville* | 712 | Village |
| 19 | Maple Ridge | 667 | CDP |
| 20 | Lake Milton | 637 | CDP |
| 21 | New Springfield | 579 | CDP |
| 22 | Damascus | 418 | CDP |
| 23 | Petersburg | 405 | CDP |
| 24 | East Alliance | 268 | CDP |
Places adjacent to Mahoning County, Ohio | |
|---|---|
Municipalities and communities ofMahoning County, Ohio,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Villages | ||
| Townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
41°01′N80°46′W / 41.02°N 80.77°W /41.02; -80.77
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
