The Founding of Youngstown

The Founding of Youngstown. . , John Young and his surveying team arrived in the Mahoning River Valley on June 27, 1796, in the area known today as Spring Commons. Young purchased a 15,560-acre township from the Western Reserve Land Company of Connecticut on February 9, 1797, establishing "John Young's Town." , With the discovery of iron ore, coal and limestone in the area, an early iron industry flourished. The completion of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal in 1840, followed by railroads in the 1850s allowed Youngstown to grow as an industrial center. In 1862, during the Civil War, Ohioans elected Youngstown resident David Tod as Governor. , As railroads continued to develop throughout the 1800s, Youngstown became an important industrial and population center. The city grew rapidly and was home to a majority of Mahoning County residents. The county seat moved from Canfield to Youngstown in 1876. , The first steel mills were constructed in the 1890s, which attracted thousands to the area for work. Issues such as pollution, housing and public transportation were priorities for city leaders and the booming population. , Inspired by the belief that fresh air and natural areas could improve the lives of residents, local attorney Volney Rogers established Mill Creek Park in 1891, the first park district in Ohio. Electric streetcar lines were installed the same year, creating better connectivity and more neighborhood development beyond the central city. , In 1908, the Youngstown YMCA established a College of Law, which grew to become what is now Youngstown State University. , By the 1920s, Youngstown was one of the top producers of steel in the world. The City reached its peak population of 170,000 in 1930. , The city thrived during World War II and the Korean War as the demand for steel soared. Post-war demand for automobiles, appliances and home construction allowed production to continue at a high level. , Population decline and the near-total collapse of the local steel industry began in the 1960s. As a result, Youngstown suffered significantly throughout the last three decades of the 20th century. , Today, the city still faces many challenges. However, a solid foundation has been laid in recent years to help it transition from a city in decline to one better positioned for a productive future.