A Brief History of Youngstown, OH
Youngstown is situated on the Mahoning River and the county seat of Mahoning County. It was established in 1797 by John Young. He bought land of more than 15,000 acres for $16,085 from the Connecticut Land Company. Soon after, ten families inhabited the town beside the Mahoning River. From then on, the city begins to develop until it was incorporated in 1802.
Also in 1802, Daniel and James Heaton founded the Hopewell Furnace. The iron industry started in the town when coal deposits and iron ore were discovered near the village. Youngstown continued to progress as the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal completed construction. Railroads were also constructed early in the 1850s. As different industries developed in the city, the population also expanded. The city's population grew to 5,300 by 1860 and by 1870, it increased to 8,075. As the years passed, the city became an integral junction among different railway lines such as the Pennsylvania Railroad, Erie Lackawana, and the New York Central. Youngstown became Mahoning's county seat in 1876 following its growth. By 1890, the population in town has tripled with 33,220.
Also in 1802, Daniel and James Heaton founded the Hopewell Furnace. The iron industry started in the town when coal deposits and iron ore were discovered near the village. Youngstown continued to progress as the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal completed construction. Railroads were also constructed early in the 1850s. As different industries developed in the city, the population also expanded. The city's population grew to 5,300 by 1860 and by 1870, it increased to 8,075. As the years passed, the city became an integral junction among different railway lines such as the Pennsylvania Railroad, Erie Lackawana, and the New York Central. Youngstown became Mahoning's county seat in 1876 following its growth. By 1890, the population in town has tripled with 33,220.
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The first ever steel mills were built in the town in the latter part of the 1800s. It became the city's new industry that impacted the city's growth. The milling industry drew immigrants from Italy and Hungary to inhabit the city. The steel mills manufactured materials for the war in During World War I. Due to the need for weapons for the war new jobs were opened to cater to the industry. The population in the town multiplied and became an issue for their housing because there was not enough for everyone. After the war concluded, a lot of laborers lost their jobs and went on strike.
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In 1920, Youngstown came second to Pittsburgh when it comes to the steel industry. Also in the same era, the industry battled challenges when the canal closed. Youngstown lost its access to water transportation and had a shortage of water that is important in the milling industry. The city continued to develop amidst these challenges. The population in town swelled to 132,358 and was considered the country's fiftieth most significant city in 1920. The city's population grew to more than 170,000 in 1930.
Youngstown's economy depends a lot on the steel industry. The Great Depression affected its unemployment rate significantly in the 1930s. Unions became popular among laborers in the steel industry, but there were still some who defied it. These unions were known as the "Little Steel." They went on a strike but were unsuccessful, and this led to the founding of the Congress of Industrial Organizations or CIO. In 1941, the CIO imposed that the Little Steel joins the unionization.
As World War II commenced, the city helped produced equipment for war. The town once again prospered. The economy of Youngstown boomed because of the demand for steel of the developing automobile industry. However, steel production declined all over the country in the late twentieth century which caused the slowing down of the city's economy. At present, there are new industries and businesses in the city that contributes to the restoration of its economy.
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