Recent Stories
Five Stunning & Affordable Youngstown HomesIt is no surprise that housing prices in Youngstown are much lower than many other places in the country. While some may lament this fact, others see it as an opportunity to score their dream home for a good price. Read More |
Indian Village Historic DistrictNestled inside of Mill Creek Park on the city's South Side is one of Youngstown's best kept secrets - Indian Village. This tiny neighborhood stands out due to its beautiful homes, tree-lined streets, and well maintained properties. Read More |
Can Youngstown's Parkway Towers Be Saved?When driving around Downtown, it is hard to miss Parkway Towers, a now abandoned eight story building which was once Youngstown's most luxurious apartment building. Can this historical gem be saved or is it simply too far gone? Read More |
Welcome To Youngstown.
Youngstown, Ohio is a city located in Northeast Ohio, halfway between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Founded in 1796, Youngstown is known for its history as an industrial hub, first as a coal town, and later as a juggernaut of steel production. Due to this industrial success, the city began to attract a diverse array of immigrants from countries such as Italy, Slovakia, Wales, Puerto Rico, and Greece. Throughout the 1900s, this gritty industrial city continued to thrive. It was during this time that the city's famed Italian mafia had much control over the entire city, dubbing it the nickname "Little Chicago." By the early 1970s, Youngstown began to decline. On September 19, 1977, which came to be known as "Black Monday," the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. announced that it was shuttering its facilities. This, combined with white flight to the suburbs led to several decades of immense economic decline within the city and the entire region.
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Luckily, this is not the end of the story! As the late 2000s came, a new interest in revitalizing Youngstown began to grow. With the opening of the Covelli Center (home of the Youngstown Phantoms) and the arrivals of new restaurants, Downtown finally began to be seen as a destination rather than a place to avoid at all costs. As the years went on, this revitalization continued with projects such as the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheater, the Youngstown Business Incubator, the new DoubleTree by Hilton, and the many new apartment developments on the Youngstown State University campus. Today, Downtown has become a destination for the entire region and the growth experienced so far seems to only be the beginning! However, there is still much work to be done, especially in the residential neighborhoods which are suffering from high crime rates, blight, and a general lack of investment. But given the success of Downtown's revitalization and some small projects already popping up in the neighborhoods, it is only a matter of time before the entire city makes its comeback!
About Urban Youngstown
After decades of decline, Youngstown, Ohio is finally making a comeback. However, if you check the news or talk to people about the city, the general sentiment is still far too negative. Urban Youngstown is a website dedicated to combating this point of view by promoting the many positive aspects of the City of Youngstown. This website will cover a variety of topics ranging from new development plans, promoting local businesses, and much more.