Hazelton (Youngstown, Ohio)
Encyclopedia
Hazelton is a neighborhood in Youngstown, Ohio
, that is located on the city's east side. It is bordered by the cities of Struthers
and Campbell
. In the early 20th century, the district was alternately referred to as "the East End".
. These included the Haselton Iron Works Mill and Republic Steel's
Youngstown mill. Today, the vacant remains of some of these plants can still be seen along the river.
The neighborhood was originally named after the Haseltine family, who owned land in the district. The neighborhood was re-named by later inhabitants who favored a name that made the district seem like a town http://www.iarelative.com/22census/haselton.htm. Hazelton's population expanded with the growth of the mills, and it became the home of thousands of immigrants
from England
, Germany
, Ireland
, Italy
, and Eastern Europe
. The district's African-American
population grew steadily in the post-World War II era.
, and family-owned businesses, retained a strong ethnic flavor long after many of the city's residential districts became rather homogeneous. The area became increasingly depressed and depopulated as the local steel industry fell into decline. Yet, those who pass through the area can still glimpse the shells of former steel-manufacturing plants.
The district retains a number of well-known landmarks, including Immaculate Conception
Church, one of the oldest surviving Roman Catholic
parishes in the city, and Saint Nicholas
Byzantine Catholic Church, a symbol of the area's Eastern European population http://www.iarelative.com/st_nick.htm.
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, that is located on the city's east side. It is bordered by the cities of Struthers
Struthers, Ohio
Struthers is a city in Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. The population was 12,036 at the 2000 census. Struthers is served by a branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :John...
and Campbell
Campbell, Ohio
Campbell is a city in Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. The population was 8,235 at the 2010 census. Residents generally pronounce the city's name as "camel" , with a silent "PB". Campbell is served by a branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County...
. In the early 20th century, the district was alternately referred to as "the East End".
Origins
Hazelton overlooked the many blast furnaces that operated along the banks of the Mahoning RiverMahoning River
The Mahoning River is a river located in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. It joins the Shenango River to form the Beaver River and is part of the Ohio River watershed.- Physical properties :...
. These included the Haselton Iron Works Mill and Republic Steel's
Republic Steel
Republic Steel was once the third largest steel producer in the United States.The Republic Iron and Steel Company was founded in Youngstown, Ohio in 1899....
Youngstown mill. Today, the vacant remains of some of these plants can still be seen along the river.
The neighborhood was originally named after the Haseltine family, who owned land in the district. The neighborhood was re-named by later inhabitants who favored a name that made the district seem like a town http://www.iarelative.com/22census/haselton.htm. Hazelton's population expanded with the growth of the mills, and it became the home of thousands of immigrants
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
. The district's African-American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
population grew steadily in the post-World War II era.
Post-industrial decline
Hazelton, with its brick streets, neo-Gothic churchesGothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
, and family-owned businesses, retained a strong ethnic flavor long after many of the city's residential districts became rather homogeneous. The area became increasingly depressed and depopulated as the local steel industry fell into decline. Yet, those who pass through the area can still glimpse the shells of former steel-manufacturing plants.
The district retains a number of well-known landmarks, including Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
Church, one of the oldest surviving Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
parishes in the city, and Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
Byzantine Catholic Church, a symbol of the area's Eastern European population http://www.iarelative.com/st_nick.htm.
Notable residents
- Frank J. BattistiFrank J. BattistiFrank James Battisti was an American jurist who served as the 21st district judge for the Northern District of Ohio, between 1961 and 1990. He spent 22 of his 31 years on the District Court as chief judge, replacing Judge Girard E...
– Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio (1961-1994); best known for rulings on Cleveland's school desegregation case. - William M. CafaroWilliam M. CafaroWilliam M. Cafaro was an American pioneer in mall development who founded the Cafaro Company, one of the nation's largest commercial real estate developers.- Early years :...
– Developer, pioneer in construction of strip malls and enclosed malls, including the Eastwood MallEastwood Mall (Niles)The Eastwood Mall is an indoor shopping center located in Niles, Ohio, USA, serving the Youngstown-Warren area. It contains over 200 stores and restaurants....
.