Struthers, Ohio
Encyclopedia
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
.
, purchased 400 acres (1.6 km²) of Poland Township land in 1798. This land would later be known as the present day city of Struthers. The community's early history centers on Yellow Creek which was the site for the first iron blast furnace built west of Pittsburgh
. The furnace was built in 1803 by Daniel Eaton and is mentioned in the first line of the 1995 Bruce Springsteen
song "Youngstown
".
Several furnaces were built along the creek during the first decade of the 1800s and all ceased to exist after The War of 1812
began. The land on the Yellow Creek would lay dormant for more than 50 years until 1865 when Thomas Struthers, son of John Struthers, bought back the land his father had lost following the War of 1812. Thomas Struthers laid out the village that year and gave it his family's name. An excerpt from a 1948 Cradle of Steel Homecoming program illustrates what happened next:
With the steel industry booming in the early part of the 1900s, immigrants from throughout Europe
flooded into Struthers. A village in 1902 when it was officially incorporated, Struthers quickly became a city in 1920.
The steel industry allowed the city to flourish until 1977 when several area plants closed their doors for good. The city padded the loss of thousands of jobs by using its industrial infrastructure to lure non-steel making jobs, but population losses have continued throughout the start of the new century.http://www.ysu.edu/mahoning_river/struthers.htm
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²).
of 2000, there were 11,756 people, 4,704 households, and 3,255 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,150.2/sq. mile (1,216.9/km²). There were 4,982 housing units at an average density of 1,335.0/sq. mile (515.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.63% White, 1.78% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races
, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.02% of the population.
There were 4,704 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples
living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.5 years. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,720, and the median income for a family was $37,212. Males had a median income of $30,588 versus $21,438 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,587. About 8.8% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.
The most common ancestries in Struthers are Italian (23%), German (16%), Slovak (13%), Irish (13%), Polish (5%), and English (5%).
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, 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
Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County
The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County serves the communities of Mahoning County, Ohio from its administrative offices in Youngstown, Ohio with 15 branches in the cities of Campbell, Canfield, Greenford, Lake Milton, North Jackson, Poland, Sebring, New Middletown, and Struthers.The...
. It is part of the Youngstown
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...
-Warren
Warren, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,832 people, 19,288 households and 12,035 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,912.4 people per square mile . There were 21,279 housing units at an average density of 1,322.9 per square mile...
-Boardman
Boardman, Ohio
Boardman is a census-designated place in Boardman Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, United States, just south of Youngstown. Boardman is considered to be a moderately affluent community and is one of two major retail hubs in the greater Youngstown area...
, OH-PA
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Area
The Youngstown Metropolitan Area is a metropolitan area centered on the American city of Youngstown, Ohio. According to the US Census Bureau, the metropolitan area includes Mahoning and Trumbull counties in Ohio and Mercer county in Pennsylvania...
.
History
John Struthers, from Washington County, PennsylvaniaWashington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
, purchased 400 acres (1.6 km²) of Poland Township land in 1798. This land would later be known as the present day city of Struthers. The community's early history centers on Yellow Creek which was the site for the first iron blast furnace built west of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. The furnace was built in 1803 by Daniel Eaton and is mentioned in the first line of the 1995 Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
song "Youngstown
Youngstown (song)
"Youngstown" is a song by Bruce Springsteen from his 1995 album The Ghost of Tom Joad. Although many of the songs on the album were performed by Springsteen solo, the lineup for the "Youngstown" includes Soozie Tyrell on violin, Jim Hanson on bass, Gary Mallaber on drums, co-producer Chuck Plotkin...
".
Several furnaces were built along the creek during the first decade of the 1800s and all ceased to exist after The War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
began. The land on the Yellow Creek would lay dormant for more than 50 years until 1865 when Thomas Struthers, son of John Struthers, bought back the land his father had lost following the War of 1812. Thomas Struthers laid out the village that year and gave it his family's name. An excerpt from a 1948 Cradle of Steel Homecoming program illustrates what happened next:
- In 1869 Struthers again became an iron producing community with the construction of the Anna Furnace by the Struthers Iron Company. In 1880 there was added the sheet mill plant of the Summer's Brothers Co., and in 1888 the plant of the J. A. and D. P. Cooper Gear Company.
- With all these activities Struthers still remained a village of less than 1,000 inhabitants, after 100 years had elapsed since John. Struthers built his first cabin and erected the sawmill and grist mill on Yellow Creek. In 1899 Struthers was brought into closer communication with Youngstown and the upper Mahoning Valley by the completion of an interurban electric line.
- In 1902 the neighboring village of East Youngstown (now Campbell) was started. This new community was started shortly after the incorporation of The Youngstown Iron Sheet and Tube Company (known as The Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co., since 1905).
With the steel industry booming in the early part of the 1900s, immigrants from throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
flooded into Struthers. A village in 1902 when it was officially incorporated, Struthers quickly became a city in 1920.
The steel industry allowed the city to flourish until 1977 when several area plants closed their doors for good. The city padded the loss of thousands of jobs by using its industrial infrastructure to lure non-steel making jobs, but population losses have continued throughout the start of the new century.http://www.ysu.edu/mahoning_river/struthers.htm
Geography
Struthers is located at 41°3′8"N 80°35′37"W (41.052255, -80.593591).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²).
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 11,756 people, 4,704 households, and 3,255 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,150.2/sq. mile (1,216.9/km²). There were 4,982 housing units at an average density of 1,335.0/sq. mile (515.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.63% White, 1.78% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.02% of the population.
There were 4,704 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.5 years. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,720, and the median income for a family was $37,212. Males had a median income of $30,588 versus $21,438 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $15,587. About 8.8% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.
The most common ancestries in Struthers are Italian (23%), German (16%), Slovak (13%), Irish (13%), Polish (5%), and English (5%).
Notable residents
- Steve BelichickSteve Belichick-External links:...
, late father of NFL coach Bill BelichickBill BelichickWilliam Stephen "Bill" Belichick is an American football head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After spending his first 15 seasons in the league as an assistant coach, Belichick got his first head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns in 1991... - John GerakJohn GerakJohn Matthew Gerak is a former professional American football player who played guard for five seasons for the Minnesota Vikings and the St. Louis Rams....
, former Penn State/NFL offensive lineman - Andy KoscoAndy KoscoAndy Kosco is a former Major League Baseball player who was affiliated at various times with the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, California Angels, Boston Red Sox, and Cincinnati Reds....
, former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player