Mahoning Valley (geographic) facts for kids
The Mahoning Valley is a special area of land in northeast Ohio and a small part of western Pennsylvania. It's called a valley because the land here slopes down towards the Mahoning River. All the water in this area eventually flows into the Mahoning River. The name "Mahoning" comes from an old Native American word. It means "at the licks," which might refer to places where animals would gather to lick salt from the ground.
Exploring the Mahoning Valley
The Mahoning River flows through this valley, creating different types of landscapes. As the river moves downstream past cities like Youngstown and Struthers in Ohio, and Edinburg in Pennsylvania, it carves out a deep valley. This part of the valley has noticeable hills and lower areas.
However, if you go upstream, towards places like Newton Falls and Warren, the land is much flatter. The river flows through a more level area there. Because of these differences, people often use "Mahoning Valley" to mean the deeper, lower part of the river's path. Sometimes, it also refers to the larger area around Youngstown and Warren. This bigger area is often called the "Mahoning Valley" when people talk about jobs or homes.
Other Places Named Mahoning
The name "Mahoning" is also used in other places, especially in Pennsylvania. You can find several townships in Indiana County that include "Mahoning" in their names. These are near a stream called Mahoning Creek, which flows into the Allegheny River.
There are other places too, like Mahoning Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania and Mahoning Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania. The Montour County township is near another Mahoning Creek that flows into the Susquehanna River. Also, Mahoning Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania is on yet another Mahoning Creek, which flows into the Lehigh River. You might even see businesses like nursing homes or golf courses using "Mahoning Valley" in their names in these areas. There's even a Mahoning Valley Christian Camp in Rushville, Indiana.
