Warren, OH

Situated on the Mahoning River and once sporting a wealth of coal and iron ore, Warren, Ohio, was perfectly situated to become a steel boomtown. The windfall lasted until the mid-1970s, when the steel industry collapsed. Like most cities in the area, Warren then began something of an economic spiral.

As the county seat of Trumbull County and the historic capital of the area that was once the Connecticut Western Reserve, Warren was somewhat protected from economic disaster by its other industries. However, large parts of the city were ravaged economically. The city's population has been on a downward slide and, although the trend has slowed, the population continues to erode. Warren's population is now around 45,000.

Warren offers some racial diversity. About 72 percent of residents are white, about 25 percent are African American, and another 2 percent are of two or more races. Latinos (of any race) make up about 1 percent of the population.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

A sizeable percentage of Warren's population (19.4 percent) living below the poverty line. About 16 percent of families are below the poverty line.

Warren's economy features a heavy industrial base, as indicated in its list of major employers:

• General Motors
• Delphi Packard Electric Systems
• Youngstown Air Reserve Base (910th)
• AVI Foodsystems
• WCI Steel

Warren is a decidedly blue-collar town, with 36.6 percent of residents working in blue-collar occupations. In particular, many male residents work in the industrial sector:

• 13 percent in metal and metal products
• 11 percent in transportation equipment
• 6 percent in construction
• 5 percent in plastics and rubber products

Health care is another important industry in Warren. The city boasts two comprehensive hospitals:

• Trumbull Memorial Hospital has been around in some form since 1907 and currently offers 344 beds.
• St. Joseph Health Center offers a Level III trauma center, a comprehensive cancer center, and more.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Home prices and housing conditions vary greatly by neighborhood. The city boasts several active neighborhood associations that work to build strong and safe communities and to promote economic development.

• Howland Center: The Howland Center area of town includes the King Corners and Howland Corners neighborhoods. The upper-middle-income area draws a mix of ages to its owner-occupied, medium-size houses.
• Downtown: With more than 6,000 employees working downtown, the area is a dining and shopping mecca, featuring several independently owned restaurants and shops. The area also boasts more than 1,000 residential units. It also, however, suffers from urban blight in several areas; housing prices vary greatly.
• Tod Avenue/Palmyra Road: This southern section of town is peopled mostly by laborers in manufacturing. The area boasts a mix of owners and renters in its stock of largely single-family homes. The area is popular with all ages, although certain sections appeal specifically to families.
• Leavitt Road/Risher Road: The lower-middle-income section on the southwestern side of the city appeals to all ages. The racially diverse area has a mix of owners and renters.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Warren features several opportunities to see the arts:

• Trumbull Art Gallery: This art center offers exhibitions, sales, and art classes.
• Warren Junior Military Band: Founded in 1927, this band focuses on music enrichment for youths.
• Warren Philharmonic Orchestra: The orchestra performs throughout the year and offers music education to area residents.
• Warren Community Amphitheatre: Located in the heart of downtown, the amphitheater hosts about 30 arts performances each summer.
• Packard Music Hall: This 2,500-seat theater just north of downtown hosts a variety of entertainment events.

EVENTS

• Noon in the Park: This weekly summer concert series takes place in downtown's Courthouse Square.
• Packard Auto Show: This July festival celebrates Warren's history as home to the Packard car.

BEST BETS

• National Packard Museum: Opened in 1999 during the Packard Centennial Celebration, this museum celebrates the city's status as the birthplace of the Packard automobile (which later moved to Detroit for production).
• Packard Park: This 42-acre scenic park is home to the W. D. Packard Music Hall.

FOR VISITORS

Warren, so rich in history, has several restored homes to tour:

• John Stark Edwards House and Museum: Built in 1807, this house is the oldest in Trumbull County. Various rooms depict Warren at different points in its history-from pioneer times to the late 19th century.
• Sutliff Museum: The museum re-creates the Victorian era, letting visitors enjoy the traditions and atmosphere of the time.
• Upton House: This 1840 Egyptian Revival House served as temporary home to the National American Woman Suffrage Association in the early 1900s. The home has National Historic Landmark status and is open for tours.

A walking tour of Warren also offers a glimpse of the country's architectural past as well as the region's history:

• First Presbyterian Church: This 1878 brick structure soars 225 feet high. The bell in the tower was brought to the city by ox cart.
• The Kinsman House: This circa 1832 Greek Revival mansion is on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Land Title Office: This historic building once housed the Connecticut Land Company, which granted tracts of land in the region.
• Mahoning Avenue Historic District: This district is home to "Millionaire's Row," the elite section that housed the area's most powerful and wealthy citizens in the 1800s.
• Perkins Mansion: This 1871 mansion has served as city hall since 1934 and features stained-glass windows and a hand-cut crystal chandelier.
• Trumbull County Courthouse: The circa 1895 Romanesque-style building is on the National Register of Historic Places.