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Lake Milton, Ohio

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Coordinates: 41°05′46″N 80°59′33″W / 41.09611°N 80.99250°W / 41.09611; -80.99250
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Lake Milton, Ohio
Census-designated place
Lake Milton
Lake Milton
Location of Lake Milton in Mahoning County and in the State of Ohio
Location of Lake Milton in Mahoning County and in the State of Ohio
Coordinates: 41°05′46″N 80°59′33″W / 41.09611°N 80.99250°W / 41.09611; -80.99250
CountryUnited States
StateOhio
CountiesMahoning
TownshipsMilton Township
Area
[1]
 • Total2.46 sq mi (6.36 km2)
 • Land1.49 sq mi (3.85 km2)
 • Water0.97 sq mi (2.51 km2)
Elevation
[2]
942 ft (287 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total637
 • Density428.67/sq mi (165.51/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
44429
Area code(s)330, 234
FIPS code39-41440
GNIS feature ID2628919[2]
School DistrictJackson-Milton High School

Lake Milton is a census-designated place in Milton Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, United States.[2] The population was 637 at the 2020 census. The community sits along the shore of the Lake Milton reservoir along with the village of Craig Beach. It is part of the Youngstown–Warren metropolitan area.

History

[edit]

In 1910, the nearby city of Youngstown acquired 3,416 acres (1,382 ha) along the Mahoning River in Milton Township with the intent to construct a reservoir that would be used as a valuable water supply to cool the city's iron and steel mills.[3][4] Construction of this reservoir had not yet started by 1913 when the largest flood to date struck the area. Beginning on Easter Sunday of 1913, the rain continued for four days causing the Mahoning River to rise 22 feet (6.7 m) above its normal levels. No fatalities were experienced but the Mahoning Valley’s flooded plains and tributaries caused significant commercial and industrial damage.[4] This increased awareness and need for flood control jump started the construction of the Lake Milton dam later that year. Completed in 1917, the newly constructed 2,800-foot (850 m) dam created 1,640 acres (660 ha) of what is now known as Lake Milton.

By 1982, it was the only lake in Ohio where muskellunge (muskie) spawned and was the location of the largest muskie caught in North America.[citation needed] In 1984, the then 67-year-old dam needed an estimated $5 million in repairs which the city of Youngstown, the lake's owner, refused to pay. Roughly 1,000 homeowners, cottage leasers, and businesspeople banded together to successfully ask the Ohio General Assembly to provide the money for the repairs. The City of Youngstown, admitting that they could no longer maintain the dam, asked the state to take over the lake as a state park and in the fall of 1988, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources approved to do so.[5]

A post office called Lake Milton has been in operation since 1942, with the ZIP code 44429.[6][7] The community takes its name from nearby Lake Milton, a reservoir impounded by a dam constructed in 1913, following that year's flood of the Mahoning River.[8][9]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2020637—
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

Reservoir

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The lake itself is a relatively shallow lake, with its deepest point being approximately 33 feet (10 m) deep, near the dam. Most of the lake has a depth of 12 to 15 feet (3.7 to 4.6 m). There is a small uninhabited island on the southeast portion of the lake that is a common spot for anchoring and swimming.[citation needed] No wake zones are established along the perimeter of the lake, in the zone between the two bridges, and in the narrow southern end of the lake, commonly referred to as "the river". The dam is at the north end of the lake. The southern end ultimately connects to Berlin Lake although it is not possible to take a power watercraft through this route.[citation needed]

Recreation

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Built in 1811, the Daniel Vaughn Homestead is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1988, Lake Milton was officially dedicated as Ohio's 72nd state park, as water levels of the lake returned after the dam's repair. The State Park's management afforded the construction of water and sewer lines in 1990, enabling real estate in the area to become more valuable, particularly in the northeast part of the lake. From 2005 – 2007 an additional investment of $20 million for water and sewer projects, expanded such amenities to a much larger portion of the lake and eliminated lake contaminants along with it. Longtime Milton Township zoning inspector Michael Kurilla Jr. cited that lakefront lots once worth $150,000 - $175,000 in 2013 were selling for $525,000 by 2020. Jeff Uroseva, chief building official for Mahoning County shared that residential construction in Milton Township has risen from 5 permits in 2016 to 15 permits in 2020.[11]

Lake Milton State Park is one of the largest lakes in Ohio with unlimited horsepower boating, swimming, and fishing. Activities available in the 1,006-acre (407 ha) park include:

Common wildlife to be found around Lake Milton include Cottontail rabbit, Red fox, Raccoon, Muskrat, Woodchuck, Robins, Warblers, Pine siskins, Hawks, Owls, Midland painted turtle, and Northern watersnake.

The park is open from 6 am to 11 pm daily under the supervision of the park's manager.[12]

Education

[edit]

Children in Lake Milton are served by the Jackson-Milton Local School District.[13] The current schools serving the community are:

  • Jackson-Milton Elementary School – grades K-5
  • Jackson-Milton Middle School – grades 6-8
  • Jackson-Milton High School – grades 9-12

Bridges

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Lake Milton has three bridges. The northern most and largest is known for the fact that it carries Interstate 76 over the lake, many people refer to it as such but its name is the Peter J. Delucia Memorial Bridge.[14] It is so named as Peter Delucia was working on the bridge during its reconstruction in 2003 when he was electrocuted. The stringer bridge has 18 spans for a length of 2,095 feet (639 m) and was originally constructed in 1967.[15] The second longest bridge is the Mahoning Ave bridge. It is also a stringer bridge like Delucia but much shorter at just 832 feet (254 m) across five spans. It was originally built in 1915 and reconstructed in 1991.[16] The third bridge is Ellsworth Road going over the very southern end of the lake.

References

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  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Milton, Ohio
  3. ^ "Craig Beach Amusement Park". Ohio Department of Natural Resources. June 24, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "The Flood of 1913". Mahoning Valley Historical Society. March 14, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  5. ^ "Lake Milton, Ohio: Uncertainty for a dry spot". The New York Times. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  6. ^ USPS – Cities by ZIP Code
  7. ^ "Mahoning County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  8. ^ Lyttle, Eric (March 22, 2015). "Story of Lake Milton could provide lessons for Buckeye Lake residents". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  9. ^ Mahoning Valley Historical Society, "The Flood of 1913," March 14, 2013, https://mahoninghistory.org/2013/03/14/the-great-flood-of-1913/
  10. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  11. ^ Runyan, Ed (May 23, 2021). "Little to luxurious: Home building booms in Milton". The Vindicator. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  12. ^ "Lake Milton State Park". Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  13. ^ "Homepage". Jackson-Milton Local School District. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  14. ^ "Ohio Revised Code Section 5533.092". Ohio Laws and Administration Rules, Legislative Service Commission. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  15. ^ "I.R. 76 over LAKE MILTON". Bridge Reports. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  16. ^ "MAHONING AVE over MILTON RESERVOIR". Bridge Reports. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
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