Lake Milton, OH

Lake Milton is a Mahoning County census-designated place in Milton Township, built around the reservoir that shares its shoreline with Craig Beach. Youngstown acquired 3,416 acres along the Mahoning River in 1910 to create a water supply for cooling its iron and steel mills, and the dam went up that year. The industrial purpose tells you why the lake is here; the later history shows why it became the community’s main reference point.

When the dam was judged unsafe in 1986, Lake Milton was drained for repairs. During the repair, the lakebed filled with weeds, shrubs, and trees before the water returned and the park reopened. After the work, the lake became Ohio’s 72nd state park in 1988. The park’s official map now shows boat ramps, fishing access, paddling access, trails, a marina, and the dam and spillway around the water. Lake Milton is a reservoir town with a steel-era origin and a state-park present, all organized around the Mahoning River.