10 Things You Don't Know About Youngstown, Ohio

SPOILER: It's Awesome

1. Youngstown is ranked one of the best cities to raise a family

According to Forbes, Youngstown is ranked the 4th out of the 100 largest metro areas. Forbes used an index that included: cost of living, housing affordability, commuting, home ownership percentages, crime, and education.

2. Innovation Happens in Youngstown

youtube.com / Via youtube.com

The National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII) was created by a landmark $85 million public-private partnership in the Tech Belt (which was conceived in 2007 by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), education, business, and community leaders in the Youngstown region to re-imagine the future of the community). In President Obama’s 2012 State of the Union Address he called on Congress to create 15 more institutes across the country using Youngstown’s NAMII as a model.

3. Youngstown is the center of the college football coaching world

Little did you know, Youngstown is a hot bed for grooming college football coaches

Top: Jim Tressel (Ohio State University, Former & Youngstown State University, Former), Bob Stoops (University of Oklahoma), Mark Stoops (University of Kentucky), Mark Mangino (Kansas, Former)

Bottom: Mike Stoops (University of Arizona, Former), Bo Pelini (University of Nebraska), Carl Pelini (Florida Atlantic University), Bob Davie (University of New Mexico & University of Notre Dame, Former)

4. Youngstown has the 2nd largest metropolitan park in the nation

Mill Creek Park, located in Youngstown, OH, is made up of 4,400 acres of diverse wildlife, making is the second largest Metropolitan Park in the country. (Yes, bigger than New York's Central Park.)

5. It's One of the Best Places to Buy a House

The National Association of Home Builder’s 2012 Index ranked Youngstown as the 2nd most affordable city in the country to buy a home.

6. Youngstown has one of the best start-up incubators the world

The Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI) was named the 11th Best University Affiliated Business Incubator in the World by the 2013 Global Benchmark Report.

7. Youngstown Leads the Nation in Export Growth

According to Brookings Institute/JP Morgan Chase Youngstown Metro Area leads nation in export growth – Last 4 Years exports grew by an average of 27.4% - Western Reserve Port Authority.

8. Ranked as one of the best places to start a business

Entrepreneur Magazine named Youngstown one of the top 10 cities to start a business in 2009.

9. This guy's from Youngstown

Award-winning actor Ed O'Neill was born and raised in Youngstown.