Craig Beach

History

In 1910, the city of Youngstown acquired 3,416 acres along the Mahoning River in Milton Township to construct a reservoir to be used as a water supply. The plan was to construct a 2,800-foot dam across the river, impounding 1,640 acres. Entertainer Ward Craig founded Craig’s Landing to initially watch the construction of the dam, which later offered a refreshment stand, swimming area, boat docks, and picnic facilities. In 1922, Craig formed his own amusement company that would create the Craig Beach Amusement Park along the new Lake Milton. Featuring rides, a dance hall, as well as rental cottages, Craig Beach became a popular entertainment hub for the area as big bands of the 1930s toured the area. Future crooner Dean Martin would get his start at the Craig Beach dance hall performing with these orchestras. Craig Beach was incorporated as a village in 1931. The amusement park would close by 1966, although Craig Beach would rebound as a small resort town within Lake Milton State Park.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  5,755
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  5,412
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  5,301
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,902
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  4,365
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  4,169
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  4,083
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,840

Most recent

• M 2.9 — 2026-03-05
  3 km SW of Madison, Ohio
• M 2.7 — 2026-01-06
  4 km ENE of North Madison, Ohio
• M 2.5 — 2025-05-12
  4 km ESE of Madison, Ohio
• M 2.6 — 2024-06-01
  1 km E of Madison, Ohio
• M 3 — 2024-03-30
  2 km SSW of Maple Ridge, Ohio
• M 2.6 — 2024-01-05
  3 km SE of Madison, Ohio