Stavich Bicycle Trail - Local History

The trail runs on the path of the former interurban streetcar line that joined Youngstown and New Castle. The John and George Stavich families, together with other local individuals, developed the trail in the early 1980s. Lawrence County is now responsible for upkeep and mainte­nance of the section in Pennsylvania. The county along with Federal money repaved the trail in November 2009. The remaining three miles in Ohio, which have not been paved recently, are a little bumpy. The Stavich Trail is one of the earliest rail-trails, having been dedicated in June 1983 and improved over time.

The Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal, also known as the “Cross-Cut” Canal, connected the Beaver and Erie Division of the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal with the Ohio and Erie Canal in Ohio. It started at New Castle and ran west on the Mahoning River to Youngstown, Warren, and Akron. Operating from 1840 to 1872, it carried primarily pig iron, iron ore, and passengers.

The trail also follows the route of the even earlier Mahoning Path, an Indian path that connected Beaver to Cayahoga (now Akron). The Delaware word mahoni means “deer lick”. Adding the “-ing” ending makes Mahoning mean “at the deer lick”.

Outskirts of Lowellville