Campbell

A small community teetering the Ohio-Pennsylvania state line, Coitsville has farmlands with wavering grains and moseying cattle. Established in 1798, the township has an extensive history as an impressive agricultural stretch of land. The neighborhood was also home to William Holmes McGuffey, the developer of one of the first elementary school textbook sets – The McGuffey Readers. Much of that 19th and 20th-century charm lives on in the area, and "Old buildings look the same as they did in photos from 100 years ago," says Jill Perencevic, the director of The Purple Cat, a local adult educational establishment. While the area has grown since the early 1900s, it has been minimal. Just over 1,200 people live in the spread-out area, meaning there is only one person for every 6 square acres of land. "I don't have neighbors; I have cornfields," says Frank Clinton, a Realtor with Howard Hanna who has lived in Coitsville for 22 years. "We have deer in the yard daily, and it's extremely peaceful." Despite the quiet and secluded nature, popular establishments, employers and above-average schools are within a short drive. Those passing through need only watch out for critters crossing the roads and an occasional stray golf ball. With so much open land, enjoying the outdoors is an expectation in Coitsville. One of the ways residents fill their time is through golf. Knoll Run Golf Course is a local favorite, where players enjoy a game along the woodsy green. The course also features a small pub with hot meals and beers on tap. Before playing a round at Knoll Run or Bedford Trails Golf Course, players can practice their skills at Parto's Big On Golf. The learning center has a driving range and practice greens. Off the fairways and greens, locals are acquainted with scenic landscapes at the McGuffey Wildlife Preserve. The 78-acre preserve is the site of William Holmes McGuffey's childhood home and was deemed a Registered National Historic Landmark in 1966. The preserve features ample walking trails with several birdhouses where bluebirds and swallows perch. A mile north of the neighborhood boundary is Harding Park. A large pavilion, tennis courts and a large playground surround the park's seven baseball and softball diamonds. Buyers move to Coitsville for land and separation from the hubbub of a city or suburb. Several properties have around one to two acres, while others have over 45. Coitsville is known for farming, so many of the community's largest properties have established barns and farmhouses with adjacent crop fields. Houses built from 1900 to 2010 are in the neighborhood and range in price from $75,000 to $425,000. Ranch-style homes, Cape Cods and cottages sit at the low end of the scale, while Colonial Revivals and sprawling farmhouses are the most expensive. There are no traditional neighborhoods in Coitsville, and almost all the homes are off main roads and connecting streets. Long driveways and plenty of distance between homes attract buyers looking for a quiet plot of land and open skies free of light pollution to see every star. It's an older neighborhood with fewer children and more residents over 65 than the country average. "Once people move here, they're here for the duration," Clinton says. A limited number of manufactured homes sit on rented lots at the one mobile home park in the area, Stateline Mobile Home Park. Four Seasons Flea & Farm Market is open on Wednesdays and Sundays, where many locals grocery shop weekly. On the grounds of what was the area's largest airport until 1951, the market is free to enter and has over 600 vendors. "It attracts people from all over the county and Downtown Youngstown," Clinton says. "Even people from Pennsylvania cross the state line for the market." Patrons can stop by Bogey's Bar & Grill for a pint of beer and a burger. The establishment, named after Humphrey Bogart, has a simple "Old Hollywood" feel with leather bench booths and Tiffany-style lamps. Dollar General and Family Dollar are just across the state line in Pennsylvania for pantry staples, housewares and snacks. More complete grocery shopping happens at Save A Lot on McCartney Road. Children in Coitsville may attend one of 7 different nearby school districts. Some attend Youngstown City School District schools, but surrounding counties with higher-rated schools offer open enrollment. Struthers Elementary, Struthers Middle and Struthers High School all receive a grade of B-minus by Niche. "There are probably fewer than 20 school-aged children in Coitsville," Clinton says. "I don't even see school buses drive through the area anymore." In the neighborhood is The Purple Cat, an adult day care center for adults with physical and mental disabilities. The center offers programs for learning about food service, animal care, maintenance and other day-to-day activities. "We operate on a private farm that the county funds," Perencevic, the director, says. Although The Purple Cat is not open to the public daily, "People from the community can join us at some of our special events like musical performances." Also in the neighborhood is Victory Church Assemblies of God. Open to all, the church has near daily events for their visitors. Just 5 miles outside of Youngstown, Coitsville has a significantly lower CAP Index Crime score of 2 out of 10. Youngstown neighborhoods are usually well above the U.S. average of 4. Winters are snowy, and plowing long gravel driveways can be a pain. When there isn't snow to plow, however, Coitsville is surprisingly accessible. "Despite being a farming neighborhood, it's centrally located," Clinton says. U.S. Interstate 422 is the most used highway for traveling between Youngstown and Pennsylvania and intersects Coitsville. There are no buses nearby, and Downtown Youngstown is 6 miles west. The nearest hospital is Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. Locals needing a flight can head to the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, 17 miles away.