So...WHY is there so much amazing Italian food in Trumbull County?

For this community, food is….well, more than just food! It tells our stories. It means family and connection. And for the Italian Food Trail, it shows us the history of Italian families moving to the area.

“The Great Arrival” was a mass wave of Italian migration that happened in the early 1900s due to poverty in Southern Italy especially. These families were especially drawn to job prospects at industrial centers of the time like Niles, Girard and Warren in Trumbull County as well as many other similar cities in northeast Ohio and western PA. Following the “Great Arrival,” nearly one-third of Trumbull County’s residents were of Italian descent.

Joe Tucciarone, a historian from Hubbard and a descendant of one of the first Italian settlers in 1873, documents this rich history in a book he co-wrote with Ben Lariccia, “Coal War in the Mahoning Valley.” Italian workers were drawn to the area after the discovery of high-quality coal in Coalburg in 1857, spurring industrial growth.

Many Italians continued to come to Trumbull County for decades, seeking manufacturing and industrial jobs to improve their lives. Despite facing cruel discrimination of the time, they developed their own neighborhoods and customs, many of which are highlighted in the Italian Food Trail passport.

And so, with the immigration of a new group of people also comes all of their culture, traditions, and recipes. These families brought their staples like pasta dishes, tomatoes, olive oil and more Italian-based vegetables to table…literally. Combining these staples with American dining habits lead to the creation of regional dishes like Brier Hill Pizza, wedding soup, and hot peppers in oil. All dishes you can try today along the Trail!

We also still see traditions like the Feast of the Seven Fishes during Christmas and regular, competitive bocce tournaments across the county. Visit an annual Italian festival like the Warren Italian-American Festival, Girard’s Mt. Carmel Festival, or the Niles Mt. Carmel Festival to see these dishes, traditions, and sports in person!