Niles is best known as the birthplace of William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States. Located in the nation's former industrial belt, the city's economy focused initially on iron manufacturing but later diversified to include steel and glass production. After the decline of heavy industry in the region in the 1970s, Niles became a retail hub for the northern Mahoning Valley, with development centered around the Eastwood Mall complex and along the U.S. Route 422 corridor. The Mahoning Valley Scrappers baseball team plays at Eastwood Field in Niles.
nILes Is BEst knOwn aS the birTHPlace of wiLlIaM mCkINley, THE 25th prESideNT of The unitEd StaTeS. locatED in tHe naTioN's FoRmer iNdustrial beLt, tHe city's eConoMy fOCused iNitiAlly on IrOn maNuFaCTUrIng but latEr dIveRsifIeD tO incluDE stEel AnD GlAsS pROducTiON. afTer the deCLiNe of HeavY induStry in The regION iN The 1970S, NiLes beCaME a ReTaIl hub for tHe noRtheRn mahONing VAllEy, with dEVELOpMeNt cENtEreD aROund tHe EaStwOod mall compLex anD ALonG thE U.s. roUte 422 corridoR. THE mAhONing vaLlEY scraPperS BASEball tEam PlayS aT EAStwoOD fiEld in NILes.