Boardman is a large, sprawling suburb. It is a busy community south of Youngstown composed of many chain restaurants. It is one of the main shopping and retail centers for the greater Youngstown area. Its main competitor is the northern 422 "Strip" in Niles, Ohio (a similar suburb of Warren, Ohio) and the soon to be developed Route 14 strip in Columbiana, Ohio
While much development is centered on the 224 corridor, a new area of development (even further south) is surging along the South Avenue artery which parallels the southern extension of Interstate 680 between its Midlothian and Western Reserve Road exits.
Boardman holds one of the Youngstown area's most popular attractions, Mill Creek Park. Within the park grounds, there is an 11-acre rose garden, several small waterfalls, a lily pond with geese and turtles, marshlands, and Lanterman's Mill, where grain is ground daily. In addition, there is a 36-hole golf course.