Water recreation, hiking, camping and picnicking attract visitors to Mosquito Lake, one of the largest lakes in Ohio. Mature woodlands and vast marshes provide safe haven for wildlife and will delight nature enthusiasts.

Before Ohio was settled, the banks of Mosquito Creek were hidden by a vast forest that covered most of the state. Little remains of the ancient forest that stood for nearly 10,000 years. In the Mosquito Lake area, regrowth has occurred and the nice stands of beech-maple woodlands can be enjoyed. In pioneer times, the beech-maple belt was very extensive and stretched from Mansfield to Pennsylvania. The reason is that this area has more cloudy days, cooler summer temperatures and more winter snow cover as compared to the rest of Ohio.

The park's woodlands support colonies of spring beauties, anemones, Dutchman's breeches, purple cresses and other spring wildflowers. Goldenrod and asters will bloom in the fall in the park's open areas. Many wildlife species find the park's varied habitats suitable. Red fox, woodchuck, muskrat, beaver, fox squirrel, raccoon, rabbit and white-tailed deer are common. Recently, river otters were reintroduced in nearby favorable locations. Several otter families have been sighted.

Many birds live in or migrate through the area including robins, warblers, swallows and sparrows. The yellow-bellied sapsucker and hairy woodpecker are uncommon in other parts of Ohio but abundant in this part of the state. Numerous species of waterfowl and shorebirds take advantage of the park's many wetlands during spring and fall migrations. Canada geese, herons, tundra swans, great egrets and a variety of ducks can be observed. Large predatory birds including several species of hawks and the magnificent bald and golden eagles have been spotted here.

Mosquito Lake State Park lies in Bazetta and Mecca townships in the center of Trumbull County. In 1795, the Connecticut Land Company offered for sale a 17,247-acre tract of land named Bazetta Township. This large tract of land was divided into 100 parcels and offered for sale to the early pioneers. The first settlers arrived in the township in 1805. The area was wilderness, and their first tasks were to clear the land, plant crops, build a log house and a stockade for their animals. Deer, turkey, rabbit and squirrel were plentiful. So were bears and wolves. By 1812, most Indians had left the area.

Samuel Bacon moved to Bazetta Township in 1816. The Bacon family operated a sawmill from 1816 to 1850. Samueal Bacon erected some of the first frame buildings, developing stores in the community. Thus, the area now named Cortland was locally called Baconsburg.

The village of Cortland became a reality in 1874 when the first railroad was built with a depot in Cortland. By 1882, the population of the village rose to 614 people. There were three churches, two newspapers, stores, mills and other enterprises.

Agriculture was the first and foremost industry in the area. Most other industries were farm related: feed and flour mill, cheese, dairy and canning factories, mercantiles and lumberyards.

In 1930's, plans were drawn up to dam the Mosquito Creek under the Federal Flood Control Act to alleviate floods on the Mahoning, Beaver and Ohio rivers. The dam would also provide domestic water supply for the city of Warren and pollution abatement as a result of the industrialized steel production along the Mahoning River. Completed in April 1944, the dam's capacity held 34 billion gallons of water covering 7,850 acres of land. In 1946. the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers entered into an agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to manage the recreation on the lake.

Phase II of the campground electrification will begin in mid-August. The campground will remain open, however site availability may be limited at times.

The campground at Mosquito Lake has 234 non-electric sites. The majority of the sites are situated in a mature forest while others provide lakeshore access and vistas. There is a boat launching area for the campers with shoreline tie-ups. Facilities include a shower building with flush toilets, and pit latrines are located throughout the camp. Children's playground, horseshoe pits and volleyball are also available.

A 600-foot beach provides recreation for swimmers and sun bathers.

Unlimited horsepower boating is permitted on the 7,850-acre lake. Four launch ramps provide access to the lake. Fuel, boat rentals and seasonal dock rentals are available.