Everything about Pittsburgh totally explained
Pittsburgh ((originally )) is the second largest city in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with a population of 334,563 and the 20th largest
metropolitan area in the
United States, and the 50th largest metropolitan area in North America, with a population of 2,358,695. It is the
county seat of
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Built on land surrounding the
confluence of the
Allegheny and
Monongahela rivers, where they merge to form the
Ohio river, Pittsburgh features a skyline of 151 high-rise buildings, 446 bridges, two inclined railways and a pre-revolutionary fortification. Residents of the city are called Pittsburghers. The
downtown area is located on the triangular parcel at the confluence of the rivers. Pittsburgh is noted for bridges of all types throughout the city and is commonly known as the "The City of Bridges" or "The Bridge Capital" of the U.S. Pittsburgh's other nickname is "The Steel City" due to its one-time prominence in
steel making.
Though Pittsburgh's economy was traditionally fueled by heavy manufacturing to the detriment of local air and water quality, today it's largely based on
healthcare, education,
technology and
financial services. Primarily due to a series of factories from Pittsburgh's old economy, the city still has a pollution problem in regards to particulate matter in the atmosphere; however, other categories such as ozone and etc are relatively low.
Pittsburgh is the principal cultural and economic influence in the eastern Ohio River Valley. Also, though the city proper is diminishing in population, some areas of the
Pittsburgh metropolitan area continue to grow. On May 18, 2008 the
New York Times reported that Pittsburgh had lost over 60,000 residents since the year 2000; also that for the first time more people died in Pittsburgh than were born in there. Because of its low cost of living,
economic opportunities, education, transportation and medical infrastructure, Pittsburgh is consistently ranked high in livability surveys. In 2007, Pittsburgh was named "America's Most Livable City" by Places Rated Almanac, and "America's Best City for Relocating Families" in 2008 by Worldwide ERC, a relocation services industry trade group. As of April 4,
2008, the city and
Allegheny County, are discussing a plan to merge as early as 2009.
Etymology
Pittsburgh was named in 1758 by
General John Forbes in honor of the British statesman,
Sir William Pitt. Given that Forbes was a Scotsman, some speculate the intended pronunciation of the settlement was "Pitts
burra". It was incorporated as a
borough in 1794 and chartered as a city in 1816.
Pittsburgh was officially named with its present spelling on
April 22,
1794, by an act of the Pennsylvania Department, stating, "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and it's hereby enacted by the authority of the same, that the said town of Pittsburgh shall be, and the same is hereby, erected into a borough, which shall be called the borough of Pittsburgh for ever."
Pittsburgh is one of the few American cities to be spelled with an
h at the end of a
burg suffix. This style is commonly used for many other cities and towns of
Western Pennsylvania. While briefly referred to as "Pittsburg" during the late 19th century, the
Pittsburgh spelling was officially restored in 1911 after a public campaign by the citizens of the city. This discovery was followed by European pioneers, primarily French, in the early 1700s and 1710s. Michael Bezallion was the first to describe the forks of the Ohio in a manuscript in 1717, and later that year European traders established posts and settlements in the area. In 1749,
French soldiers from
Quebec launched a serious expedition to the forks in hopes of uniting French
Canada with
French Louisiana via the rivers.
Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia sent Major
George Washington to warn the French to withdraw. During 1753–1754, the English hastily built Fort Prince George, but a larger French expedition forced them to evacuate and constructed
Fort Duquesne on the site. With the French citing the 1669 discovery by LaSalle, these events led to the
French and Indian War. British General
Edward Braddock's campaign (with Washington as his aide) to take Fort Duquesne failed, but
General John Forbes's subsequent campaign succeeded. After the French abandoned and destroyed Fort Duquesne in 1758, Forbes ordered the construction of
Fort Pitt, named after British Secretary of State
William Pitt the Elder. He also named the settlement between the rivers "Pittsborough."
During
Pontiac's Rebellion, Ohio Valley and Great Lakes tribes
besieged Fort Pitt for two months. The siege was ended after Colonel Bouquet defeated the native forces in the
Battle of Bushy Run just to the east of the forks.
In the 1768
Treaty of Fort Stanwix, the descendants of
William Penn purchased from the
Six Nations western lands that included most of the present site of Pittsburgh. In 1769, a survey was made of the land situated between the two rivers, called the "Manor of Pittsburgh." Both
Virginia and Pennsylvania claimed the Pittsburgh area during colonial times and would continue to do so until 1780 when both states agreed to extend the
Mason-Dixon Line westward, placing Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.
Following the
American Revolution, the village of Pittsburgh continued to grow. One of its earliest industries was building boats for settlers to enter the
Ohio Country. In 1784, the laying out of the "Town of Pittsburgh" was completed by Thos. Viceroy of Bedford County and approved by the attorney of the Penns in Philadelphia. The year 1794 saw the short-lived
Whiskey Rebellion. The Act of
March 5,
1804, which modified the provision of the old charter of the Borough of Pittsburgh in 1794 (the original of which isn't known to exist), refers throughout to the "Borough of Pittsburgh."
The
War of 1812 cut off the supply of British goods, stimulating American manufacture. By 1815, Pittsburgh was producing significant quantities of iron, brass, tin and glass products. The Act of
March 18,
1816 incorporated the City of Pittsburgh. The original charter was burned when the old
Court House was destroyed by fire. In the 1830s, many
Welsh people from the steelworks of
Merthyr migrated to the city following the civil strife and aftermath of the
Merthyr Riots of 1831. By the 1840s, Pittsburgh was one of the largest cities west of the
Allegheny Mountains. A great fire burned over a thousand buildings in 1845, but the city rebuilt. By 1857, Pittsburgh's 1,000 factories were consuming 22,000,000 bushels of coal yearly.
The
American Civil War boosted the city's economy with increased production of iron and armaments. Steel production began by 1875, when
Andrew Carnegie founded the J. Edgar Thomson Steel Works in
Braddock, which eventually evolved into the Carnegie Steel Company. The success and growth of Carnegie Steel was attributed to Henry Bessemer, inventor of the
Bessemer Process.
In 1901, the
U.S. Steel Corporation was formed, and by 1911 Pittsburgh was producing between a third and a half of the nation's steel. The city's population swelled to half a million, many of whom were immigrants from Europe who arrived via the great migration through Ellis Island. During
World War II, Pittsburgh produced 95 million tons of steel.
Following the war, the city launched a clean air and civic revitalization project known as the "Renaissance." This much-acclaimed effort was followed by the "Renaissance II" project, begun in 1977 and focusing more on cultural and neighborhood development than its predecessor. The industrial base continued to expand through the 1960s, but beginning in the 1970s and 1980s, the steel industry in the region imploded, with massive layoffs and mill closures.
Beginning in the 1980s, the city shifted its economic base to education, tourism, and services, largely based on
healthcare, medicine, and high technology such as robotics. During this transition, however, the city's population shrank from 680,000 in 1950 to 330,000 in 2000.
Geography
Pittsburgh is located at (40.441419, -79.977292). According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 58.3 square miles (151.1
km²), of which, 55.6 square miles (144.0 km²) of it's land and 2.8 square miles (7.2 km²) of it's water. The total area is 4.75% water.
The city is on the
Allegheny Plateau, where the confluence of the
Allegheny River from the northeast and
Monongahela River from the southeast form the
Ohio River. The
Downtown area between the rivers is known as the Golden Triangle, and the site at the actual convergence, which is occupied by
Point State Park, is referred to simply as "the Point." In addition to the downtown Golden Triangle, the city extends northeast to include the
Oakland and
Shadyside sections, which are home to the
University of Pittsburgh,
Carnegie Mellon University,
Carnegie Museum and Library, and many other educational, medical, and cultural institutions.
Pittsburgh occupies the slopes of the river valley on the opposite side of the Monongahela and the ridges beyond. Many of the city's
neighborhoods, particularly the city's
North Side and those areas south of the Monongahela, are steeply sloped. In fact, of all U.S. cities, only
San Francisco and
Seattle have more extreme terrain.
This topography is often utilized for physical activity. The city has some 712 sets of stairs, comprising 44,645 treads and 24,090 vertical feet (more than San Francisco,
Cincinnati, and
Portland,
Oregon combined) for pedestrians to traverse its many hills. With the drop of pedestrian traffic across much of the city, and the fact that many of these stairs are outside nuclear neighborhoods, many have fallen into disrepair, covered with vines and weeds. There are hundreds of 'paper streets' composed entirely of stairs and many other steep streets with stairs for sidewalks. Many provide views of the Pittsburgh area.
The city has established bike and walking trails along its riverfronts and hollows, but steep hills and variable weather can make
biking challenging. However, the city will be connected to downtown
Washington, D.C. (some away) by a continuous bike/running trail through the Alleghenies and along the Potomac Valley. Known as the
Great Allegheny Passage and
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath, about 95% of this trail has been completed.
Climate
Pittsburgh's climate is classified as a
humid continental climate (
Dfa) on the
Koppen climate classification. This is a climate with abundant precipitation throughout the year and four strongly defined seasons. While there are wide variations in seasonal temperature common to continental climates, winters are somewhat moderated by both proximity to the
Atlantic Ocean and mountains that block the advance of cold air from the north. Overall, the city's climate features cold winters with snow, and warm, humid summers with frequent clouds and
precipitation.
The warmest month of the year in Pittsburgh, as in most of the northern hemisphere, is July. The average high temperature is 83°F (29°C), with overnight low temperatures averaging 62°F (16°C). July is often humid, resulting in a considerable
heat index. The coldest month of the year is January, when the average high temperature is 37°F (3°C). Overnight low temperatures average 20°F (-7°C). The moderating influence of Pittsburgh's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean is evident in the fact that Chicago, which is less than 110 miles (180 km) north of Pittsburgh (and about west), experiences average January temperatures 7°F (-14°C) colder on average. The highest temperature ever recorded in Pittsburgh was 103°F (39°C), on
July 16,
1988. The coldest temperature ever recorded in the city was -22°F (-30°C), on
January 19,
1994.
Due to its position on the
windward side of the
Allegheny Mountains, Pittsburgh receives heavy precipitation, and many days are subject to overcast skies. Precipitation is greatest in May, due to frequent thunderstorms and more organized
low pressure systems which track up the eastern coast of the United States. On average, 4.04 inches (102.6 mm) of precipitation falls during this month. The driest month of the year is February, when most precipitation falls in the form of low moisture content snow. However, Pittsburgh's February precipitation, 2.47 inches (62.7 mm), is relatively heavy compared to other cities located further inland, mainly because the city is east enough that it can be impacted by
Nor'easters in some way, but usually lighter than in the central and eastern parts of the state.
Cityscape
The city can be broken down into the
Downtown area, called the Golden Triangle, and four main areas surrounding it. These four surrounding areas are further subdivided into distinct neighborhoods (in total, Pittsburgh contains 90 neighborhoods.) These areas, relative to downtown, are known as the North Side, South Side/South Hills, East End, and West End.
Downtown Pittsburgh is tight and compact, featuring many skyscrapers, 9 of which top .
U.S. Steel Tower is the tallest at . The
Cultural District comprises a 14 block area of downtown along the Allegheny River. It is packed with theaters and arts venues, and is seeing a growing residential segment. Most significantly, the
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is embarking on Riverparc, a 4-block mixed-use "green" community, featuring 700 residential units and multiple towers between 20–30 stories. The Firstside portion of downtown borders the Monongahela River and the historic Mon Wharf. This area is home to the distinctive
PPG Place Gothic glass skyscraper complex. This area too, is seeing a growing residential sector, as new condo towers are constructed and historic office towers are converted to residential use. Downtown is serviced by the
Port Authority's
light rail and multiple bridges leading north and south. It is also home to
Point Park University,
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Culinary Institute, a
Robert Morris University branch campus and
Duquesne University which is located on the border of Downtown and Uptown.
The North Side is home to various neighborhoods in transition. The
North Side is primarily composed of residential neighborhoods and is noteworthy for well-constructed and architecturally interesting homes. Many buildings date from the 19th century and are constructed of brick or stone and adorned with decorative woodwork, ceramic tile, slate roofs and stained glass. The North Side is also home to many popular attractions such as
Heinz Field,
PNC Park,
Carnegie Science Center,
National Aviary,
Andy Warhol Museum,
Mattress Factory installation art museum,
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh,
Penn Brewery and
Allegheny Observatory.
The South Side was once an area composed primarily of dense inexpensive housing for mill workers, but has in recent years become a local Pittsburgher destination. In fact, South Side is one of the most popular neighborhoods to own a home in Pittsburgh. The value of homes in the South Side have increased in value by about 10 percent annually for the past 10 years. The
South Side's East Carson Street is one of the most vibrant areas of the city, packed with diverse shopping, ethnic eateries, pulsing nightlife and live music venues. In 1993 the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh purchased the South Side Works steel mill property, and worked together with the community and various developers to create a master plan for a mixed-use development including a riverfront park, office space, housing, health-care facilities, and the
Pittsburgh Steelers and
Pitt Panthers indoor practice fields. Construction began in 1998, and the
Southside Works is now open for business with many store, restaurants, offices, and the world headquarters for
American Eagle Outfitters.
The East End is home to the
University of Pittsburgh,
Carnegie Mellon University,
Carlow University,
Chatham University,
The Carnegie Institute's Museums of Art and Natural History,
Frick Art & Historical Center (Clayton and the Frick art museum),
Phipps Conservatory,
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, and the
Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. The neighborhoods of
Shadyside and
Squirrel Hill are large, wealthy neighborhoods featuring large shopping/business districts.
Oakland, heavily populated by undergraduate and graduate students, is home to most of the universities,
Schenley Park and the
Petersen Events Center.
Bloomfield is Pittsburgh's Little Italy and is known for its Italian restaurants and grocers.
Lawrenceville is a revitalizing rowhouse neighborhood popular with artists and designers. The
Strip District is a popular open-air marketplace by day and one of Pittsburgh's hottest clubbing destinations by night.
The West End includes
Mt. Washington, with its famous view of the Downtown skyline and numerous other residential neighborhoods like
Sheraden and
Elliott.
Pittsburgh's patchwork of neighborhoods still retain an ethnic character reflecting the city's immigrant history. These include:
Several neighborhoods on the edges of the city are less urban, featuring tree-lined streets, yards and garages giving a more characteristic suburban feel, while other aforementioned neighborhoods, such as Oakland, the South Side, the North Side, and the Golden Triangle are characterized by a more diverse, urban feel.
Demographics
Further Information
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