A few months ago in my weekly newsletter, I promised to keep things topical. But here I am again, writing about yet another city that no one cares about, going on about this so-called Rust Belt. What can I say—when you’re obsessed, you’re obsessed. So where is Pittsburgh? Here’s the brief version, less in a geographical sense and more in an abstract one.
What You Probably Know
Pittsburgh is located in Western Pennsylvania at the confluence of the Alleghany and Monongahela Rivers, a union that gives rise to the Ohio River. In the picture below (facing east), the Alleghany is the left part of the fork and the Monongahela the right, coming together at the head of the Ohio. The resultant triangular piece of land is occupied by downtown.
This fluvial phenomenon occurs on the backdrop of countless hills and valleys, translating into a bounty of photo-worthy vistas not unlike the one above. While non-coastal cities typically get the shaft in discussions about the most scenic hot spots, Pittsburgh at least deserves a seat at the table.
The city came to prominence in the 19th and 20th centuries as a manufacturing powerhouse. At the core of the operation was steel, the end product of the iron ore found in the vicinity of Pittsburgh and elsewhere in the Great Lakes region. Nearby coal powered the process, and the aforementioned rivers (and later railways) provided built-in trade routes.
With jobs came immigration—both from Europe and the American South (think Great Migration)—and wealth. With regards to the latter, perhaps the best-known figure was Andrew Carnegie, a Scotsman whose Carnegie Steel Company became a major component of US Steel, the world’s first billion dollar corporation.
Of course, as you know, the second part of the 20th century was a bit of a rough patch. Decreased demand for steel along with lower production costs elsewhere resulted in severe downsizing of the industry that had anchored the region’s growth. The city peaked in population in 1950 at 676,806, thereafter experiencing a slow bleed that has yet to be fully contained. The 2020 population of 302,971 was lower than the figure of 321,616 in 1900, meaning what was once one of the 10 largest cities in the US had fallen to number 68.
In the eyes of the rest of the country, Pittsburgh had become that place with a dwindling and disgruntled blue-collar workforce, one that in between looking for work would obsess about local sports teams, particularly the aptly named Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). In other words, opportunity had become a thing of the past.
What You Might Be Surprised to Hear
With economic prosperity—regardless of the source—comes intellectual prosperity. And as many Rust Belt cities have shown, even as economic prosperity fades, the educational and cultural institutions born from the good times remain. In fact, such institutions can become economic engines in and of themselves.
Case in point—Pittsburgh.
As traditional manufacturing waned, the community assets that had accrued over the preceding decades gave rise to a new economy, one that is very much in line with what is expected of a 21st-century city.
No single entity exemplifies this phenomenon better than the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), widely regarded as one of the premier healthcare institutions in the country. Employing over 100,000 when all hospitals and clinics are accounted for, the economic impact of UPMC is difficult to overstate.
In keeping with the knowledge economy, the region is also home to a number of universities, including the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and Duquesne University.
Given these points of strength, big-name companies continue to call the region home—examples to remember are Alcoa Corporation, American Eagle Outfitters, Dick’s Sporting Goods, the Kraft Heinz Company, PNC Financial Services, and, yes, US Steel Corporation, which is still alive and kicking. (In fact, Pittsburgh’s tallest building is the US Steel Tower, a major tenant of which is US Steel.)
Many other companies—as in the likes of Google and Apple—have a presence in the area as well.
The persistent flow of money ensures that cultural institutions can thrive, including the Carnegie Museums, one of which is the Andy Warhol Museum, home to the work of a favorite native son. Pittsburgh has also been recognized as one of the best cities in the US for artists.
All of the above has meant that Pittsburgh, while continuing to experience urban population loss, remains a robust metropolitan region. Home to 2.3 million residents, the metro area is the nation’s 27th-largest, still ahead of the likes of Austin, Las Vegas, and Nashville.
This success has not been lost upon the list makers—the Economist Intelligence Unit has ranked Pittsburgh as one of the three most livable cities in the US, and innumerable travel publications have recognized the city as a top-flight (and affordable) travel destination. Pittsburgh has even been labeled as the Paris of Appalachia, though that moniker could potentially be construed as a backhanded compliment.
Some Random Stuff
To round out your knowledge of the Steel City, here’s the esoteric trivia you’ll need to impress your friends—assuming they’re a bit geeky, which if you’re reading this site is a distinct possibility.
Engineering
With all the rivers come 446 bridges, perhaps the most of any city in the world, earning Pittsburgh another nickname—the City of Bridges.
Education
At 535 feet tall, the 42-story Cathedral of Learning on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh is considered the tallest educational building in the Western Hemisphere.
Religion
One of the oldest major Hindu temples in the US is located in the hills of Pittsburgh, leaving many children of Indian immigrants wary of road trips to Pennsylvania.
History
Duquesne University takes its name from a governor of New France who also gave his blessing to Fort Duquesne, once located at the confluence of the Alleghany and Monongahela Rivers. Of course, when the Brits gave France the boot from North America (think Seven Years’ War), that was replaced by Fort Pitt—named after William Pitt, a prime minister of Great Britain. From there, Pittsburgh became a logical name.
Science
Although Americans seem to have a quirky relationship with vaccines, it’s worth noting that Jonas Falk developed a vaccine against polio at the University of Pittsburgh.
Television
Fred Rogers was from the Pittsburgh area, and his iconic Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was produced in none other than The ‘Burgh.
Sports
The first World Series in Major League Baseball (MLB) took place in 1903 in Pittsburgh (and Boston).
Literature
Writers love bad weather, explaining why Pittsburgh is able to claim the likes of Gertrude Stein and Pulitzer Prize winners Annie Dillard and David McCullough.
Leisure
Worried about that weather? Don’t be. Pittsburgh has been known to show up on lists of the cities with the most bars per capita.
Music
And finally, the tunes. Sure, the city stuck us with “Oh! Susanna,” courtesy Stephen Collins Foster. But it also contributed “Black and Yellow” by Wiz Khalifa, a Pittsburgher who felt the need to give a shout out to the official city colors (used by all major sports teams).
So once again, where is Pittsburgh? You’ll find out when you get there.
4 Responses
Nice writeup. US cities need to get more recognition, Europe has history however we have plenty here too!
Thank you. And, yes, American cities absolutely have histories worth telling!
Pittsburg was steel capital of the world when steel production was a measure of nation’s wealth. Pennsylvania had the most foundries in the northeast.
Very interesting. Thank you!