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Pittsburgh is a city in Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Name and spelling

Pittsburgh is one of the few American cities to be spelled with an h at the end of a burg suffix. While sometimes referred to as "Pittsburg" during the 19th century, in 1911 the Pittsburgh spelling was officially restored."How to Spell Pittsburgh." Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Retrieved on June 7, 2006.

History

At the site of present-day Pittsburgh, in 1754, the French built Fort Duquesne. During the French and Indian War, British General John Forbes occupied the fort. He 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.Fort Pitt Museum Colonel Bouquet defeated Pontiac's forces in the Battle of Bushy Run.Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition article on Pittsburgh

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. 1794 saw the short-lived Whiskey Rebellion.

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. 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, yet the city rebuilt. By 1857, Pittsburgh's nearly 1,000 factories burned 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 the Edgar Thomson Works in Braddock began to make steel rail using the Bessemer process.

In 1901, the U.S. Steel Corporation formed. By 1911, Pittsburgh was producing between a third and a half of the nation's various types of steel. The city's population swelled to half a million, many of whom were immigrants from Europe. During World War II, Pittsburgh produced 95 million tons of steel. By this time, the pollution of the burning coal and steel production created a black fog (or smog).

Following the war, the city launched a clean air and civic revitalization project known as "Renaissance II." 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 lay-offs and mill closures. Beginning in the 1980s, the city shifted its economic base to services, tourism, medicine and high technology. During this transition, the city population has shrunk from 680,000 in 1950 to 330,000 in 2000.

Geography and climate

Pittsburgh is located at (40.441419, -79.977292). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 151.1 km² (58.3 mi²). 144.0 km² (55.6 mi²) of it is land and 7.2 km² (2.8 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 4.75% water.

The city is located on the Allegheny Plateau, where the confluence of the Allegheny River and Monongahela River form the Ohio River. The area between the rivers is known as the Golden Triangle, the extremity of which is The Point. Pittsburgh occupies the Golden Triangle as well as the slopes of the river valleys, and the ridges beyond. Many of the city's neighborhoods, particularly south of the Monongahela, are deeply sloped, making Pittsburgh one of the hilliest cities in America.

Pittsburgh has a continental climate, with four seasons, spring, summer, autumn, and winter. One of the top seven cloudiest cities in the country, Pittsburgh averages over 200 days of cloud cover a year.

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Avg high °C
(°F) 		2.8
(37) 		3.9
(39) 		16.7
(50) 		21.7
(62) 		26.7
(71) 		29.4
(80) 		28.3
(85) 		24.4
(83) 		17.8
(76) 		11.7
(64) 		5.6
(53) 		10
(42) 		22
(72)
Avg low temperature °C
(°F) 		-6.7
(20) 		-6.1
(21) 		3.3
(29) 		8.9
(38) 		13.3
(48) 		16.7
(56) 		15.6
(62) 		11.7
(60) 		5.0
(53) 		0.6
(41) 		-3.9
(33) 		-1.7
(25) 		11
(52)
Precipitation centimeters
(inches) 		6.58
(2.59) 		6.27
(2.47) 		8.23
(3.24) 		7.80
(3.07) 		10.26
(4.04) 		9.98
(3.93) 		9.91
(3.90) 		8.00
(3.15) 		7.95
(3.13) 		5.97
(2.35) 		7.75
(3.05) 		7.26
(2.86) 		95.96
(37.78)

People

Demographics

According to the census of 2000, there are 334,563 people, 143,739 households, and 74,169 families residing in the city. The population of the surrounding metropolitan area was 2,358,695. The population density is 2,324.1/km² (6,019.0/mi²). There are 163,366 housing units at an average density of 1,134.9/km² (2,939.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 67.63% White, 27.12% African American, 0.19% Native American, 2.75% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.66% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. 1.32% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. Pittsburgh has the lowest property crime rate and a lower-than-average violent crime rate among cities of similar size.Data and Demographics - Character of Life/Public Safety (December 7, 2005). Pittsburgh Regional Alliance. Last visited June 11, 2006.

There are 143,739 households out of which 21.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.2% are married couples living together, 16.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 48.4% are non-families. 39.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.17 and the average family size is 2.95.

In the city the population is spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 14.8% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $28,588, and the median income for a family is $38,795. Males have a median income of $32,128 versus $25,500 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,816. 20.4% of the population and 15.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 27.5% of those under the age of 18 and 13.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Local dialect

The Pittsburgh English dialect, or "Pittsburghese," derives from influences from the Scotch-Irish, German, Central European and Eastern European immigrants. The dialect is somewhat similar in tone to other nearby regional dialects (ie, Philadelphia, Baltimore), but is noted for its somewhat staccato rhythms (a result of the Eastern European influence). The lexicon itself contains notable cognates borrowing from Croatian and other Slavic and European languages. Examples include babushka, pierogi, and halushky.Pittburgh Speech and Society - Overview. Last visited May 25, 2006.

Emblematic of Pittsburghese is "yinz" as the plural of "you", with "yunz" as a variant. Locals who speak the Pittsburgh dialect are often referred to as "yinzers". The term "yinzer" is generally considered derogatory and classist by most people born in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburghese is distinctive in dropping the "to be" from sentences, for instance "the brakes need to be replaced" is instead phrased "the brakes need replaced."

Speakers of the dialect also often compress the pronunciation of words and phrases. For example, "up there" becomes "up er." In Pittsburghese, one might "redd up" (clean) her room, derived from "ready-up." Speakers also often end a sentence with "and that", pronounced as, "n'at." For example, a local "yinzer" might say, "We went dahntahn to get some beer n'at."

Neighborhoods

Pittsburgh is a patchwork of neighborhoods, many of which still retain an ethnic character reflecting the city's immigrant history. An example is Squirrel Hill, which has one of the nation's larger Jewish populations. These neighborhoods are often characterized by local restaurants, places of worship, and bars that reflect the people's heritage. Other communities typical of the city are African American, Irish American, Italian American, German American and Eastern European, such as Polish. Some neighborhoods, such as Oakland, have a more diverse, urban feel.

Government and politics

From the American Civil War to the 1930s, Pittsburgh was a Republican stronghold. Since the Great Depression, Pittsburgh has been dominated by the Democratic Party.

Most Pittsburghers tend to be Democrats primarily due to the historical influence of labor unions. Democratic candidates have been elected consecutively to either the mayor's office or city council since 1933, when David L. Lawrence led the party to power. Socially liberal, the city has an ordinance protecting LGBT citizens from discrimination. As the only city within a 200 mile (320 km) radius with such protections, it has become a beacon for those who identify themselves as LGBT. A majority of Pittsburghers in the inner-city are strongly democratic and pro-civil rights, while the suburbs tend to be Republican and conservative.

The mayor, like the 9-member council, serves a four-year term. Bob O'Connor, from Squirrel Hill, replaced fellow Democrat Tom Murphy on January 3, 2006. City council members are chosen by plurality elections in each of nine districts. The Pittsburgh Police Bureau is the law enforcement arm of the city while the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau is the major emergency response unit in Western Pennsylvania.

The city is currently facing a financial crisis, with Pennsylvania's declaring Pittsburgh a "distressed municipality." Although the cause of the city's budget shortfall is debated, many cite the success of the medical and academic sectors since the nonprofits are tax-exempt. Despite the budget crisis, the city has continued to grow, such as the recent addition of American Eagle Outfitters corporate headquarters, a new buyer for the defunct Lord & Taylor complex, and multiple mixed-use towers under construction downtown. As the result of major budget cuts, Pittsburgh had a $15 million surplus in 2005. Other possible outcomes of the financial crisis are tax increases and reforms such as city-county consolidation.

Economy

Pittsburgh has adapted to the collapse of the region's steel industry. The primary industries have shifted more to high technology, such as robotics, health care, tourism, biomedical technology, finance, and services. Education is also a major employer, from primary through magnet schools, specialized professional institutes and highly-ranked universities.

Major employers

Pittsburgh has grown its industry base in recent years to include technology, retail, finance and medicine. The largest employer in the city is the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, followed closely by the University of Pittsburgh.

Fortune 500 Corporations headquartered in Pittsburgh include:

Fortune 1000 Corporations headquartered in the Pittsburgh region include:

Other major employers in the Pittsburgh area include the North American headquarters for Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline and Lanxess. Northeast U.S. regional headquarters for Nova Chemicals, FedEx, Ariba, Rand, US Airways and National City. Guru.com, 84 Lumber, Giant Eagle, Highmark and Rue 21 are major non-public companies with headquarters in the region. Other major companies headquartered in Pittsburgh include Mylan and General Nutrition Center.

Cost of living

Pittsburgh has a low cost of living compared to other cities in the northeastern U.S. The average price for a 3- to 4-bedroom, 2-bath family home in Pittsburgh is $162,000, which is well below the national average $264,540, as of October 2004, according to the Federal Housing Finance Board.

Education

The Pittsburgh region is home to many universities and research facilities, the most prominent of which are Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.

Carnegie Mellon University houses one of the oldest computer science schools and the oldest drama school in the United States, both of which are widely considered to be among the best in their fields. Carnegie Mellon University also houses internationally renowned research centers including the world-famous Software Engineering Institute (SEI) and the Robotics Institute, the first of its kind in the world and a leader in the field of robotics. It also houses a top ten engineering school,America's Best Graduate Schools 2007 - Top Engineering Schools. US News and World Reports. and its business school, The Tepper School of Business, is consistently ranked among the best in the nation.* Carnegie Mellon University is famous for its unique interdisciplinary environment and as an innovative leader in education.

The University of Pittsburgh is known for its respected programs in its departments of philosophy of science, Asian studies, business, and philosophy in its School of Arts and Sciences, and for its Schools of Law and Engineering. The university's Health Sciences Department and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center operate some of the finest hospitals in the world, and an advanced medical research center that performs pioneering work in areas such as organ transplantation, AIDS and cancer research. University of Pittsburgh's School of Medicine is ranked amongst the top 16 graduate medical programs nationally.*

Pittsburgh Public School teachers are paid well relative to their peers, ranking 17th in 2000-2001 among the 100 largest cities by population for the highest minimum salary offered to teachers with a BA ($34,300). Pittsburgh ranked fifth in the highest maximum salary offered to teachers with an MA ($66,380). Local public schools include many charter and magnet schools, including City Charter High School (computer and technology focused), Homewood Montessori, Pittsburgh Gifted Center, the Frick International Studies Center, Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, and several schools for blind, deaf, or otherwise challenged children. Pittsburgh private schools include one of the last all-boys high schools in America, Central Catholic High School, which is run by the Christian order of St. John the Baptist De La Salle. Oakland Catholic High School, an all-girls high school, is located less than two blocks away from Central Catholic High School. Both high schools are located in Oakland. Another notable high schools in Pittsburgh is The Ellis School, another all-girls school.

List of colleges and universities in Pittsburgh

Culture

In the 19th and 20th centuries, wealthy businessmen and nonprofit organizations donated millions to create educational and cultural institutions. As a result, Pittsburgh is rich in art and culture.

In music, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performs in Heinz Hall. The Benedum Center and Heinz Hall provide venues for other groups, such as the River City Brass Band and the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra. Pittsburgh also has a large indie and punk rock scene.

The city has an extensive library system, both public and university. Most notable are the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh's University Library System.

In theater, the Pittsburgh Playhouse of Point Park University has four resident companies of professional actors. Other companies include Attack Theatre, City Theatre, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre, Pittsburgh Musical Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater, and Quantum Theater. The city's longest-running theatre show, Friday Nite Improvs, is an improv jam that has been performed in the Cathedral of Learning for 17 years.

Media

Pittsburgh is the home of the world's first commercial radio station (KDKA 1020AM), the world's first non-commercial television station, the first "networked" television station, and "mid-western" newspaper. It is one of the few mid-sized metropolitan areas in the U.S. with two major daily papers; both the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review have long histories of Pulitzer Prizes and breaking in-depth investigative news stories on a national scale. The alternative papers in the region include the Pittsburgh City Paper, thePittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, The New People, published weekly by the Thomas Merton Center, and the Pittsburgh Courier, one of the larger ethnic publications in the region. The Pitt News, a financially independent student-written and managed newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh, is closing in on its 100th year of publication.

The Pittsburgh TV Market is served by KDKA 2 (CBS), WTAE 4 (ABC), and WPXI 11 (NBC). WQED 13 is the area's PBS member station and is a major contributor to national media as the source for Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, National Geographic Explorer, and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?. UHF stations include WQEX 16 (home-shopping), WPCW 19, WPMY 22, WPCB 40 (religious), and WPGH 53 (Fox).

Pittsburgh Radio has long been dominated by KDKA 1020 AM. However, as of early 2006 the station is no longer #1 in the ratings. KQV 1410 AM, now an all-news outlet, was Pittsburgh's dominant Top 40 station throughout the 1960s. WEAE 1250 AM provides sports radio to the tri-state area. On the FM dial, album-rock WDVE (102.5) has been dominant for decades, while WXDX (105.9 The X), WRKZ (93-7 K-Rock), WKST-FM (96.1 Kiss) and WAMO (106.7) provide the foundation of the pop music scene. FM talk radio is available in the Pittsburgh market at WPGB (104.7). Pittsburgh is also home to three public radio stations: WDUQ, the local NPR station; WQED-FM, a listener supported commercial-free classical music station; and WYEP 91.3FM, the nation's third-largest independent "adult album alternative" (AAA) station. The Radio Information Service, broadcasting on a subcarrier of WDUQ provides special programming for the blind and print impaired. Additionally, Pittsburgh hosts the non-commercial radio stations WRCT (affiliated with Carnegie Mellon University) and WPTS (affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh).

Pittsburgh has a very active Independent Media Center. The Pittsburgh IMC produces a weekly radio program called Rustbelt Radio that airs live on WRCT and is syndicated on WARC, WVJW, and WPTS, as well as podcast at radio.indypgh.org. They have produced several documentry films about protests in Pittsburgh that are available from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, as well as maintaining the open publishing newswire and website at indypgh.org. In the near future, the group will begin Rustbelt TV, a weekly television news program to be aired on PCTV.

Outdoor advertising in the area is handled by Lamar Outdoor, who controls a majority of large posters and billboards in the region, while Clear Channel Outdoor concentrates on bus shelters (including Downtown Pittsburgh) and shopping centers in the area.

Sites of interest

Museums include the Andy Warhol Museum and the Carnegie Museum of Art. Installation art is featured outdoors at ArtGardens of Pittsburgh. The Carnegie Museum of Natural History has extensive dinosaur collections and an Ancient Egypt wing. The Carnegie Science Center is technology oriented. The Pittsburgh History Center & its Sports Museum are located in the Strip District. The unusual and eclectic Bayernhof Music Museum is 6 miles (9 km) from downtown.

Pittsburgh houses the country's National Aviary. The Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens features a Victorian-style greenhouse. The Botanic Garden of Western Pennsylvania and Rodef Shalom Biblical Botanical Garden are also located in the area.

Other sites of interest include:

Sports

Pittsburgh's dedication to sports has a long history. Both its professional and collegiate teams have championship records. Three separate colleges have sent their football teams to major bowl games. The Pitt Panthers have won multiple national titles in both football and men's basketball. The Pittsburgh region also has developed several NFL quarterbacks including Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Joe Namath, Marc Bulger, George Blanda, Jeff Hostetler, and Johnny Unitas. There is also a long list of baseball stars such as Ken Griffey, Stan Musial, and Honus Wagner, as well as numerous Olympic medal winners such as wrestler Kurt Angle. For these reasons, Pittsburgh has been called the "City of Champions."

Logo Club Sport League Venue Championships
Pittsburgh Steelers American Football National Football League; AFC Heinz Field Super Bowl: 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2005
Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Major League Baseball; NL PNC Park World Series: 1909, 1925, 1960, 1971, 1979
Pittsburgh Penguins Ice Hockey National Hockey League; Eastern Mellon Arena Stanley Cup: 90-91, 91-92
Pittsburgh Xplosion Basketball American Basketball Association Mellon Arena
Petersen Events Center
Pittsburgh Riverhounds Soccer USL Second Division Falconi Field
Pittsburgh Passion American Football National Women's Football Association George K. Cupples Stadium

Transportation

The main highway connecting Pittsburgh to the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) on the east is I-376, locally known as the "Parkway East," while I-279 (called either the "Parkway North" or the "Parkway West," depending on its location relative to Downtown) connects the city with points north and west. I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike), I-79, and I-70, roughly form a triangular-shaped "beltway," but its distance from the city center and the need to exit and enter each leg in order to continue circling the city render it impractical as a beltway. Navigation around Pittsburgh can be accomplished via the Pittsburgh/Allegheny County Belt System.

The city is served by Pittsburgh International Airport in Findlay Township. Allegheny County Airport handles 139,000 general aviation flights a year.

Pittsburgh is a city of bridges. Around 40 bridges cross the three rivers near the city. The southern "entrance" to Downtown is through the Fort Pitt Tunnel and over the Fort Pitt Bridge. A bridge also carries the PATransit 42-S/47-L subway lines across the Monongahela River. All told, over 2,000 bridges dot the landscape of Allegheny County.*

Port Authority of Allegheny County, commonly known as the Port Authority, but often erroneously referred to by its former nickname "PAT" or "PAT Transit," is an urban mass transit system in the United States. Port Authority runs a network of inter- and intracity bus routes, two funiculars (more commonly know as "inclines,") on Mount Washington (primarily tourist destinations rather than a means of commuting), and a subway/busway system.

The city has Amtrak intercity rail service at Penn Station, as well as various freight railroads. Current railroads include Norfolk Southern, CSX and Amtrak.

Steep hills and variable weather make biking a challenge in Pittsburgh, but some bike trails have been established.

Sister cities

Pittsburgh has fourteen sister cities:Sister Cities designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI).

Pittsburgh, as well as Baltimore, Maryland, also have a special relationship with the city of Karmiel, and the neighboring region of Misgav, in Israel, as a part of the Partnership 2000 program."Special Gift Strengthens Pittsburgh/Israel Connection." Partnership 2000 (July 2001). Retrieved on June 7, 2006. The United Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh donated a Torah scroll to the city of Karmiel in a ceremony on June 19, 2001. The federation also raised States Dollar|$" target="_blank" >*11 million through a community campaign, with $600,000 going to grants in Karmiel and Misgav.

See also

References

External links

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | All-America City | Allegheny County, Pennsylvania | Cities in Pennsylvania | Eponymous cities

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