Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
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| Nickname(s): Steel City, Iron City, City of Champions, City of Bridges, City of Colleges | |
| Location in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Location in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Allegheny County |
| Founded | 1758 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Luke Ravenstahl (D) |
| Population | |
| • City | 316,718 |
| • Metro | 2,358,695 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Website | www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us |
Pittsburgh (pronounced [ˈpɪts.bɚg]) is the second largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the United States. It is the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It is the economic, cultural, academic, transportational, and service hub of the Pittsburgh Metro Area and the Pittsburgh Tri-State. Built on the land between the confluence of the Allegheny, Ohio and Monongahela rivers and the surrounding hills, Pittsburgh features a skyline of skyscrapers and dozens of bridges.
Once an industrial center, the collapse of the United States steel industry has had a lasting impact on Pittsburgh's economy and identity. In response to the collapse of the steel industry in the 1970s and 1980s, Pittsburgh has become a nationally-known center for medicine, education, art education, technology, and financial services ([1],[2]).
Pittsburgh is the home of several highly-ranked universities, including the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, and Carnegie Mellon University[1]. The city also hosts several nationally acclaimed sports teams, including the five-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, five-time World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates, and the two-time Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. In addition, Pittsburgh is home of many top-rated medical institutions, such as the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Allegheny General Hospital.
The city has a rich heritage of culture, represented by such well-endowed and popularly supported institutions as Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
Although still facing a declining population, Pittsburgh remains the chief city of the eastern Ohio River Valley. Because of its setting, economic opportunities, low cost of living, and growing educational, cultural and medical infrastructures, Pittsburgh is often ranked as one of the nation's most livable cities.
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."[2]
During Pontiac's Rebellion, Ohio Valley and Great Lakes tribes besieged Fort Pitt for two months.[3] Colonel Bouquet defeated Pontiac's forces in the Battle of Bushy Run.[4]
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."[5]. 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. Vicroy 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 is not in existence, so far as known -- refers throughout to the "Borough of Pittsburgh."[5]
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. 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 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.[2] By this time, the pollution from 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 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 services, tourism, medicine and high technology. During this transition, the city population shrunk from 680,000 in 1950 to 330,000 in 2000.
Multiple organ transplants were pioneered in Pittsburgh by Dr. Thomas Starzl in 1983 and Pittsburgh hospitals remain premier medical research institutions.
Name and spelling
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 is 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." [7]
Pittsburgh is one of the few American cities to be spelled with an h at the end of a burg suffix. While briefly referred to as "Pittsburg" during the late 19th century, in 1911 the Pittsburgh spelling was officially restored.[7]
Geography and climate
Pittsburgh is located at 40°26′29″N 79°58′38″W / 40.44139°N 79.97722°W (40.441419, -79.977292).Template:GR 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 the United States.
Due to its position between the Great Lakes and the Allegheny mountains, Pittsburgh's weather is often overcast and rainy. It is the third cloudiest city in the United States and it averages over 200 days of cloudy days per year [citation needed]. In the winter, when a northwest flow establishes itself over the Great Lakes, the wind blows from Lake Erie across eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. That wind carries moist air from the lake, often producing heavy snow squalls. It also produces clouds. In addition, deep low pressure systems often establish themselves in the winter over Hudson Bay. Those systems also bring clouds and precipitation to the lower Great Lakes and western Pennsylvania.
Neighborhoods
The city can be broken down into the downtown area, called the Golden Triangle, and four main areas surrounding it. These four surrounding areas can are further subdivided into distinct neighborhoods. These areas, relative to downtown, are known as the North Side, South Side/South Hills, East End, and West End.
The North Side is home to various neighborhoods in transition. At the center of the Northside is Central Northside/the Mexican War Streets, and flanked by Allegheny West, Perry Hilltop, Brighton Heights, Spring Garden, Troy Hill, Observatory Hill, East Allegheny/Deutschtown, and Manchester. 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 South Side neighborhoods include the Southside Flats and Southside Slopes, and South Hills neighborhoods such as Brookline, Beechview, Overbrook, Carrick, Beltzhoover, and Allentown. 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.
The East End is home to the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham College, and many city neighborhoods which include Oakland, Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, Garfield, Stanton Heights, Friendship, Point Breeze, Bloomfield, Regent Square, Greenfield, Lawrenceville, East Liberty, Homewood, Hazelwood, the Hill District, Highland Park, Greenfield, and many others.
The West End is perhaps the most overlooked part of the city, but it includes Mt. Washington, with its world-famous view of the Downtown skyline, as well as the West End neighborhoods, Elliott, Sheraden, and Duquesne Heights.
Pittsburgh is a patchwork of neighborhoods, many of which still retain an ethnic character reflecting the city's immigrant history. This includes African American (Hill District, Homewood), Jewish (Squirrel Hill), Irish American, Italian American (Bloomfield), German American (Troy Hill), East Allegheny) and Eastern European such as Polish (South Side, Lawrenceville, Polish Hill).
Several neighborhoods on the edges of the city are less intensely urban, featuring tree-lined streets, yards and garages giving a more characteristic suburban feel. These include the South Hills neighborhoods such as Brookline, Carrick, Beechview, and Overbrook, some of the West End areas such as Oakwood and Westwood, as well as far North Side neighborhoods like Observatory Hill and Brighton Heights. Other neighborhoods, such as Oakland, in which are located the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, are characterized by a more diverse, urban feel.
Demographics
According to the 2000 census there were 334,563 individuals, 143,739 households, and 74,169 families within the city limits. The population of the surrounding metropolitan area was 2,358,695. The largest groups in terms of race were 67.63% Caucasian, 27.12% African American, 2.75% Asian, and 1.32% Hispanic. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $28,588, with 20.4% of the population living below the poverty line. Pittsburgh has the lowest property crime rate and a lower-than-average violent crime rate among cities of similar size.[8]
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 halušky.[9]
Emblematic of Pittsburghese is "yinz" as the plural of "you", with "yunz" as a variant. The stereotypical Pittsburgher is often known as a yinzer.
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."
Pittsburghese is also known for calling rubberbands "gumbands" and soda pop "pop."
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, which is an archaic English expression (see for example the American Heritage Dictionary) meaning "to set things in order." Speakers also often end a sentence with "and that", pronounced as, "n'at." For example, a Pittsburgher might say, "Yinz guys goin' dahntahn to get some pants n'at?" An additional classic Pittsburgh phrase is "get out!" (pronounced "git aht!", or sometimes "git aht a tahn!"), which is used as an exclamation in response to news. For example, upon hearing news that someone just won a lottery, a Pittsburgher might respond, "Git aht a tahn!"
Economy
The growth of Pittsburgh and its economy was caused by the extensive trade of steel. Since, 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. Pittsburgh is the fourth most financially headquartered city in the US[citation needed]. Education is also a major employer, from primary through magnet schools, specialized professional institutes and highly-ranked universities. In 2006, Expansion Magazine ranked Pittsburgh among the top 10 metropolitan areas in the nation for climates favorable to business expansion.[10]
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.
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Fortune 500 Corporations headquartered in Pittsburgh include:
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Fortune 1000 Corporations headquartered in the Pittsburgh region include:
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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, Rue 21, and GENCO are major non-public companies with headquarters in the region. Other major companies headquartered in Pittsburgh include Mylan Laboratories, General Nutrition Center (GNC), and CNX Gas (CXG), a subsidiary of Consol Energy.
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 of $264,540, as of October 2004, according to the Federal Housing Finance Board.
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 vote Republican.
The mayor, like the nine-member council, serves a four-year term. City Council President Luke Ravenstahl was sworn as the new mayor of Pittsburgh. At 26, he is both the youngest mayor in Pittsburgh's history,[3] and in the history of any major American city.[4] He will serve this position until a new mayoral election is held in November 2007.[5] 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 a major emergency response unit in Western Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh EMS provides heavy rescue and river rescue services to the city.
Like many American cities, Pittsburgh has recently faced financial challenges and budget shortfalls. 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, as evidenced by the recent addition of the American Eagle Outfitters corporate headquarters, renovation of the former Lazarus-Macy's department store into high-end retail, office, and condo space, and multiple mixed-use towers under construction downtown. As further evidence of recovery from these fiscal problems, Pittsburgh had a $15 million surplus in 2005.
Education
The Pittsburgh region is home to many colleges, 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. Other top ranking programs at Carnegie Mellon University include the Tepper School of Business, the School of Design (including a masters and doctoral level course), the School of Architecture, and the School of Art- considered by many as one of the most unique and interdisciplinary programs in the United States.[citation needed] Carnegie Mellon University also houses internationally renowned research centers including the world-famous Software Engineering Institute (SEI), the STUDIO for Creative Inquiry, the Center for the Arts in Society, 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,[11] and its business school, The Tepper School of Business, is consistently ranked among the best in the nation.[12] 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 highly respected programs in its departments of philosophy of science, Asian studies, business, and philosophy (rated among the top 5 in the United States[citation needed]) in its School of Arts and Sciences, and for its Schools of Law and Engineering. The university's Schools of the Health Sciences 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.[1]
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), Pittsburgh Montessori School (formerly Homewood Montessori), Pittsburgh Gifted Center, Frick International Studies Academy, Rogers Middle School for the Creative and Performing Arts, Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, and several schools for blind, deaf, or otherwise challenged children.
Pittsburgh private schools include 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. The Shadyside neighborhood includes Winchester Thurston School and The Ellis School (an all-girls school). Shady Side Academy, whose main campuses are located in Fox Chapel has a junior high school in the neighborhood of Point Breeze.
List of colleges and universities in Pittsburgh:
Culture
In the 19th and 20th centuries, wealthy businessmen and nonprofit organizations donated millions of dollars to create educational and cultural institutions. As a result, Pittsburgh is rich in art and culture.
Among the professional music venues, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performs in Heinz Hall, and the Pittsburgh Opera performs in the Benedum Center. Both 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 has a long tradition of jazz, blues and bluegrass music. Pittsburgh also has a large indie and punk rock scene. Additionally the National Negro Opera Company was founded in Pittsburgh, and was the first all African-American opera company in the United States. This led to the prominence of African-American singers like Leontyne Price in the world of opera.
Pittsburgh Dance Council and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater host a variety of dance events. Polka, folk, square and round dancing have a long history in the city and are celebrated by the internationally famous Duquesne University Tamburitzans, a multicultural academy dedicated to the preservation and presentation of folk songs and dance.
Museums include the Andy Warhol Museum, the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Frick Art & Historical Center. 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 and its Sports Museum are located in the Strip District. The unusual and eclectic Bayernhof Music Museum is six miles (9 km) from downtown.
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 and other locations for 17 years.
Pittsburgh has long been a center of film culture as well. Pittsburgh Filmmakers, one of the oldest and largest media arts centers in the United States, runs a filmmaking school and three art film theaters. The Three Rivers Film Festival brings a venue of independent, documentary and international films each November. Pittsburgh is also a popular location for films, including Flashdance, The Silence of the Lambs, Lorenzo's Oil, Wonder Boys, and Night of the Living Dead. Rawson Thurber's The Mysteries of Pittsburgh currently is being filmed in Pittsburgh.[citation needed]
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.
Many notable individuals in the world of culture emerged out of Pittsburgh. Andy Warhol and August Wilson were both born and raised in the Pittsburgh area.
Livability
Pittsburgh often places high in lists of the nation's most livable cities. Cost of living, crime, cultural opportunites and other factors are considered in these rankings for livability.
After placing No. 4 and No. 1 in the first two editions of "Places Rated Almanac," Pittsburgh went on to finish third in 1989, fifth in 1993, 14th in 1997 and 12th in 2000. While that gives the impression of a moderate decline, primary author David Savageau noted Pittsburgh is the only place to finish in the top 20 of every edition. In the 2004, 820-page book by Bert Sperling and Peter Sander, "Cities Ranked and Rated," Pittsburgh came in at #28.
In 2005, The Economist ranked Pittsburgh and Cleveland the top most livable cities in the United States, and tied the cities for 26th world-wide.
On the other hand, Pittsburgh has not been rated highly for singles. In 2005, it was rated 11th worst, while in the most recent 2006 study, it dropped 3 spots to 8th worst city.2001 Study 2002 Study 2003 Study 2004 Study 2005 Study 2006 Study. This is in contrast to Pittsburgh being ranked one of the most livable cities. Forbes says that their rankings are only for singles and not the livability of the city in general.
Pittsburgh and its suburbs
Some of Pittsburgh's largest suburbs are Penn Hills, Bethel Park, McKeesport, and Monroeville. Others include Plum Borough, Upper St. Clair, Oakmont, McCandless, Franklin Park, and Shaler. These are all located within Allegheny County.
Outside Allegheny County, other large areas include Greensburg, Latrobe, New Kensington, all in Westmoreland County. In Butler County, Butler and Cranberry Township are large. To the south, Washington County has Washington, Canonsburg, and Peters Township. Also, in Fayette county there is Uniontown and Connellsville. Beaver County to the northwest includes Monaca, Beaver, and Aliquippa.
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. Pittsburgh is home to an Independent Media Center that coordinates a weekly radio news program, a television news show, and a participatory news Web site.[citation needed] The alternative papers in the region include the Pittsburgh City Paper, the Pittsburgh 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.
Television
The Pittsburgh TV market is served by:
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Radio
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 DVE), modern rock WXDX (105.9 The X), rock WRKZ (93.7 K-Rock), adult contemporary WZPT (Star 100.7), pop and hip-hop WKST-FM (96.1 KissFM) and hip-hop and rap WAMO (106.7) provide the foundation of the popular music scene. FM talk radio is available in the Pittsburgh market at WPGB (104.7 FM NewsTalk) and the popular Kidd Chris Show on rock WRKZ (93.7 K-Rock). 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).
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.
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. As home to two of the most successful teams in the former Negro League, the Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Homestead Grays, as well as the first Major League Baseball team to field an all-black lineup, the 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates, "no city is more synonymous with black baseball than Pittsburgh." [13]
The Pittsburgh region also has developed several NFL quarterbacks, giving Western Pennsylvania the nickname, "Cradle of Quarterbacks." [14] Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Joe Namath, Jim Kelly, Marc Bulger, George Blanda, Jeff Hostetler, Johnny Unitas, and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback, Bruce Gradkowski, are from the area. Several famous running backs, including Tony Dorsett, Curtis Martin, Kevan Barlow, Mercury Morris, Larry Brown and Ernie Davis are also from Pittsburgh. There is also a long list of baseball stars such as Ken Griffey, Jr., Ken Griffey, Sr., Stan Musial, and Honus Wagner, as well as numerous Olympic gold medal winners such as wrestler Kurt Angle and John Woodruff. Pittsburgh also claims many major league coaching legends as its own including Marvin Lewis, Mike Ditka, Marty Schottenheimer, Mike McCarthy, Bill Cowher, Barry Alvarez, Terry Francona, Ken Macha and Art Howe. For these reasons, Pittsburgh has been called the "City of Champions."
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". Navigation around Pittsburgh can also 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-- 446 in total.[15] Pittsburgh has more bridges than Venice, Italy, which has historically held the title of "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 Port Authority's 42-S/47-L/52 subway lines across the Monongahela River. All told, over 2,000 bridges dot the landscape of Allegheny County.[16]
Port Authority of Allegheny County, commonly known as the Port Authority, but sometimes erroneously referred to by its former nickname "PAT" or "PAT Transit," is the region's mass transit system. While serving only a portion of the Pittsburgh area's 20th largest metro area it is the 11th largest transit agency in the nation. Port Authority runs a network of inter- and intracity bus routes, two funiculars (more commonly known as "inclines") on Mount Washington (used primarily by tourists rather than a means of commuting), a light rail system that runs mostly above-ground in the suburbs and underground as a subway in the city, and one of the nation's largest busway systems.
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.
Sites of interest
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:
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Sister cities
Pittsburgh has fifteen sister cities:[17]
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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.[18] 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 $11 million through a community campaign, with $600,000 going to grants in Karmiel and Misgav.
See also
- Cities and Towns of Allegheny County
- Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation
- Jewish history in Pittsburgh
- List of Mayors of Pittsburgh
- List of cities and towns along the Ohio River
- List of fiction set in Pittsburgh
- List of films and television shows shot in Pittsburgh
- List of hospitals in Pittsburgh
- List of famous people from Pittsburgh
- Allegheny, Pennsylvania
References
- ^ a b U.S. News & World Report: America's Best Graduate Schools, 2007
- ^ a b Lorant, Stefan (1999). Pittsburgh, The Story of an American City (5th edition ed.). Esselmont Books, LLC.
{{cite book}}:|edition=has extra text (help) - ^ Fort Pitt Museum
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition article on Pittsburgh
- ^ a b Chamber of Commerce of Pittsburgh (1921). Pittsburgh First, the Official Organ of The Chamber of Commerce of Pittsburgh.
- ^ Ballou's Pictorial, issue of 21 February 1857
- ^ a b "How to Spell Pittsburgh." Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Retrieved on September 22, 2006.
- ^ Data and Demographics - Character of Life/Public Safety (December 7, 2005). Pittsburgh Regional Alliance. Last visited June 11, 2006.
- ^ Pittsburgh Speech and Society - Overview. Last visited May 25, 2006.
- ^ "2006 MAYOR'S CHALLENGE: Where Are the Best Metros for Future Business Locations?". Expansion Magazine. August 7, 2006.
- ^ America's Best Graduate Schools 2007 - Top Engineering Schools. US News and World Reports.
- ^ The Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive survey of corporate recruiters on business schools, 2004, 2005
- ^ John Perrotto (August 14, 2006). "Baseball Plog". Beaver County Times.
- ^ Mike White (August 25, 2005). "Tradition of Western Pennsylvania quarterbacks continues". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ Pitt Chronicle: "Venice, Schmenice"
- ^ Bruce S. Cridlebaugh's website: Bridges and Tunnels of Allegheny County and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- ^ Sister Cities designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI).
- ^ "Special Gift Strengthens Pittsburgh/Israel Connection." Partnership 2000 (July 2001). Retrieved on June 7, 2006.
External links
Definitions from Wiktionary
Media from Commons
News from Wikinews
Quotations from Wikiquote
Texts from Wikisource
Textbooks from Wikibooks
Resources from Wikiversity
- City of Pittsburgh Government
- Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation
- Pittsburgh's Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority
- Template:Wikitravelpar
- Guide to find your way around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- About Pittsburgh - Guide to Pittsburgh & Western PA
- Bridges of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County
- Pittsburgh Photo Gallery
- Pittsburgh Independent Media Center
