Steel City was born on the back of the metal industry, which helped build America throughout the late 1800’s and early-to-mid 1900’s, leading to Pittsburgh’s role as a major American metropolis. Though the need for steel has tapered some in recent decades, Pittsburgh’s economic growth has continued, making it one of America’s most financially secure cities.
An impressive and vibrant culture has followed. Pittsburgh offers its residents a burgeoning music scene, fine dining, and a feverish football team (aptly named the Steelers), in addition to other amenities.
Scroll down to learn about the pros and cons of Pittsburgh…
Geography of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is located in eastern Pennsylvania at the intersection of two major rivers, the Monogahela and the Allegheny, which form the Ohio River. The area is very hilly, and most of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods include stairs.
The Pittsburgh metropolitan area includes the cities of Brentwood, Baldwin and Franklin Park, and it is home to 2.44 million people.
Positives of Living in Pittsburgh
- Economy – Pittsburgh’s economy is one of the few to survive the economic downturn of 2008. In fact, of all major metropolitan areas, Pittsburgh has performed the best since the crash, so much so that it has seen gains during that time. Pittsburgh is supported by strong technology, healthcare and ironworks industries. A number of Silicon Valley corporations have campuses in Pittsburgh, including Google and Apple.
- Entertainment – Pittsburgh has a strong performance arts community, including the Pittsburgh City Orchestra and the River City Brass Band. It also has an up-and-coming music scene, and it plays host to a number of music fests each year, with music ranging from pop to techno.
- Museums – Pittsburgh has a number of unique museums, including the Andy Warhol Museum and the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History.
- Public Transit – Pittsburgh’s downtown is fed by a number of bridges. Fortunately, it also has a solid subway system. The surrounding suburbs enjoy a good bus system and a light rail system. And don’t forget the Monongahela Incline, which takes people down and up Mount Washington.
Negatives of Living in Pittsburgh
- Weather – Pittsburgh’s weather is bad all year long. It’s freezing cold in the winter, humid and hot in the summer, and prone to thunderstorms and rain in the Spring. Additionally, it is one of the cloudiest places in the US, shortly behind Seattle, with 203 days of full cloud cover, and many more with partial.
- Smog – Pittsburgh’s air quality used to be about that of smoke. Since the 1950’s, the city has purposely undergone a “renaissance”, taking affirmative steps to fix their putrid air. In many ways, it has worked. However, its air quality still ranks among the worst in the nation.
- Sprawl – Pittsburgh’s dense downtown is actually quite small in comparison to the size of the metropolitan area, making walkability difficult for suburbanites.
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