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==Sports==
==Sports==
:''Main Article: [[Pittsburgh Sports]]''
:''Main Article: [[Pittsburgh 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 [[University of Pittsburgh Panthers|Pitt Panthers]] have won multiple national titles in both football and men's basketball. The Pittsburgh region also has developed the most NFL Hall of Famers, including, among many others, [[Dan Marino]], [[Joe Montana]], [[Johnny Unitas]] and [[Curtis Martin]]; a long list of baseball stars such as [[Ken Griffey]], [[Stan Musial]], and [[Honus Wagner]] and basketball stars such as [[Maravich]], [[Daly]], and [[Karl]]. There have also been numerous Olympic medal winners such as wrestler [[Kurt Angel]]. For these reasons, Pittsburgh has been called the "City of Champions."
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 [[University of Pittsburgh Panthers|Pitt Panthers]] have won multiple national titles in both football and men's basketball. The Pittsburgh region also has developed the most NFL Hall of Famers, including, among many others, [[Dan Marino]], [[Joe Montana]], [[Johnny Unitas]] and [[Curtis Martin]]; a long list of baseball stars such as [[Ken Griffey]], [[Stan Musial]], and [[Honus Wagner]] and basketball stars such as [[Maravich]], [[Daly]], and [[Karl]]. There have also been numerous Olympic medal winners such as wrestler [[Kurt Angle]]. For these reasons, Pittsburgh has been called the "City of Champions."


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Revision as of 09:56, 22 June 2006

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh skyline
Pittsburgh skyline
Flag of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Flag
Official seal of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Seal
Nickname: 
The Steel City
Location in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Location in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Country
State
County		United States
Pennsylvania
Allegheny County
Founded1758
Government
 • MayorBob O'Connor (D)
Population
 (2000)
 • City334,563
 • Metro
2,358,695
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Websitewww.city.pittsburgh.pa.us

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

History

Main Article: History of Pittsburgh

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."[1]

During Pontiac's Rebellion, Ohio Valley and Great Lakes tribes besieged Fort Pitt for two months.[2]. Colonel Bouquet defeated Pontiac's forces in the Battle of Bushy Run. [3]

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. In 1845, a great fire burned over a thousand buildings. The city rebuilt, and by 1857, Pittsburgh's nearly 1,000 factories burned 22,000,000 bushels of coal yearly.

Monongahela River Scene, 1857[4]

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[1] 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 I. 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, corporate headquarters, tourism, medicine and high technology.

During this transition, the city population has shrunk from 680,000 in 1950 to 330,000 in 2000.

Geography

Pittsburgh 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, with a total area of 151.1 km² (58.3 mi²), 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. Template:Mapit-US-cityscale

Climate

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

File:P5230052.JPG
The Golden Triangle, from the Roberto Clemente Bridge (6th St) Bridge.

Demographics

The 2000 census calculated that there were approximately 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% White, 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. [5]

Local dialect

Main Article: Pittsburgh English

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.[6]

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".

Speakers of the dialect also often compress the pronunciation of words and phrases. For example, "up there" becomes "up er." Speakers also often end a sentence with "and that", pronounced as, "n'at." For example, a local "yinzer" might say, "We went dahntahn to go get some beer n'at."

Neighborhoods

See also: List of Pittsburgh 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.


Famous Pittsburghers

See also: List of famous people from Pittsburgh

The following are either native-born Pittsburghers, or people who lived for a significant period in the Pittsburgh region: Christina Aguilera, Benny Benack, George Benson, Art Blakey, Charles Bronson, Rachel Carson, Andrew Carnegie, Michael Chabon, Stephen Chbosky, Lou Christie, David Conrad, Eddie Costa, Dolores Costello, Ted Danson, Stephen Foster, Martha Graham, Jeff Goldblum, Henry J. Heinz, Donnie Iris, Ahmad Jamal, Melina Kanakaredes, Michael Keaton, Gene Kelly, John Kyser, Henry Mancini, Dean Martin, Andrew Mellon, Kurt Angle, Dennis Miller, Demi Moore, Robert Peary, Trent Reznor, Fred Rogers, George Romero, Gertrude Stein, Jimmy Stewart, Sharon Stone, Andy Warhol, and August Wilson.

Sports celebrities who are from Pittsburgh or lived in Pittsburgh for a significant time include: Jerome Bettis, Sean Casey, Roberto Clemente, Myron Cope, Bill Cowher, Mark Cuban, Mike Ditka, Tony Dorsett, Franco Harris, Jim Haslett, Mike Lange, Mario Lemieux, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Stan Musial, Pete Halesey, Joe Namath, Chuck Noll, Arnold Palmer, Lynn Swann, Johnny Unitas, and Honus Wagner.

Culture

Main Article: 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.

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 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:

Pittsburgh houses the country's National Aviary. The Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens features a Victorian-style greenhouse.

Pittsburgh Foods and Drinks

Sports

Main Article: Pittsburgh 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 the most NFL Hall of Famers, including, among many others, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas and Curtis Martin; a long list of baseball stars such as Ken Griffey, Stan Musial, and Honus Wagner and basketball stars such as Maravich, Daly, and Karl. There have also been 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 Logo Pittsburgh Steelers American Football National Football League; AFC Heinz Field Super Bowl: 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2005
Pittsburgh Pirates Logo Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Major League Baseball; NL PNC Park World Series: 1909, 1925, 1960, 1971, 1979
Pittsburgh Penguins Logo Pittsburgh Penguins Ice Hockey National Hockey League; Eastern Mellon Arena Stanley Cup: 90-91, 91-92
Pittsburgh Xplosion Logo Pittsburgh Xplosion Basketball American Basketball Association Mellon Arena
Petersen Events Center
Pittsburgh Riverhounds Logo Pittsburgh Riverhounds Soccer USL Second Division Falconi Field
Pittsburgh Passion Logo Pittsburgh Passion American Football National Women's Football Association George K. Cupples Stadium

Politics

Henry Hobson Richardson's Allegheny County Courthouse

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

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. A majority of Pittsburghers in the inner-city are strongly democratic and pro-civil rights, while the suburbs tend to be Republican and conservative. Socially liberal, the city has an ordinance protecting GLBT citizens from discrimination. As the only city within a 200 mile radius with such protections, it has become a beacon for those who identify themselves as GLBT.

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 city is currently facing a financial crisis. Pennsylvania has declared the city a "distressed municipality." Although the cause of the city's budget shortfall is debated, many cite the success of the medical and academic sectors, which is a mixed blessing for the city, 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 did finish 2005 with a $15 million surplus. Other possible outcomes of the financial crisis are tax increases and reforms such as city-county consolidation.

City Services

Pittsburgh has consistently ranked as the safest big-city in the nation. The Pittsburgh Police Bureau is the law enforcement arm of the city.

The Pittsburgh Fire Bureau is the major emergency response unit in Western Pennsylvania

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

See also: List of major corporations in Pittsburgh

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, SKGlaxo and Lanxess. Northeast U.S. regional headquarters for Nova Chemicals, FedEx, Ariba, Rand, US Airways and National City. Guru.com, 84 Lumber, Giant Eagle and Rue 21 are major non-public companies with headquarters in the region.

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 Cathedral of Learning of University of Pittsburgh is the second highest educational building in the world and a distinct landmark in the region.

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 [1] engineering school, and its top five [2] 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. Carnegie Mellon University is affiliated with 13 Nobel laureates, 9 Turing Award recipients, 3 Academy Award recipients, 5 Emmy Award recipients, and 3 Tony Award recipients.

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 of Pittsburgh is affiliated with two Nobel laureates and one Pulitzer Prize recipient. 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 organ transplantation, AIDS and cancer research, and many other fields. University of Pittsburgh's School of Medicine is ranked amongst the top 16 graduate medical programs nationally [3].

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, Central Catholic High School, which is run by the Christian order of Lasallian Brothers. 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 the heart of Oakland. Other notable high schools in Pittsburgh include The Ellis School, another all-girls school.

List of colleges and universities in Pittsburgh

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" TV station, and "mid-western" newspaper. It is one of the few mid-sized metros 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, Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, and the Pittsburgh Courier, one of the larger ethnic publications in the region. The Pitt News, a financially independent, student-written, and student-managed newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh, is closing in on its 100th year of publication.

The Pittsburgh TV Market is served by CBS O&O KDKA-TV Channel 2, ABC affiliate WTAE Channel 4, and NBC affiliate WPXI Channel 11. WQED Channel 13 is Pittsburgh'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 home-shopping WQEX Channel 16, WPCW Channel 19, WPMY Channel 22, religious WPCB Channel 40, and Fox affiliate WPGH Channel 53. Most of these television channels are also locally broadcasted in HD.

Pittsburgh Radio has long been dominated by KDKA 1020 AM, although as of early 2006, the station is no longer number one 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 legendary 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.

Pop City is a weekly online magazine with news about growth and investment in Pittsburgh including neighborhoods guides.

Oudoor 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.

See also: Pittsburgh Newspapers, Pittsburgh FM Stations, Pittsburgh AM Stations, and Pittsburgh TV Stations

Transportation

Main article Pittsburgh 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.

The city is served by Pittsburgh International Airport in Findlay Township, Pennsylvania. 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 [4].

See also: Pittsburgh Bridges

Port Authority Transit of Allegheny County, or "PATransit," is an urban mass transit system in the United States. According to the Port Authority, the average wait-time for a bus is over 30 minutes. Buses can take anywhere from 10 to 25 minutes to get from one neighborhood to the next. PATransit runs a network of intracity bus routes, two funiculars on Mt. 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.

Name and spelling

Main Article: Name of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is one of the few U.S. cities to be spelled with an h at the end of a burg suffix. Sometimes referred to as "Pittsburg" during the 19th century, in 1911, the Pittsburgh spelling was officially restored.[7]

Sister cities

Pittsburgh has fourteen sister cities:[8]

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.[9] 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.

Points of interest

References

  1. ^ a b "Pittsburgh, The Story of an American City," 5th edition, Stefan Lorant, Esselmont Books, LLC., Pittsburgh, PA, 1999.
  2. ^ Fort Pitt Museum
  3. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition article on Pittsburgh
  4. ^ Ballou's Pictorial, issue of 21 Feb 1857
  5. ^ http://www.pittsburgh-region.org/public/cfm/d_and_d/index.cfm?FUSEACTION=FBICrime Last visited 11 June, 2006.
  6. ^ http://english.cmu.edu/pittsburghspeech/overview.html. Last visited 5/25/2006.
  7. ^ "How to Spell Pittsburgh." Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Retrieved on June 7, 2006.
  8. ^ Sister Cities designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI).
  9. ^ "Special Gift Strengthens Pittsburgh/Israel Connection." Partnership 2000. July, 2001. Retrieved on June 7, 2006.

See also

External links

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