Pittsburgh & Southwestern Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
City and Allegheny County seat
Southwestern Pennsylvania's river city and technology hub
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in Pennsylvania and the seat of Allegheny County, set where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers form the Ohio. Once the center of American steel production, it has rebuilt around universities, hospitals, robotics and software companies, with a compact Golden Triangle downtown and nearly 90 distinct neighborhoods. Its hillsides, bridges, inclines and riverfront trails give the city a look unlike anywhere else in the state.
History & Local Character
Fort Duquesne and later Fort Pitt established the settlement's strategic importance during the French and Indian War. Nineteenth-century iron and steel made Pittsburgh an industrial powerhouse, drawing immigrants from Europe and the American South, while the 20th century brought smoke-control, urban renewal and the university-driven economy that now anchors Oakland and the Strip District.
Housing & Real Estate
The city offers riverfront condominiums, Victorian homes in Shadyside and Squirrel Hill, rowhouses on the South Side and more affordable options in Brookline, Beechview and the Hill District. Prices climb sharply in Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Lawrenceville and Mount Washington.
Restaurants & Shopping
Pittsburgh's food identity runs from Primanti-style sandwiches and pierogies to a serious restaurant scene in Lawrenceville, the Strip District and East Liberty. The Strip's Saturday market blocks and the Bloomfield stretch of Liberty Avenue are local institutions.
Schools & Education
Pittsburgh Public Schools serves the city, and the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon, Duquesne and Chatham shape Oakland and the surrounding neighborhoods. Several nationally recognized private schools operate in the East End.
Parks & Recreation
Schenley, Frick, Highland and Riverview parks together give the city thousands of acres of green space, and Point State Park marks the confluence downtown. The Three Rivers Heritage Trail links riverfronts across the city.
Transportation & Accessibility
Port Authority light rail, buses and the inclines serve the city, and I-376, I-79 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike connect the region. Pittsburgh International Airport is about 20 miles west, and Amtrak's Capitol Limited stops downtown.
Local Businesses
Independent restaurants, shops, breweries and makers cluster in Lawrenceville, the Strip District, Shadyside, South Side and the Mexican War Streets.
Real Estate
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services
119 Gamma Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Professional Services
Reed Smith LLP
225 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Restaurants
Primanti Bros.
46 18th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Professional Services
K&L Gates LLP
210 Sixth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Health & Medical
UPMC Presbyterian
200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Nearby Attractions
- Point State Park
- Carnegie Museum of Natural History
- Phipps Conservatory
- Duquesne Incline
- Strip District
- Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Advantages & Considerations
Advantages
- Strong university, healthcare and technology employment base
- Distinctive, affordable neighborhoods with character
- Extensive park system and riverfront trails
- Comparatively low housing costs for a major U.S. city
Considerations
- Steep hills and river crossings can complicate commutes
- Public transit coverage varies by neighborhood
- Cloud cover is frequent through winter and spring
Frequently Asked Questions
Which rivers meet in Pittsburgh?
The Allegheny and Monongahela rivers join at Point State Park to form the Ohio River.
What are the best-known Pittsburgh neighborhoods?
Downtown, the Strip District, Lawrenceville, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Oakland, the South Side and Mount Washington are among the most visited and best known.