ABOUT THE CITY
Pittsburgh is the largest inland port in the U.S. Pittsburgh is noted for bridges of all types throughout the city and is commonly known as the “The City of Bridges” or “The Bridge Capital” of the U.S.
Though Pittsburgh’s economy was traditionally fueled by heavy manufacturing, today it is largely based on healthcare, education, technology and financial services, while Forbes magazine called it one of cleanest cities in the world.
In 2007, Pittsburgh was named “America’s Most Livable City” by Places Rated Almanac. Because of its low cost of living, economic opportunities, education, transportation and medical infrastructure, Pittsburgh is consistently ranked high in livability surveys.
About Pittsburgh
Nestled in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, Pittsburgh is surrounded by scenic hills and lush valleys. However, Pittsburgh’s beauty goes beyond mere scenery. The culture deftly mixes new and old; the choices and pace of urban life with the comfort and tree-lined quiet from an earlier time.
Pittsburgh has been known as the “Steel City,” “City of Champions,” “City of Bridges,” and, during the heyday of “big steel,” the “Smoky City.” It has had 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. Also with 52 million tons of cargo shipped annually, Pittsburgh has the nation’s second busiest inland port.
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. Colonel Bouquet defeated Pontiac’s forces in the Battle of Bushy Run.
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.
Fast Facts
City Population: 350,363
County Population: 1,336,449
Female: 52.27%
Male: 47.73%
Median Age: 40
Ethnic Makeup:
Afro American: 8.10%
Asian: 1.10%
Hispanic: 0.70%
Native American: 0.10%
White/Caucasian: 89.50%
Median Housing Price: $162,000
Sales Tax Rate: 7%
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.
Bloomfield
Just east of Downtown Pittsburgh, Bloomfield’s colorful mix of shops and restaurants attracts thousands of visitors from around the region. The Liberty Avenue district boasts more than 200 businesses, including several dozen retail shops and two dozen food establishments – many with Italian cuisine.
Climate
| Month | Avg Hi | Avg Lo | Avg Precip |
| Jan | 37°F | 20°F | 2.59 in. |
| Feb | 39°F | 21°F | 2.47 in. |
| Mar | 50°F | 29°F | 3.24 in. |
| Apr | 62°F | 38°F | 3.07 in. |
| May | 71°F | 48°F | 4.04 in. |
| Jun | 80°F | 56°F | 3.93 in. |
| Jul | 85°F | 62°F | 3.90 in. |
| Aug | 83°F | 60°F | 3.15 in. |
| Sep | 76°F | 53°F | 3.13 in. |
| Oct | 64°F | 41°F | 2.35 in. |
| Nov | 53°F | 33°F | 3.05 in. |
| Dec | 42°F | 25°F | 2.86 in. |
By Car
Interstates 76 and 79 run north-south to the east and west of Pittsburgh. Branching off from I-79 into the city proper is I-279, which loops in from the west and then heads back out to reconnect with I-79. I-279 is known as Parkway North when it’s north of downtown, and Parkway West when it’s southwest.
Interstate 376 snakes off of I-76 where it connects with I-279 near downtown. It’s known as Parkway East.
The roads in Pittsburgh are convoluted and can be confusing even for natives, so it’s a good idea to have a good map in your car. If you do find yourself lost, look for one of the colored “Belt” signs. A sign would say “Red Belt,” or any other color, and then have an arrow to follow to stay on the belt. Stick on the belt, and it should lead to a major road.
Voter Registration
The Allegheny County Election Division
(412) 350-4500
604 County Office Building
542 Forbes Street
Pittsburgh, PA
www.alleghenycounty.us/elect
In order to vote in a local, state, or national election in Pennsylvania, you must register to vote. Deadline for registration in an election is 30 days prior.
You may register in person at the Allegheny County Election Division or by mail. Registration cards are available from the Division of Elections, local municipality offices, public libraries, driver photo centers, or at the LWV Community Information Center.
Public Transportation
Port Authority
(412) 442-2000
www.portauthority.org
The Port Authority runs a bus and light rail system that functions reliably. It’s service area is within Pittsburgh and surrounding communities. Travel within the Downtown is free, otherwise it’s $1.75 within the city and surrounding suburbs. Transfer tickets are available for 50 cents, and are good for 3 hours.
Between 7 pm and 4 am, all fares are paid when you board the bus. Otherwise, fares headed toward downtown are paid when you board, and those heading away are paid when you exit the bus.
The Port Authority’s website has more information on fares and schedules, as does Google Transit.
Inter-City Transportation
Amtrak (800) 872-7245
Greyhound Bus (800) 231-2222
Service from City to numerous locations throughout the United States.
Air Transportation
Pittsburgh International Airport
(412) 472-3525
www.pitairport.com
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is a world-class facility that accommodates more than 11 million travelers in nearly 270,000 aircraft operations per year.
Rental Cars
Advantage
(800)777-5500
www.arac.com
Alamo
(800) 462-5266
www.alamo.com
Avis
(800) 331-1212
www.avis.com
Budget
(800) 527-0700
www.budget.com
Dollar
(800) 800-4000
www.dollar.com
Enterprise
(800) 736-8222
www.enterprise.com
Hertz
(800) 654-3131
www.hertz.com
National
(800) 227-7368
www.nationalcar.com
Thrifty
(800) 367-2277
www.thrifty.com
Taxis & Shuttles
Checker Cab (412) 664-5600
Yellow Cab Co. of Pittsburgh (412) 321-8100
Airlines Transportation Company (412) 321-8147
Airport Orbit (724) 794-3951
Pittsburgh North Aire-Ride (800) 647-4331
Pittsburgh Transportation Company (412) 322-8596
Allegheny County Airport
(412) 461-4300
www.pitairport.com
Allegheny County Airport (AGC), West Mifflin, PA, is the fifth busiest airport in Pennsylvania. The number of operations, 139,000 takeoffs and landings per year-outpaces several airports that handle commercial or scheduled flights in Pennsylvania.
Local Phone Numbers
Area Code(s)
| Pittsburgh Area Codes | |
| Metro Pittsburg | 412 and 878 |
| Pittsburgh suburbs | 724 and 878 |
| Emergency | |
| Emergency | 911 |
| Emergency Medical Services | (412) 622-6931 |
| Fire Bureau | (412) 255-2860 |
| Police Bureau | (412) 255-2814 |
| Financial Services | |
| Automatic Teller Information | |
| ATM Locator | (800) 248-4286 |
| MasterCrd ATM | (800) 424-7787 |
| VISA Plus System | (800) 843-7587 |
| Lost or Stolen Credit Cards | |
| American Express | (800) 233-5432 |
| AT&T Universal Card | (800) 423-4343 |
| Diners Club | (800) 234-6377 |
| Discover Card | (800) 347-2683 |
| JCB | (800) 736-8111 |
| MasterCard | (800) 826-2181 |
| VISA | (800) 336-8472 |
| Lost or Stolen Travelers Checks | |
| American Express | (800) 221-7282 |
| Thomas Cook MasterCard | (800) 223-7373 |
| Travelers Check Customer Service | (800) 645-6556 |
| VISA | (800) 227-6811 |
| Government | |
| City Clerk’s Office | (412) 255-2138 |
| City Controller | (412) 255-2054 |
| City Council | (412) 255-2142 |
| City Information Systems | (412) 255-2152 |
| City Planning Department | (412) 255-2200 |
| Commission on Human Relations | (412) 255-2600 |
| Department of Health | (724) 684-2945 |
| Engineering and Construction | (412) 255-8850 |
| Finance Department | (412) 255-2494 |
| General Services | (412) 255-2330 |
| Law Department | (412) 255-2015 |
| Magistrate’s Court | (412) 255-2607 |
| Mayor’s Office | (412) 255-2626 |
| Office of Municipal Investigations | (412) 255-2804 |
| Parking Authority | (412) 560-7275 |
| Parks and Recreation | (412) 255-2539 |
| Personnel and Civil Service Commission | (412) 255-2710 |
| Pittsburgh Dog License | (412) 255-2575 |
| Public Safety | (412) 255-2963 |
| Public Works | (412) 255-2790 |
| Vehicle Emissions Inspection | (800) 265-0921 |
| Hospitals | |
| Allegheny County Hospital | (412) 350-1067 |
| 400 Fort Pitt Blvd | |
| Children’s Hospital-Pittsburgh | (412) 692-5325 |
| 3705 5th Ave # 4a-480 | |
| Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh | (412) 232-8111 |
| 1350 Locust St | |
| Saint Clair Memorial Hospital | (412) 572-6560 |
| 1050 Bower Hill Rd | |
| Suburban General Hospital | (412) 734-6000 |
| 100 S Jackson Ave | |
| University of Pittsburgh Phys | (412) 647-2345 |
| 200 Lothrop St # S410 | |
| Service/Support Groups | |
| A Center for Alcohol & Drug Treatment (24hr) | (412) 355-0332 |
| Aids Alliance Hotline Aids Task Force | (412) 471-0101 |
| American Association of Retired Persons | (412) 261-5297 |
| ARC Allegheny Association for Retarded Citizens | (412) 995-5000 |
| Center for Victims of Violent Crime | (412) 392-8582 |
| Consumers Hotline | (800) 946-3627 |
| Contact Pittsburgh Crisis Hotlines | (412) 820-4357 |
| Crime Watch Hotline | (412) 271-6666 |
| Greater Pittsburg Guild for the Blind | (412) 682-5600 |
| Legal Hotline for Older Americans | (412) 261-5297 |
| Ronald McDonald House | (412) 362-3400 |
| Safe Hotline | (412) 687-7233 |
| Southwestern | (412) 665-6706 |
| United Way Helpline | (412) 255-1155 |
| Utilities | |
| Electric | |
| Dqe Energy Service | (412) 322-0100 |
| Gas | |
| Carnegie Natural Gas Company | (412) 655-8510 |
| CNG Power Svc Company | (412) 227-1090 |
| Consolidated Natural Gas Company | (412) 227-1000 |
| Equitable Gas Company | (412) 395-3000 |
| Peoples Natural Gas Company | (412) 244-2626 |
| Refuse | |
| Merit Sanitation Svc | (412) 653-1445 |
| Pittsburgh Recycling | (412) 391-3100 |
| Telephone | |
| National Telecom | (412) 343-2179 |
| RNC | (412) 937-9800 |
| Water and Refuse | |
| Public Works, www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us | (412) 255-2790 |
Television
| 2 | KDKA | CBS |
| 4 | WTAE | ABC |
| 11 | WPXI | NBC |
| 13 | WQED | PBS |
| 16 | WQEX | America’s Store |
| 19 | WPCW | UPN |
| 22 | WPMY | WB |
| 25 | KDKA | CBS |
| 25 | W25AX | WBGN |
| 26 | WQEX | America’s Store |
| 30 | WBPA | UPN |
| 35 | WBYD | ACN |
| 38 | WQED | PBS |
| 40 | WPCB | Cornerstone |
| 42 | WPMY | WB |
| 43 | WPGH | FOX |
| 48 | WPXI | NBC |
Radio
| FM Radio Stations | ||
| 88.3 | WRCT | Adult Album Alternative |
| 89.3 | WQED-FM | Public Radio |
| 90.5 | WDUQ | Public Radio/Jazz |
| 91.3 | WYEP-FM | Adult Album Alternative |
| 91.9 | WCAL | Modern Rock |
| 92.1 | WPTS-FM | Adult Album Alternative |
| 92.9 | WLTJ | Soft Adult Contemporary |
| 93.7 | WBZW | Contemporary Hit Radio |
| 94.5 | WWSW-FM | Oldies |
| 96.1 | WKST-FM | Contemporary Hit Radio |
| 96.9 | WRRK | Adult Hits |
| 97.7 | WLER-FM | Adult Contemporary |
| 98.3 | WOGI | Country |
| 99.7 | WSHH | Soft Adult Contemporary |
| 100.7 | WZPT | Hot Adult Contemporary |
| 101.5 | WORD-FM | Religious/Contemporary Christian |
| 102.5 | WDVE | Active Rock |
| 104.7 | WPGB | News/Talk/Sports |
| 105.9 | WXDX-FM | Modern Rock |
| 107.9 | WDSY-FM | Country |
| AM Radio Stations | ||
| 620 | WKHB | Full Service |
| 680 | WISR | Full Service |
| 730 | WPIT | Religious/Talk |
| 770 | WKFB | Oldies |
| 810 | WEDO | Brokered Variety |
| 860 | WAMO | Urban Contemporary |
| 940 | WFGI | Country |
| 970 | WBGG | Sports |
| 1020 | KDKA | News/Talk |
| 1050 | WBUT | Country |
| 1080 | WWNL | Religious |
| 1150 | WGBN | Black Gospel |
| 1250 | WEAE | Sports |
| 1320 | WJAS | Adult Standards |
| 1360 | WMNY | Business Talk |
| 1410 | KQV | All News |
| 1510 | WPGR | Black Gospel/Religious |
| 1550 | WLFP | Business News/Talk |
| 1590 | WZUM | Catholic Religious |
Newspapers
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
503 Martindale St., 3rd floor,
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
(412) 321-6460
www.triblive.com
The Pittsburgh area’s second largest newspaper out of Greensburg offers daily news, sports, entertainment and more for Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Includes zoned newspaper sections for residents in the North, East, South and West Pittsburgh.
Post-Gazette
34 Blvd. of the Allies
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(800) 228-NEWS (6397)
www.post-gazette.com
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was founded in 1786 and is now the oldest newspaper in the United States west of the Allegheny Mountains. It also tops the list of Pittsburgh newspapers with the largest circulation.
Pittsburgh Business Times
2313 East Carson Street
Suite 200
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
(412) 481-6397
www.bizjournals.com
As a subscriber to Pittsburgh Business Times, you’ll immediately have access to local business news and information that’ll keep you ahead of your competition.
Museums
The Andy Warhol Museum
(412) 237-8300
117 Sandusky Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
www.warhol.org
In the city where Andy Warhol was born and raised, The Andy Warhol Museum houses a large and diverse collection of Warhol’s works of art and personal archives. The Warhol also presents special exhibitions of issues and images related to Warhol, and some of new or other artists’ work.
Carnegie Museum of Art
(412) 622-3131
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Oakland District. Tues-Sat: 10 am – 5 pm; Sun: 1 pm – 5 pm. New rates: $8 for adults. $5 for children 3-18. $5 for college students with valid I.D. $5 for adults 65 and over. Admission includes Museum of Natural History.
Performing Arts
Benedum Center for Performing Arts
(412) 456-6666
Seventh Street and Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Host to Civic Light Opera, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Pittsburgh Dance Council, Pittsburgh Opera and Broadway Series.
Broadway Series – Pittsburgh
(412) 392-3300
719 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Gets some of the top shows on Broadway to perform in Pittsburgh.
Sports
Pittsburgh Penguins
(412) 642-PENS
Mellon Arena
The Penguins, winner of 2 Stanley Cups in 1991 & 1992, home of hockey legendary Mario Lemieux.
Pittsburgh Pirates
(412) 323-5000
PNC Park
http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com
MLB World Series Champions in 1909, 1925, 1960, 1971 & 1979.
Recreation
Depreciation Lands Museum
(412) 486-0563
4743 Pioneer Road, P.O.Box 174
Allison Park, PA 15101
The Depreciation Lands Museum occupies about five acres of land, and highlights: An authentic log cabin – fashioned after how pioneers lived, a replica of a mid 1800 one room school house, a blacksmith shop similar to that in the pioneer days, a wagon house – housing a Conestoga wagon along with tools, an annex building from which programs are conducted, and an Herb/Dye garden is also a part of the property.
Idlewild Park
(724) 238-3666
Route 30, East
Ligonier, PA 15658
www.idlewild.com
Shopping
Century III Mall
(412) 653-1220
3075 Clairton Boulevard
West Mifflin, PA 15123
The mall has more than 180 specialty stores and services, including Kaufmann’s, JC Penney, Sears, Kaufmann’s.
Monroeville Mall
(412) 243-8511
200 Monroeville Mall
Monroeville, PA
www.monroevillemall.com
Monroeville Mall offers fashion, fun and food for everyone with 4 anchor stores and over 120 shops and restaurants. It also has a kid’s play area.
Education
Community Colleges
Community colleges exist for two major purposes. The first is to serve as a bridge from high school to college by providing courses for transfer toward a bachelor’s degree. Four out of 10 collegebound high-school graduates start their college education this way.
The second function of community colleges is to prepare students for the job market by offering entry-level career training as well as courses for adult students who want to upgrade their skills for the workplace. They often offer programs that are not available at four-year schools, like fashion design.
Art Institute of Pittsburgh
(412) 291-6232
420 Boulevard of the Allies
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Downtown district. Video, computer animation, fashion and commercial art courses. Mostly associate degree programs; some diplomas.
Liberal Arts Colleges
Liberal arts colleges offer a broad base of courses in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Most are private and focus mainly on undergraduate students. Classes tend to be small and personal attention is available.
Online Learning
Recent years have witnessed the rise of online degree programs, to allow the busy professional a chance to work at their own pace from the comfort of their home on the path to getting a degree. The costs to students are typically the same as for traditional classes— and financial aid is equally available—while the cost to the institution can be much less.
There are online universities ranging from legitimate distance learning systems to fly-by-night degree-mills. It’s important to research a particular institution before deciding to enroll in their system. Generally, brick-and-mortar schools that also offer online classes are the safest, though there are plenty of fully accredited online universities out there.
Nearly 3 million students are believed to be taking online classes at institutions of higher education in the United States this year. That number has been growing about 25% a year recently. Now, virtually all public higher education institutions, as well as a vast majority of private, for-profit institutions, now offer online classes. By contrast, only about half of private, nonprofit schools offer them. Online schools offer everything from Associate’s degrees to Doctoral programs with available emphases in everything from Business Administration to Criminal Justice to Nursing. Some programs require students to attend some campus classes or orientations, but many are delivered completely online. Online courses generally require a computer with a broadband connection, but are now a serious option for the busy professional.
Public vs. Private
Public colleges are usually less expensive, particularly for in-state residents. They get most of their money from the state or local government. Private colleges rely on tuition, fees, endowments, and other private sources. Private colleges are usually smaller and can offer more personalized attention and often more prestige.
Universities
Generally, a university is bigger than a college and offers more majors and research facilities. Class size often reflects institutional size and some classes may taught by graduate students.
Carlow University 2006
(800) 333-CARLOW
3333 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
www.carlow.edu
A private, four-year, Catholic, liberal arts university primarily for women.
Carnegie Mellon University
(412) 268-2000
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
www.cmu.edu
Throughout its evolution from trade school to internationally prominent research university, Carnegie Mellon has remained true to three primary objectives: to deliver distinctive, first-quality education; to foster research, creativity and discovery; and to use the new knowledge created on campus to serve society.
Duquesne University
(412) 396-6000, (800) 456-0590
600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
www.duq.edu
Duquesne has been identified as one of the best values in higher education, while rising to become one of the top ten Catholic universities in the nation.
University of Pittsburgh
(412) 624-4141
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
www.pitt.edu
University of Pittsburgh system consists of the 132-acre Pittsburgh campus and regional campuses in Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown, and Titusville.
Upper Division
Upper-division schools offer the last two years of undergraduate study, usually in specialized programs leading to a bachelor’s degree. Students then generally transfer to an upper-division college after completing an associate degree or after finishing a second year of study at a four-year college.
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