Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is a city in western Pennsylvania, located at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers to form the Ohio River. It is the county seat of Allegheny County and the central city of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The city is known as the Steel City for its historic role in steel production and as the City of Bridges for its large number of bridges, with a hilly terrain and numerous riverfronts.

Founded in 1758 as Fort Pitt, Pittsburgh grew into a major industrial center in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, driven by steel, rail, and manufacturing. The decline of heavy industry in the late 20th century led to economic diversification into healthcare, education, technology, and services. Today the city remains an important regional hub for transportation, finance, and culture.

Economy and education are anchored by major institutions such as the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). The city supports a growing technology and robotics sector and hosts a variety of corporate and research activities within its universities and medical systems.

Cultural and recreational offerings include the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, the Andy Warhol Museum, Phipps Conservatory, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Notable neighborhoods include Oakland, Downtown, the Strip District, and Shadyside. Major professional sports teams—the Steelers (NFL), Pirates (MLB), and Penguins (NHL)—play in the region and contribute to the city’s cultural identity.

Demographically, the city proper has roughly 300,000 residents, with a metropolitan population around 2.4 million. Pittsburgh is served by the Pittsburgh International Airport and a broad public transit system.