POPULATION: 1,733,853 (Urban), 2,360,867 (Metro) | TIME ZONE: Eastern | CLIMATE: Humid continental transitioning to humid subtropical (four distinct seasons: cold, cloudy, winters with moderate snow, mild spring and fall with moderate sunshine, warm to hot and humid, sunny summers)
You’re pronouncing the name Pittsburgh all wrong. In 1758, Scotsman General John Forbes named Pittsburgh in honor of British Secretary of State William Pitt. The Scotsman probably intended Pittsburgh to be pronounced PITS-burra, like the Scottish city of Edinburgh. But the American English tongue won out. And actually, the H on the end of Pittsburgh was dropped in 1890. But by 1911, popular opinion reversed that decision. The United States Board on Geographic Names put the H back in place. More than you ever wanted to know.
Pittsburgh's early history is steeped in conflict. In the mid-1750s, likely inspired by the prior expeditions of explorer Robert de La Salle, French soldiers were sent here to explore. Then, very quickly, the British moved in and built Fort Prince George. The French then drove them out and built Fort Duquesne. Next came the French and Indian War and, on its heels, the Seven Years' War. British Major George Washington helped take Fort Duquesne from the French. The French then beat back the British and the colonials. General Forbes eventually beat back the French and built Fort Pitt. Next came Pontiac's Rebellion, with native tribes putting Fort Pitt under siege for two months. Fort Pitt is notable as the origination point of the myth of biological warfare through smallpox blankets. (Yes, its a myth. Separated from it's human host, the smallpox virus dies within about six minutes. The British and Europeans in the New World were very good at spreading around the deadly smallpox virus all by themselves without the aid of blankets.)
NICKNAME(S)
Steel City
City of Bridges
City of Champions
The Burgh
MOTTO(S)
Benigno Numine ("With the Benevolent Deity" or "By the Favor of the Heavens.")
RANDOM SONG ABOUT THE CITY
Pittsburgh by Pete Seeger
PRO SPORTS TEAMS
Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB)
Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)
Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL)
Pittsburgh Passion (WFA)
Steel City Yellow Jackets (ABA)
Pittsburgh Force (WFA)
Pittsburgh COLTS (GDFL)
ALSO KNOWN FOR...
Steel
The world's first retractable dome
The world's first nuclear submarine engine
Invention of the pull-tab can
KDKA, the world's first broadcast radio station
Public televisions birthplace
Most bars per capita in the U.S.
The country's first drive-in gas station
The worlds first movie theater
Home of the emoticon
Klondike Bars
Heinz Ketchup
Papa John Creach, Bret Michaels, Christina Aguilera, Henry Mancini, Mark Cuban, David O. Selznick, Gene Kelly, Dan Marino, H.J. Heinz, Gertrude Stein, Holly Hunter, Dean Martin, Jane Pauley, George Romero, Harry & Jack Warner, Art Blakey, Errol Garner, Billy Strayhorn, Nancy Wilson, Phillip Glass, Maria von Trapp, Martha Graham, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, David McCullough, August Wilson, Ken Griffey, Sr., Ken Griffey, Jr., Pete Maravich, Willard Rockwell, Andrew Carnegie, Andrew & William Mellon, George Westinghouse, Admiral Robert Peary