Though it is sometimes not seen as anything more than a hilly landscape with cloudy weather, Pittsburgh offers the perfect mix of an affordable, small-town vibe with world-class, big city amenities.
First, Pittsburgh offers a very different environment from a typical city. Instead of typical repeating city blocks, Pittsburgh is carved up by rivers and hills. There are many small areas of community with their own business districts and architecture, making the whole city feel more like the tight-knit towns that make it up. The intertwining of nature and community softens the urban landscape and makes it feel more homey.
Another attribute of the Steel City is the sports culture. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates draw major tourism and economic benefits, in addition to unifying the city. These teams, especially the Steelers, reflect the grittiness and hardworking spirit of the blue-collar driven city.
In fact, Pittsburgh is the only city in the United States where all of the major professional sports teams share the same primary colors. The cohesive black and gold color palette is not just aesthetically pleasing, but it also symbolizes iron and ore, the two raw materials required to forge steel.
These two colors are seen on the Terrible Towel, a nationally recognized symbol serving as the most iconic fan symbol in all of American sports. All proceeds from purchases of the Terrible Towel go to the Allegheny Valley School, a cause close to founder Myron Cope’s heart, which benefits children with physical and intellectual disabilities. The towel has gone to Mount Everest and into space, and remains a unifying symbol of sports fans and Pittsburgh residents alike.
The city is also a hub of information and research. With universities such as Carnegie Mellon and Pitt, and major health care nonprofits such as UPMC, the city remains a global leader in medical research and life sciences. For example, UPMC operates over 40 hospitals and 800 outpatient sites, making it one of the largest health networks in the country.
The city’s technological innovation actually extends onto the streets of the city. Through Metro21 and Traffic21, Pittsburgh has implemented AI-based traffic lights that adjust in real time with traffic. It is technological advances like this that – despite the gritty and low-key feel of the city – set Pittsburgh apart from other cities.
From the beautiful sights, to the sports culture, to the engineering and technology, Pittsburgh remains one of the best and most commonly overlooked cities to live.
