Pittsburgh, once referred to as "the smoky city" and "hell with the lid off" because of its sooty factories, is a modern success story. Air quality controls, stream purification laws, and the razing and redesign of congested areas since World War II have resulted in a city that surprises first-time visitors.
However, Pittsburgh has been a culturally diverse city since its origin in the 1700's. Its earliest settlers were French, English, and Scottish, and the population grew over the next two centuries to include more than 25 ethnic groups. With more than five dozen distinct neighborhoods, Pittsburgh has been called the biggest small town in America. Each year, communities hold a variety of ethnic festivals celebrating these different cultures and their many contributions to Western Pennsylvania. The celebrations range from parish food festivals to the nationally-recognized Pittsburgh Folk Festival.
Pittsburgh also has a strong religious heritage. Its earliest settlers were mostly Protestant, followed by the Catholic and Jewish faiths of the southern and eastern European immigrants who flocked to Western Pennsylvania in the late 1800's. The area's continuing growth as a medical, educational and research center brings new residents and their ethnic and religious heritages to the area. As a result, symbols of faith, which include churches, synagogues, Hindu temples, and a Moslem mosque abound as important parts of the landscape. Pittsburgh is a unique city with a proud past and an exciting future
Population Statistics in
- White Non-Hispanic (66.9%)
- Black (27.1%)
- Two or more races (1.6%)
- Hispanic (1.3%)
- Chinese (0.9%)
- Other race (0.7%)
- American Indian (0.7%)
- Asian Indian (0.6%)
information obtained from: pennsylvania.itypeusa.com/
