Soren S.

Pittsburgh

400 years ago, there was no such thing as Pittsburgh.  Pittsburgh was found by the American Indians because of its beautiful waters, which include 720 rivers.  The natives would settle on the tip of the golden triangle; a level peninsula that is formed by the Allegheny and Monongahela River coming together with the Ohio River. However, it didn’t stay like that for long.  When the British came on November 25, 1758 with General John Forbes they took the land for battle ground.  But, to this day, you can still see where the American Indians settled.  Forbes decided to name this land Pittsburgh after William Pitt, the 1st Earl of Chatham. Pittsburgh is one of the only cities to have an “h” at the end of burg suffix.  Although through 1890-1911 the “h” was removed because President Benjamin Harrison declared the U.S. Board of Geographic names to restore order to naming of cities and other places in the U.S. like lakes and rivers.

Chapter 1

History and Facts

Pittsburgh is now known for being a big manufacturer of steel  and a world leader in organ transplants.  Pittsburgh is also known for being a big sports city.  Home to the six-time Super Bowl Champions, the Steelers, and famous Pirates baseball team and hockey team, the Penguins.  Pittsburgh is known as “the Steel City” and “the City of Bridges”.  This elaborate city includes thirty skyscrapers, two inclined railways, and 446 bridges.  The city is about fifty-five squares miles in area and now has a population of about 305,841.  It is the second largest city in Pennsylvania and number twenty in the country.  

Remember hearing about the american settlers and the golden triangle?  The golden triangle is now a main business section in Pittsburgh.  An interesting fact is that the French and Indian War started in what would become the center of Pittsburgh.  

Chapter 2

Climate

Pittsburgh is a very cold city. It gets an average of 29.3 inches of snow a year.  Pittsburgh gets an average of 36.1 inches of rain a year.  However the average U.S. city gets 25 inches a year.  The city also gets approximately 46 more precipitation days than the average.

In an average city, those 46 precipitation days would be sunny and not rainy or snowy.  If you like snow and cool weather, Pittsburgh is the best city for you.  

Chapter 3

Sports   

In sports,  Pittsburgh mostly started to do well in the Sixties.  The Pirates won the 1960 world series against the New York Yankees on October 5-13 and is remembered as one of the most memorable World Series of all time.  These two teams together had 8 league MVPs (Most Valuable Players). The Pirates with three, Dick Groat in 1960 and also Bill Mazeroski and Roberto Clemente on 1960.  The Yankees had five, Yogi Berra, 1951, 54 and 55.  Bobby Shantz, 1952 Mickey Mantle 1956 57’ 62’.  Roger Maris 1960 and 61’ and lastly,  Elston Howard in 1963.  Can you imagine that?  That is a lot of MVP’s!  The Series was amazing, ending on the first World Series walkoff home run.  A walkoff home run is a homer that ends the game.  The home run is remembered as “The Shot”.  Bill Mazeroski hit the home run, but the surprising thing is, he wasn’t a very good hitter!  Bill was one of the only people to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame who that good of a hitter.  His outstanding fielding kept him a threat.  The Pirates haven’t won a World Series since then.

Bill Mazeroski’s “The Shot”

The Steelers, Pittsburgh’s football team, has remained strong ever since the 1970’s.  On January 27, 1969 Chuck Noll was hired the fourteenth Head Coach of the Steelers.  Right away he made a good impression by picking Charles “Mean Joe” Greene.  Mean Joe would be a Steeler Hall of Famer and the second player to have his number retired (number 75) from the Steelers.  The first was Ernie Stautner, number 70.  Greene was not the only person that Chuck found that made the Hall of Fame.  He also found Terry Bradshaw as a quarterback and placed Mike Webster at center. Lynn Swann and John Stallworth were both wide receivers plus Franco Harris and Robert “Rocky” Bleier as running backs.   

For defense, Noll also got Jack Ham & Jack Lambert as linebackers, plus Mel Blount.  That team won four Super Bowls and was one of the best teams of all time.  

Even after the Chuck Noll era, the Steelers were still a pretty dominant team.  They won two more Super Bowls after that with Ben Roethlisberger.  

If you like hockey, you can try the Penguins.  The Pittsburgh Penguins have won three titles, or Stanley Cups in 92’ and 07’.  There Captain, Sidney Crosby was the second youngest player to win a cup.  They also have stars like Evgeni Malkin,  Chris Kunitz, Marc-Andre Fleury, and Kris Letang.  

Conclusion

Over all, Pittsburgh is a very good city for sports fans, Historians, and cold weather lovers.  Pittsburgh isn’t just urban either, the city is surrounded with small towns, still parts of Pittsburgh.  The amazing city that over 300,000 people call home has something for everyone.