Education

Founded in 1758, Pittsburgh today boasts a population of some 350,000. In frontier times nicknamed "The Gateway to the West," Pittsburgh is also known as "The City of Bridges" and "The Steel City" for its many bridges and former steel manufacturing base. Today the city's economy is largely based on healthcare, education, technology, robotics, and financial services.
Pittsburgh's Recognition

• In September 2009 President Barack Obama hosted the G20 global economic summit in Pittsburgh.

• In 2009 Pittsburgh was named the #1 Most Livable City in America by The Economist.

• Pittsburgh is the city of champions, home to NFL champion Pittsburgh Steelers and NHL champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

• Pittsburgh is known for its low crime rates.

A vibrant city made up of numerous distinctive neighborhoods, Pittsburgh's heart is the Golden Triangle, encompassing Point State Park, where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet to form the Ohio River, and the bustling streets and buzzing office buildings of Downtown. Uptown features campuses of Duquesne University and Robert Morris University and leads to the East End neighborhoods. Across the rivers are the neighborhoods of North Side, South Side, and West End. The AGH-WPH Medical Education Consortium campus is located on the North Side.

Pittsburghers are dedicated to their sports teams, and its major-league clubs — the Steelers of the NFL, the Penguins of the NHL, and the Pirates of the MLB — have taken the City's official colors of black and gold as their own.

On the arts front, Pittsburgh boasts the world-class Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, which performs in beautiful Heinz Hall located in downtown's Cultural District. Also in the Cultural District are the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts, official home of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and the Civic Light Opera; the Byham, O'Reilly, and Harris theaters; and the Wood Street Galleries. Nearby cultural attractions include the Carnegie Museums (The Andy Warhol Museum on the North Side, Carnegie Museum of Art and Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Oakland, and Carnegie Science Center on the North Shore). Add in the many music festivals held annually, numerous dance companies performing around the area, and art galleries galore, and Pittsburgh can satisfy just about any taste in the arts.

To get the flavor of Pittsburgh through its publications, check out the many daily and neighborhood newspapers and the monthly Pittsburgh Magazine, with guides to restaurants, events, and shopping and information about local healthcare, education, transportation, and other topics. Also, check out Visit Pittsburgh and The Pittsburgh Portal. Pittsburghers hope you enjoy your virtual tour and will come to visit us in the near future!