Cities like Pittsburgh (Houston, Oakland, Portland: Home Depot, job market, landscaping)

[npa412]

I'm 30 years old and have lived in Pittsburgh since I was 5. I was always curious if there is such a thing as a similar city as Pittsburgh (sized the same or larger) that meets the following criteria, which I feel Pittsburgh is representative of:
1) geographic diversity; the other city would need to have hills/mountains and some sort of water (rivers, ocean, large lake, etc.); flat terrain and straight roads are boring
2) diverse climate; preferably, four seasons (or some semblance thereof); needs sun, rain, snow, and be cloudy every one in a while; natural surroundings should change with the seasons
3) ethnic non-diversity; yes, you read that correctly; don't get me wrong, I have nothing wrong with foreigners, per se, as I am a native foreigner myself, but I have a problem with hearing people speak a foreign language in public or outwardly exhibiting their foreign culture (my parents felt strongly about being "Americanized" and didn't speak their native tongue in public and learned to adopt the language and customs of America - yes, yes, I know we don't have an official language); I feel that Pittsburgh is the antithesis of Orange County.

In Pittsburgh, if I want to see a foreigner, I need to go to my local authentic Mexican restaurant or visit my Costco on the weekend. Where the heck are the foreigners in Pittsburgh (outside of those in the East End associated with the universities). My brother and I play "Spot the Foreigner" game and we have yet to fill up our ethnic bingo cards.

But I digress! So, any similar cities out there that would be considered to be filled with non-progressive backwards thinking yinzers like me?

[grimacista]

I have no idea about its ethnic diversity but Cincinnati has hills/rivers like Pittsburgh and has reasonably similar climate as well.

[CortlandGirl79]

Cleveland probably fits most of your criteria, although it's probably a little too flat for you the east side has rolling hills and the metro parks are awesome.

[BrianTH]

I'd also nominate Cincinnati. And in fact among the Top 25 Metros, it is next after Pittsburgh in terms of the lowest percentage of foreign-born. After Cincy comes St Louis, which is probably not a bad alternative suggestion (not as hilly, but they have a whopping big river and a four-season climate). Next after St. Louis would be Cleveland.

Incidentally, this is the thing I like least about Pittsburgh's demographics, and it almost surely will need to have an increasing foreign-born share if it is going to return to a sustainable slow-growth (as opposed to shrinking) population dynamic.

[fleetiebelle]

I'd recommend Cincy as well, since I'm from there. An interesting difference between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh is that Cincinnati has a sizable influx of Latinos. Most of the busboys, landscape workers, day labors, etc. in the area are Hispanic.

[npa412]

Thanks for the suggestions. Pittsburgh is very strange in that for a city of its size it hardly has any Latinos/Asians. When I travel for work to cities of similar size as Pittsburgh, I see ethnic diversity the moment I walk down the street. In Pittsburgh you see an 85/15 black/white split (of course, the suburbs are as white as they come). Is it a sad commentary on Pittsburgh's job market that there isn't even work for day laborers in Pittsburgh; I could be at the Home Depot next Saturday and yell at the top of my lungs "I will pay $40 per hour to anyone who will help me install my deck"... and no Mexican will be running at me. The things I've seen in Houston and Orlando; you walk out with 2x4s and they're set to jump into your truck.

[stevo6]

Portland , Or. is said to be a very similar place physically. The demographics are a bit different - they have some Asians and Hispanics (and no pro sports except the Trailblazers!). Steve

[RockLobster]

Latinos are now moving north into Pittsburgh. I even see it in sewickley where about half the landscaping venues are now made up of such folk working the lawns and gardens. Read somewhere recently where in the last few years the county has been averaging about 1000-1500 Latino's moving here. I really think many prior Latino's migrated via the major interstates north to large metro's. I-95 being a natural progression north. And the farming community which offers some job opportunity is not as large in the Pittsburgh area as some other mid western cities that have larger Latino populations. But, there is some opportunity in Pittsburgh for these folks and they are starting to move in.

[Blackbeauty212]

I dont know about you guys, but I see alot of Asians and Latino's around the Burgh....I was at the mall at Robinson and I seen many Asians...and downtown and Oakland was plently of Hispanics...They are definiently coming make no mistake..

[5Lakes]

Probably Portland or Seattle, but replace Blacks with Hispanics and Asians. Although the white people in those two cities are cut from a very different mold than in Pittsburgh.

Cincinnati may also be a candidate, but it has more inner-city Blacks. The Metro as a whole is just about as white though. Could probably say the same for Boston and Minneapolis/St. Paul (although flat), but with a more diverse set of minorities than just Blacks in the inner-city.