Most of Pittsburgh's poor are young and in the suburbs (Penn Hills: for sale, renters)

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by SammyKhalifa

80% of total people in Allegheny County do not live within city limits?

Well, there are 1.2 million people in the county and 306k of them live within the city limits so they rounded up. That's why there was a massive PR push to bring people into the city within the past 5 years or so, the burbs dwarf the city's population.

That's why I found its confusing that this forum is so anti-suburbs when in reality the city as we know it wouldn't exist without them.

[selltheburgh]

The city only makes up 25% of allegheny county's population. Proportionately to city has more poor people, just not most of them.

[robrobrob]

Originally Posted by Copanut

The best part of the article was the author stating that $15/hr jobs at the mills in Homestead have been replaced with 8-10/hr at the Waterfront. Pretty much the cause for the downfall of all the towns along the rivers.

First off, I highly doubt that there are any 15/hour jobs in the mills these days. A relative works in a non-union mill and makes a very nice living. It is pretty close to the Waterfront. From what he says they would like to hire more people but they have a hard time finding people that can pass a drug test. Once they pass a drug test he said some who get hired end up quitting because it is too tough.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by selltheburgh

The city only makes up 25% of allegheny county's population. Proportionately to city has more poor people, just not most of them.

Although once again, it's worth remembering that college students are considered to be in poverty according to how the Census collects data. In the 2010 census, for example, Central Oakland had a poverty rate of 64.8%. This was the third highest in the city. The only places higher were Uptown (where the majority of people are Duquense students, and most of the rest are income-less prisoners) and Chateau (where the small population throws off averages.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by eschaton

To be fair, this is the story of America in general. There just aren't many decent paying working-class jobs left. And deindustrialization alone is not the reason. Grocery store cashiers made good money back in the 1970s.

Could not agree more, good paying physical labor jobs are on the decline.

As to grocery stores, I worked a week for Kroger's on Christmas break back in the 70's. I almost didn't want to go back to school the pay was so good.

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

Well, there are 1.2 million people in the county and 306k of them live within the city limits so they rounded up. That's why there was a massive PR push to bring people into the city within the past 5 years or so, the burbs dwarf the city's population.

That's why I found its confusing that this forum is so anti-suburbs when in reality the city as we know it wouldn't exist without them.

The opposite also holds true, if it weren't for the city, there would be no suburbs.

[zman63]

Originally Posted by doo dah

The opposite also holds true, if it weren't for the city, there would be no suburbs.

This is the more accurate statement. The suburbs have peaked around pittsburgh.

[wanderlust76]

In most states the suburbs are just considered part of the city. Charlotte has twice as many people as Pittsburgh and is way way bigger land mass wise but it's metro pop is about the the same.

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by wanderlust76

In most states the suburbs are just considered part of the city. Charlotte has twice as many people as Pittsburgh and is way way bigger land mass wise but it's metro pop is about the the same.

Yeah, and it really bugs me about that. I've just decided when talking about Pittsburgh, I'm just going to start comparing Urban Areas. That's the fairest way to compare places. In reality, Pittsburgh isn't 2.661 million like our CSA suggests. Northwest Indiana County really isn't part of Pittsburgh anymore. Just including Allegheny County and the fringes of Washington and Butler and part way into Westmoreland and Beaver you get 1.8 million people and truly the extent of where Pittsburgh reaches. Ironically, it refutes the notions that Pittsburgh is non-diverse to a considerable degree. It keeps the African American population of the UA above 13%,Asian American above 3%, Hispanic above 2%, etc etc and also keeps the median income up as well.

[gg]

Originally Posted by selltheburgh

The city only makes up 25% of allegheny county's population. Proportionately to city has more poor people, just not most of them.

Goes to show you how a stupid headline can distort the truth. If you look at the REAL numbers there are more people in the city limits per capita that are living in poverty. Per capita is all that matters.

It never is good to generalize about Pittsburgh or the suburbs. Etna and Sewickley Heights are both suburbs, but just a little different, don't you think? The average income in Fox Chapel is almost $300K a year. There is no section of the city that could compete with that. The variety is just too huge to generalize in either place.