Pittsburgh is as "hip" as you want it to be (Philadelphia: city hall, insurance)

[rubybelle]

Originally Posted by COPANUT

I beg to differ. The mills created a bunch of white collar jobs, my brother was a Jones and Laughlin Steel intern.(any one remember that company?) Do you have any idea how many secys worked Dahntahn for US Steel? Blue collar labor creates a lot of white collar jobs.

I had friends that worked in the retail clothing business back in the 70's & 80's. Kaufmanns, Gimbels, Hornes, Hughes and Hatcher, just to name a few. Who's left, Macys. They were buyers, managers, and department heads making 6 figure incomes. Those jobs are gone.

I worked at the US Steel research lab in the 70's in Monroeville. It's now an industrial park. But before it shut down it employed 2100 people, only about 200 were blue collar.

The two go hand in hand IMHO.

A six figure income? I worked as a buyer of a JC Penney's 10 years ago and there was not one buyer, manager or department head there who made a six figure income. Working at corporate gave you that opportunity, but that was only if you were an executive. Six figures in the 70's & 80's? I wish...

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by COPANUT

I beg to differ. The mills created a bunch of white collar jobs, my brother was a Jones and Laughlin Steel intern.(any one remember that company?) Do you have any idea how many secys worked Dahntahn for US Steel? Blue collar labor creates a lot of white collar jobs.

I remember J and L, but I can't place the location. Was it Aliquippa? Anyway, yes, my dad was an engineer for US Steel, supposedly the penultimate job in a steel mill.

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by Katiana

I remember J and L, but I can't place the location. Was it Aliquippa? Anyway, yes, my dad was an engineer for US Steel, supposedly the penultimate job in a steel mill.

And how 'many' engineer's did each plant employ compared to actual steel workers? The white collar jobs connected to the steel industry was much smaller than the 'hard hat' jobs.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

And how 'many' engineer's did each plant employ compared to actual steel workers? The white collar jobs connected to the steel industry was much smaller than the 'hard hat' jobs.

I have no idea. One of my friends couldn't believe my dad worked in a mill, because he wore a suit to work.

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by Katiana

I have no idea. One of my friends couldn't believe my dad worked in a mill, because he wore a suit to work.

Trust me, it's a very small %.

[raynist]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

Pittsburgh has lost over half it's population since the 50's. Sure some of those jobs would've been white collar ones. But the majority were blue collar ones. Can you picture "Hell with the lid off", and a bunch of suit and tie types running around in Pittsburgh?

It is always said that Pgh lost half of it's population, but does anyone know the stats for the metro area? What was the highest population for the metro area? Obviously the metro area did not lose 50%.

[raynist]

ok, found this info on Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Pittsburgh , not sure how valid, but while the city itself lost tons of people, the metro area seemed to absorb a good portion of them.

1950
City 676,80612
Urbanized Area 1,533,000

1960
City 604,332
Urban 1,804,000

1970
City 540,025
Urban 1,846,000

1980
City 423,938
Urban 1,810,000

1990
City 369,879
Urban 1,678,000

2000
City 334,563
Urban 1,753,000

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by raynist

It is always said that Pgh lost half of it's population, but does anyone know the stats for the metro area? What was the highest population for the metro area? Obviously the metro area did not lose 50%.

I don't know. I know that in 1950', the city of Pittsburgh had over 676,000 people. Now it's a little over 312,000 people. I'm sure white flight caused the metro area to swell some. As well as the suburbs being devolped as well.

To be honest though, Allegheny county is what I consider to be Pittsburgh's metro. It's not like, say in Chicago, where their different counties are basically their suburbs. It's not like someone would consider Westmoreland county a suburb of Pittsburgh. The counties outside of Allegheny are much more detached, and I'm sure you have fewer commuters into the city of Pittsburgh, as compared to a city like Chicago.

P.S. The reason I brought Allegheny county up, is cause they consider Pittsburgh's "metro area" to be 7 counties. I don't see that at all.

[Katiana]

Here are some stats that I found:

Pittsburgh, PA MSA Population and Components of Change

Please note that in 1990 the census bureau added some counties to the MSA, which may account for the uptick in pop temporarily.

[steindle]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

It's not like someone would consider Westmoreland county a suburb of Pittsburgh. The counties outside of Allegheny are much more detached, and I'm sure you have fewer commuters into the city of Pittsburgh, as compared to a city like Chicago.

I would say that at least 25-30% of my coworkers live in and commute from Westmoreland County. I work in Downtown Pittsburgh. I've even known people who have commuted from places like East Liverpool, OH.

I mean...I think they're insane and I personally couldn't waste over two hours of every day in a car so that I can sit in a cubicle for 8 more hours...But people do it!