How would you describe the Pittsburgh character? (York, Washington: insurance, loans)

[Fiddlehead]

Following this board, I am coming away with a view of a very distinctive American city. Discovered by Washington, built by early Scottish industrialists, populated by waves of European immigrants, depopulated. Perched between the Great Lakes, Appalachia, and the urban megalopolis to the east.

Which ethnic group or socioeconomic event has left the strongest print on Pittsburgh, in your opinion? Or, if you will, which combination? Or is the city too large and diverse to have single unifying character? What are the closest parallels among other American or foreign cities? Just curious.

[onwardandupward]

I'll go out on a limb and say say the combined group of Eastern European immigrants: Poles, Slovaks, Czechs, Hungarians, etc. who came here to work in the mills and the mines. Many of their children and grandchildren are still in Pittsburgh, and maintain strong family and neighborhood ties. I'd have to add in the Italians as well, though, as they also have had a strong influence in Pittsburgh. Thinking through this, I'd say there are a lot of commonalities with all of the descendants of immigrants from those huge waves that came to Pittsburgh in the late 1800's/early 1900's. Because many immigrants arrived speaking no English, ethnic and family ties were critical to their survival. Most ethnic groups had their own fraternal organizations that helped them find jobs, housing, insurance, loans, etc. Your average third/fourth generation Pittsburgher knows and understands the stories of the struggles of the original immigrant ancestors as well as the more recent struggles during the decline of the steel industry. It's a bit like those who grew up during the Great Depression - it shapes your behavior and outlook on life.

Regarding a description of the "Pittsburgh character:" I would have to say your typical native Pittsburgher is unpretentious, down-to-earth, self-depreciating, highly family- and neighborhood-oriented, most likely connected to his/her faith but not fanatic about it, fairly content with life, friendly, a creature of habit, but still open to (some) new ideas

I personally find a lot to admire about the typical Pittsburgh character.

[Drover]

Pittsburgh is the Converse All-Star of cities: comfortable, functional, casual, cost-effective, been around the block a few times, and possessing a simplicity that is not embraced by some.

[neurodistortion]

I would agree with the posters above, as for comparison to American cities, it has some aspects of other rust belt cities such as Cleveland and Detroit except with a better economy and more cultural icons. I've also seen some comparisons to Portland, Oregon. In addition, Pittsburgh has some cultural and architectural elements of England's northern post-industrial towns such as Manchester.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by neurodistortion

I would agree with the posters above, as for comparison to American cities, it has some aspects of other rust belt cities such as Cleveland and Detroit except with a better economy and more cultural icons. I've also seen some comparisons to Portland, Oregon. In addition, Pittsburgh has some cultural and architectural elements of England's northern post-industrial towns such as Manchester.

Which is why Pittsburgh was chosen as the setting for the American version of Queeer As Folk (intentionally misspelled to get around the uptight auto-censor )-- it was seen as the American city most analogous to Manchester where the original series was set.

[neurodistortion]

Also, the 80s song Life in a Northern Town by the Dream Academy has some references to Pittsburgh and Manchester.

[Drover]

What references does it have to Pittsburgh? Or Manchester for that matter? Seems to me to just have generic references to life in any northern English city.

[neurodistortion]

YouTube - The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town (In Stereo)

The music video itself has some clips of Pittsburgh. In one scene, you'll find a Route 51 sign.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by neurodistortion

YouTube - The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town (In Stereo)

The music video itself has some clips of Pittsburgh. In one scene, you'll find a Route 51 sign.

But the song has no references to Pittsburgh. Also, that wasn't the original version of the video. The original version was filmed in Yorkshire.

[neurodistortion]

Originally Posted by Drover

But the song has no references to Pittsburgh. Also, that wasn't the original version of the video. The original version was filmed in Yorkshire.

Yeah, I'm aware of both versions of the videos, but the one line in the song, 'life in a northern town, all of the work shut down' can loosely be a reference to Pittsburgh as well as Manchester even though the song is really a tribute to Nick Drake who died of an overdose.