Pittsburgh: is it northeastern, midwestern, or appalachian? (Boston, economy, food)
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I was referring more than just architecture and physical layout. Culturally, Pitt is much more like the Midwest than it is the Northeast.
Also, the Midwest is not just flat corn fields in Iowa. The UP and northern Minn/Wisc. are both Midwestern, as are the southern sections of Ohio/IN/IL. There are plenty of "hilly" Midwestern cities and areas.
Regardless, flatness tends to very much be the standard for the Midwest. And there's certainly no Midwestern city (except for maybe Duluth) where hilliness is one of its most defining characteristics like Pittsburgh.
I also think culture in Pittsburgh is actually more unique to the region of Western Pennsylvania. It's arguably a distinctive area unto itself. The Pittsburgh accent, for example, is nothing like a stereotypical Midwestern accent.
PA is a northeastern state, so Pitt is northeastern. But given its location, it has also has Midwestern and Appalachian influences. The combination gives it a unique culture.
It seems many Northeasterners consider Pittsburgh to feel "Midwestern" and Midwesterns tend to consider Pittsburgh "Northeastern". I think the truth does lie somewhere in the middle.
The only Northeasterners who consider Pittsburgh to be in the Midwest tend to be NYC tri-staters or some New Englanders.
Fact of the matter is they really don't have a concept of culture/geography outside of the Northeast Corridor bubble. Trust me, I witness it on a daily basis.
Its regional cuisine of throw crap on top of stuff (Cincinnati Chili, Rochester Garbage Plate, Pittsburgh french fries on everything) tells me its midwest.
I would say Midwest, appalachia. I really don't know what "interior northeast" defines, really. Syracuse? Buffalo? I can't say Pittsburgh reminds me of either of those places.
Outside of the fact that the city is located in a northeastern state (and on the far western edge of said state at that)... I'm failing to see where it is all that Northeastern. If nothing else, it's a unique city in a unique region.
Yes...It just illustrates the variation in the region and it isn’t too dissimilar from other cities in that part of the Northeast in terms of topography, blue collar vibe/history, etc.
Most Midwest cities are laid out on a grid that is easy to navigate. Pittsburgh is completely different, with a very complex road system that offers fascinating sights but is difficult for unfamiliar visitors. Of course the layout is very much a product of the local terrain with rivers and steep hills, but the latter feature is very uncharacteristic of most of the Midwest urban centers. Cincinnati is the closest match for Pittsburgh but the hills aren't quite as steep and the layout is more orderly.
Just because Pittsburgh tends to operate at a slower pace than the DC-to-Boston megalopolis doesn't mean it belongs in the Midwest. It is more comparable to other places in the interior Northeast, and it would make no sense to classify Albany (for instance) as Midwest. Yes, Ohio is nearby - but that state itself is transitional and the eastern edge shares more of the Appalachian attributes with southwest Pennsylvania and West Virginia. This poll doesn't have an option to choose both Northeastern and Appalachian, but those two best characterize Pittsburgh.
Most Midwest cities are laid out on a grid that is easy to navigate. Pittsburgh is completely different, with a very complex road system that offers fascinating sights but is difficult for unfamiliar visitors. Of course the layout is very much a product of the local terrain with rivers and steep hills, but the latter feature is very uncharacteristic of most of the Midwest urban centers. Cincinnati is the closest match for Pittsburgh but the hills aren't quite as steep and the layout is more orderly.
Just because Pittsburgh tends to operate at a slower pace than the DC-to-Boston megalopolis doesn't mean it belongs in the Midwest. It is more comparable to other places in the interior Northeast, and it would make no sense to classify Albany (for instance) as Midwest. Yes, Ohio is nearby - but that state itself is transitional and the eastern edge shares more of the Appalachian attributes with southwest Pennsylvania and West Virginia. This poll doesn't have an option to choose both Northeastern and Appalachian, but those two best characterize Pittsburgh.
The state that it's in is Northeastern. The topographical region is Appalachian. The culture is an overlap of Midwest/Rustbelt and Appalachian outskirts. It's at the confluence of three rivers and three regions. Too much overlap to define as an entity of just one region.
Its regional cuisine of throw crap on top of stuff (Cincinnati Chili, Rochester Garbage Plate, Pittsburgh french fries on everything) tells me its midwest.
Ridiculous/unconventional food concoctions is a very American phenomenon. It has no specific regional attribution.
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