Why is Pittsburgh so white? (Philadelphia, Washington: neighborhood, buying, wage)

[Copanut]

Probably because the Pirates stink.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Probably because the Pirates stink.

Yeah, but that's a decade old thing. When are they going to be forced to change their name?

[eschaton]

The primary reason why Pittsburgh is whiter than its rust belt peers is economic growth started slowing down around 1920 or so - when the massive restrictions on immigration from Southern/Eastern Europe went into effect. In areas like Cleveland, Milwaukee, or Detroit there was still tremendous labor force demand due to the auto industry well into the 1970s. As there were no international sources of labor, so those metros turned to black workers (the Great Migration) and white southerners (the Hillbilly Highway).

In Pittsburgh, the Great Migration ended quite early. Black people more or less stopped moving to the area by 1960 or so. Some on this forum have suggested that the lack of any direct train route between the South and Pittsburgh (like the East Cost had with the Carolinas, Chicago with Alabama, etc) also played a role.

The big migration of Latinos started in the 1980s, and Pittsburgh's economy was totally in the crapper by that time. We've done relatively well attracting Asian immigrants in the modern era however.

I'd also say that comparisons on a metro level are somewhat unfair because a lot of the metro-area counties (like Armstrong and Fayette) under any realistic definition would not be included. Still, Pittsburgh is also unusually white for a core U.S. city, though part of that has to do with the comparably low levels of white flight.

[Independentthinking83]

Originally Posted by eschaton

The primary reason why Pittsburgh is whiter than its rust belt peers is economic growth started slowing down around 1920 or so - when the massive restrictions on immigration from Southern/Eastern Europe went into effect. In areas like Cleveland, Milwaukee, or Detroit there was still tremendous labor force demand due to the auto industry well into the 1970s. As there were no international sources of labor, so those metros turned to black workers (the Great Migration) and white southerners (the Hillbilly Highway).

In Pittsburgh, the Great Migration ended quite early. Black people more or less stopped moving to the area by 1960 or so. Some on this forum have suggested that the lack of any direct train route between the South and Pittsburgh (like the East Cost had with the Carolinas, Chicago with Alabama, etc) also played a role.

The big migration of Latinos started in the 1980s, and Pittsburgh's economy was totally in the crapper by that time. We've done relatively well attracting Asian immigrants in the modern era however.

I'd also say that comparisons on a metro level are somewhat unfair because a lot of the metro-area counties (like Armstrong and Fayette) under any realistic definition would not be included. Still, Pittsburgh is also unusually white for a core U.S. city, though part of that has to do with the comparably low levels of white flight.

That’s a pretty good an accurate post. I think the real Pittsburgh area is much smaller. I wouldn’t even include some parts in Allegheny County as it seems disconnected. I’d probably put the population of the Pittsburgh metro around 800,000.

[silverkris]

Originally Posted by Agbor

One of the big signs that tells me about Pittsburgh is when you fly in thru the airport, the International/Customs section area is always
abandoned and collecting dust compared to Philly's airport and Atlanta's airport.

Much of that has to do with US Air's demise after acquisition by American Airlines and PIT's subsequent dehubbing.

St. Louis is another former hub airport which has suffered the same.

[ryanthegoldengod]

Originally Posted by gg

It is a very small metro. Keep digging for your agenda though. Good luck.

Wow. Sounds like I'm not the one here with the agenda.

[ryanthegoldengod]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Probably because the Pirates stink.

The Pirates were good for decades though. But I do wonder if Pittsburgh's whiteness explains why there's an NHL team but no NBA team.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by ryanthegoldengod

The Pirates were good for decades though. But I do wonder if Pittsburgh's whiteness explains why there's an NHL team but no NBA team.

Of course that's the reason.

Not really, mismanagement of the ABA franchise is the reason:

Remember the ABA: Pittsburgh Condors

[santafe400]

This is not a knock on the Pittsburgh Metro, but the Pittsburgh-area just doesn't feel very big cityish to me. I know that some parts of the metro are as rural as they come.

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by santafe400

This is not a knock on the Pittsburgh Metro, but the Pittsburgh-area just doesn't feel very big cityish to me. I know that some parts of the metro are as rural as they come.

there are even corners of the city that look like they are villages nestled in some forgotten corner off a state highway, like some enclaves of Spring HIll, and even Mount Washington. One could argue that homes shouldn't even be at these places because of the street maintenance and garbage pickup required on such narrow streets with problematic geotechnical problems.

its been said the area is a patchwork of small towns masquerading as a big city.