Pittsburgh’s Northside is not a single neighborhood, but rather a collection of 18 different neighborhoods spread across the shores and hills north of the Allegheny and Ohio rivers, directly across from the city.
Originally, it was known as Allegheny City and, in the 1800’s, it was a hub of manufacturing and innovation; home to visionaries like Andrew Carnegie, Martha Graham, Alexander Cassat, Gertrude Stein, and John Pitcairn. In fact, by the turn of the century, Allegheny City hosted one of the nation’s largest populations of millionaires.
In 1907, Allegheny City was annexed into “Greater Pittsburgh” and eventually took on the name of Pittsburgh’s Northside. Environmental and economic challenges took a toll on the community through the first half of the 20th century. By 1952, the city of Pittsburgh deemed the Northside in need of large scale restructuring and redevelopment to address deteriorating commercial, industrial, and residential amenities.
The 1950s, 60s, and 70s brought a series of new highways, industrial districts, and construction developments which altered the physical structure of the Northside. Unfortunately, these efforts did not have the desired economic impact. As Pittsburgh’s (and much of the country’s) manufacturing base collapsed in the 1980s, the Northside community continued to struggle.
Despite the challenges of recent decades, the Northside is and has been a place of pride for generations. Its residents possess a tenacity and deep appreciation for the community. In fact, over the years, many of the Northside’s 18 neighborhoods have sprouted civic organizations dedicated to maintaining the rich history, while working towards a greater future.
It is with this grit, humility and passion that we see the Northside community beginning to flourish once more.