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 Downtown,
also known as the Central Business District, is "everybody's neighborhood".
Anyone who calls themselves a Pittsburgher either works or plays
Downtown. But to more than 3,000 Pittsburgh neighbors, Downtown
is home.
The
Mellon Arena,
The Benedum,
Heinz
Hall, Point
State Park, two
major department stores, hundreds of specialty stores, and easy access to all other neighborhoods makes Downtown the City's most convenient neighborhood.
For the first quarter of the 19th century, Pittsburgh
was a major
weighstation
for goods in transit to the burgeoning markets to its west and south.
However, the arrival of the railroad and a decline of the river
trade, combined with competition of newer cities closer to western
markets, began to lessen commerce's significance to Pittsburgh's
economy. Ready availability of raw materials such as coal and timber
had earlier encouraged industry in the city -- iron, smelting, glassmaking,
metal working, textiles and boat building. Secure in the competitive
superiority of its raw materials, Pittsburgh turned more and more
to heavy industry. The city was on its way to becoming what Charles
Dickens termed "Hell with the lid off".
In the 1980's, Pittsburgh experienced its second renaissance with new office buildings and a subway. The Downtown area has increased its
availability of residential opportunities for many Pittsburghers. With the completion of several rental apartment complexes, the growth for central city living has greatly increased over the years.
For more information about downtown, check out any of the following links:
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