Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the twenty-second-largest metropolitan area in the United States. The city is known as “the City of Bridges” and “the Steel City” because of its 720 bridges and former role as a steel manufacturing center. Stunning landscape of this area is formed by rivers, valleys and hills coming together to create a remarkable patchwork of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods – in total, the city contains 90 neighborhoods. Pittsburgh is also featured by 151 high-rise buildings, two inclined railways and more than 700 public stairways all over the city. Besides Pittsburgh is one of the most misspelled U.S. cities. In 1890 the U.S. Board on Geographic Names ruled that the final “h” should be dropped from the names of all cities ending in “burgh”. The citizens of the city mounted a public campaign to keep the traditional spelling and twenty years later, in 1911, the “Pittsburgh” spelling was officially restored. Many people remain confused till this day.
Today’s Pittsburgh has digressed from the smoky image of industrial city and consistently ranked among the top “green” cities in the U.S. More than 300 steel-related businesses still remain in this region but no steel mills were left within city limits. The economic influence of Pittsburgh’s business district is largely based on technology, health care, education, robotics, innovation and finance industries. Over 1,600 technology, research and finance companies are located in this area, including such major companies as Apple, Intel, Google, Disney Research and PNC Financial Services. Prominent universities, world renowned museums and art institutions provide strong academic and cultural foundations of the city.
Pittsburgh is a city of diverse educational opportunities. A number of venerable colleges, universities and research facilities based in the area have made Pittsburgh one of the top education destinations in the nation. For a population of 25 years and over in Pittsburgh: 81.3% are high school graduates, 26.2% completed a bachelor’s degree and over 12.5% have a master’s or professional degree.
Pittsburgh Public Schools is the second largest school district in Pennsylvania and the largest of 43 school districts in Allegheny County. It serves about 25,000 students annually. There are 185 public, 117 private and 41 post-secondary schools in Pittsburgh. The student to teacher ratio in Pittsburgh for public schools is 14:1, which is 12.2% less than the National student to teacher ratio. In addition to the excellent mainstream education, there is a variety of support programs for special education needs, programs for the gifted and for early intervention in Pittsburgh.
The City of Pittsburgh provides a variety of options for higher learning. The University of Pittsburgh, founded in 1787, is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the U.S and the largest school in Pittsburgh that offers graduate programs. Pitt offers undergraduate and graduate programs through different schools and colleges. The University is known for its programs in philosophy, law, business, medicine, information science, engineering, international studies, biomedical and health-related sciences. The University of Pittsburgh is ranked among the best in the nation by US News & World Report and has one of the country’s largest research programs.
Other well-known institutions of higher learning in the city are Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, Chatham University, Carlow University, Robert Morris University, Point Park University, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Community College of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and The Pennsylvania Culinary Institute.
Pittsburgh is a unique city which has been reborn from a smoky, dirty, industrial city into a cool, green, beautiful place and one of the most livable cities in the United States. Driven by prominent institutions of higher learning and a highly educated population, the Steel City has refashioned itself into a vibrant medical, technology and research center. Now Pittsburgh is a wonderful place to study, work and live in.
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