Industrialization Of Pittsburgh Essay

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It was in the late 1800’s when the American Industrial Revolution really began to transform the city of Pittsburgh into the industrial hub for which it will be known. Without the help of the Industrial Revolution Pittsburgh might never have grown into the cultural center it is today. Over time the population of Pittsburgh grew from around 140,000 people in 1870 to 2,355,968 according to the 2010 census. This kind of growth can be attributed to the industrialization of Pittsburgh and the increase of factories and immigration that would come with it. Before Pittsburgh began to be really changed by the Industrial Revolution it was already one of the most industrial cities in the United States. Pittsburgh was known for its glass and iron production, …show more content…

One particular advantage is its proximity to raw materials needed to manufacture goods. Pittsburgh is particularly close to raw materials like wood, limestone, coal, sand, and cotton. In and around the city of Pittsburgh there were a good many coal mines to supply the coal used for household heat, light, powering steamboats, and powering factories manufacturing other goods. There are around twenty major forests in the state of Pennsylvania and the majority of them are located in central Pennsylvania. By using the rivers as a form of transporting raw materials Pittsburgh was able to transform into a large industrial …show more content…

It is situated on three major rivers, the Monongahela, Allegheny, and the Ohio. The Monongahela and Allegheny meet at “the Point” in Pittsburgh and combine to form the Ohio river.These three rivers were one of the most used methods of transporting goods. The Monongahela runs northeast while the Allegheny runs southeast and the Ohio runs west. Another admirable trait of Pittsburgh’s geography is its proximity to other industrial cities. It is only three hundred and sixty-eight miles from Pittsburgh to New York City and only about four hundred and sixty miles from Pittsburgh to Chicago. It is only three hundred and four miles to Philadelphia and only two hundred and eighty-six miles to Detroit. Because of closeness between these cities it makes it easier and less expensive to transport goods between these major cities.
Another asset that Pittsburgh could use to its advantage would be its banking. Pittsburgh today is the second leading banking city. It has become such a popular banking city that a section of Fourth Avenue has been nicknamed “Pittsburgh’s Wall

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