If you've spent most of your life living on a farm in Ontario servicing automatic waterers and shearing sheep, you might be a little intimidated about moving to a big city like Pittsburgh. One of the ways you can dispel your anxiety is to learn a little about your future new home. This article contains lots of fun facts about Pittsburgh. You can use them when you tell your friends you're moving or to strike up conversations with other Pittsburgh residents after your move. Either way we hope they help you.

Stats

Pittsburgh is the second largest city in the state of Philadelphia. It is home to 369,879 people and if you add in its suburbs, there are over two million people living around the city. In 2009, Forbes magazine, which not only concerns itself with high net worth investments but also statistics, rated Pittsburgh the 7th safest city in the country for violent crimes. Pittsburgh is also the 25th best city in which to find a job. More than 3.9 million people visit Pittsburgh annually.

History

Pittsburgh was founded in 1758. The area was long used by Native American tribes such as the Seneca and the Iroquois. The first Europeans to arrive were French trappers, who came in 1669. In 1768 the British bought the lands from the Native Americans, opening the way for a proper city with woodworking auctions and government. Pittsburgh was once the nation's largest steel producer, earning it the nickname "Steel City." The largest ethnic groups are German, Italian, and Irish.

Geography

Pittsburgh is located on the Allegheny Plateau where three rivers meet. The city is nearly 5% water and has 720 bridges within the city limits. The downtown business district forms a distinctive shape known as 'the Golden Triangle.' The city is very hilly and has over 712 sets of stairs. Residents use the geography to help them get the lead weights out by biking and running. Pittsburgh has hot, humid summers and cold snowy winters with mild falls and springs.

Living

Pittsburgh has 29 colleges and universities within its limits, making it more of a college town than an industrial one dominated by packaging systems factories. It has been a four time contender for the title of Most Livable City. The city has two newspapers, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Its sports teams are the Pittsburgh Pirates (baseball), the Pittsburgh Steelers (football), and the Pittsburgh Penguins (hockey).