Pittsburgh Elevation

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh has a rich history and a lot of stories in its past. The city was under the control of the French Empire for many years, before passing under British control and earning its name of Pittsburgh in 1758 in honor William Pitt, leader of the British government and later the Prime Minister. Pittsburgh was incorporated in 1794 and became an important transportation location due to its situation at the confluence between three rivers: the Ohio, Allegheny, and Monongahela. Pittsburgh served as an important link between the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions, with the nearby Allegheny Mountain range offering a lot of mining opportunities.

As time went by, Pittsburgh became a major economic and business hub for the state of Pennsylvania and the entire United States, second only to New York City and Chicago for number of jobs. Steel has always been a big part of Pittsburgh's economy, as well as other industries like petroleum, aluminum, tech, and more. In the modern era, global companies like Apple, Google, Uber, and Microsoft all have major offices in Pittsburgh, with the city also being home to many museums, attractions, art centers, live entertainment, green spaces, and a rich sport culture.

Elevation of Pittsburgh

The elevation of a town or city tells us how high or low it is in relation to the mean sea level of Earth. Elevation is an important geographical term that can be important for a variety of uses, and the elevation of an area can influence its weather conditions too, with higher elevations resulting in lower average temperatures. The elevation of Pittsburgh is quite unique in that it varies quite significantly around the city, with a difference of 660 feet (200 m) between the highest and lowest points.

The highest elevation point in Pittsburgh is found at the top of an unnamed hill in the Perry North neighborhood, at a height of 1,370 feet (420 m), while the lowest point is part of the Ohio River that is situated at an elevation of 710 feet (220 m). This means that Pittsburgh's general elevation is much lower than the national average of 2,500 feet (760 m), but isn't too far away from the mean elevation of Pennsylvania, which is 1,100 feet (340 m).

The highest point in all of Pennsylvania is Mount Davis, which is located in the Forbes State Forest in Somerset County at an elevation of 3,213 feet (979 m). The lowest point in the state is located at the Delaware River at the Pennsylvania-Delaware border, which has an elevation equivalent to sea level. Other big cities in the state include Philadelphia, which has an elevation of 39 feet (12 m), Allentown, which is located at an elevation of 338 feet (103 m), the state capital of Harrisburg, which is situated at an elevation of 320 feet (98 m), and Erie, which is located at an elevation of 728 feet (222 m).

Climate and More

The city of Pittsburgh has a humid continental climate with quite humid conditions and a lot of rain and snow. The hottest month of the year is July, which has average highs of 91°F (33°C) and lows of 63°F (17°C), while the coldest month of the year in Pittsburgh is January, which sees average highs of 36°F (2°C) and lows of 21°F (-6°C). Snow falls heavily in the city from December through to March and rain falls for most of the rest of the year.

Whether you're interested in sport, history, art, live entertainment, or recreational activities, you'll find plenty of options to enjoy in and around the city of Pittsburgh. The city is broken up into various districts, each with their own unique bars, restaurants, architecture, parks, museums and more. The Golden Triangle is one of the most impressive areas of the city, containing 30 skyscrapers and old historic buildings that have been converted to residences, while the North Side features a lot of key attractions including the Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Science Center, and Heinz Field stadium.