where is pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is a major city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, located in the southwestern part of the state where two big rivers meet to form a third.

Exact Location

Pittsburgh is in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and serves as the county seat. It sits in the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania, near the borders with Ohio and West Virginia.

The city is famously built at the confluence of three rivers:

• The Allegheny River (coming from the northeast)
• The Monongahela River (coming from the southeast)
• These two join in downtown Pittsburgh to form the Ohio River.

This meeting point is called the “Point” and is now the centerpiece of Point State Park in downtown.

Region & Geography

Pittsburgh is considered part of:

• The Northeastern United States (as defined by federal agencies)
• The cultural and economic region of Appalachia , where it’s often called the “northern urban industrial anchor” of Appalachia.

Geographically, it’s on the Allegheny Plateau, a hilly, forested region with many valleys and ridges. The city is famously known for its steep hills, bridges, and views of the rivers and downtown skyline.

Metro Area

Pittsburgh is the core city of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, which includes:

• Allegheny County (the city itself)
• Seven surrounding counties: Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreland.

This larger region is officially called the Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area and is home to about 2.37 million people.

Quick Facts

• State : Pennsylvania, USA

• County : Allegheny County

• Region : Southwestern Pennsylvania

• Rivers : Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio

• Nickname : “Steel City” (from its industrial past) and “City of Bridges”

If you’re looking at a map of the U.S., Pittsburgh is roughly halfway between Chicago and Philadelphia, and about 25 miles east of the Ohio border.