"Welcome to the South Side. From Station Square to the new South Side Works, the first three miles along the Monongahela River’'s south bank extend from the old–guard to the avant–garde. They’re steeped in history, shaped by commerce and tooled by tradition.

Laid out by 18th–century immigrants, fueled by 20th–century labor, the South Side is undergoing a 21st–century Renaissance. It is being reinvented, but without sacrificing those features that make it a unique Pittsburgh neighborhood.

Lined from one end to the other with interesting shopping, innovative dining and intoxicating entertainment, the South Side offers plenty to explore."

[As described by David Baer, Post Gazette travel editor]
Copyright, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 2004. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

The History
Pittsburgh’s original pioneers settled around Fort Pitt. 1763 saw King George III grant British Major John Ormsby 3000 acres as compensation for Ormsby’s services during the French and Indian War. Ormsby established the first commercial ferry across the Monongahela River and built a homestead in what is now Station Square. His daughter married Dr. Bradford, who became known as the first aristocrat in Pittsburgh. Bradford planned and laid out Birmingham [east to 17th St.] and East Birmingham [17th St. and east].

So the English were at the forefront of development. Streets parallel to the river were named after Ormsby’s daughters and grand daughters [Murial, Sidney, Sarah, Jane, Mary]. Carson was a Philadelphia Navel Officer and a friend.

The first industry was glass. 1850 saw 60–70 glass shops that commanded more than half of the country’s glass production. Most of the glass for the settling of the West was shipped down the Ohio River. 1875 saw new technology abruptly bring an end to glass production.

Next came iron foundries. The last two decades of the 19th–century brought large numbers of immigrants from every nationality in Europe, making Pittsburgh a virtual melting pot. Birmingham and East Birmingham had representation of all those nationalities but a predominate number were Eastern Europeans.

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The neighborhood was densely populated. The alleys between the main streets are ways [Carey, Wright, Larkin] and are lined with small three story homes that, at one time, were packed with multiple families. People didn’t have horses or, in the early days of motor cars, didn’t own an automobile. They walked down the steps of the "Slopes" and across the "Flats" to the river. In one form or another, most worked for the iron foundries and steel mills.

Even into the 1950’s, an ending shift would send 5000–6000 men on their way home. Most would stop at their local neighborhood bar. In those days nearly every block in Birmingham and East Birmingham lay claim to one, two, even three bars. They were family run and a part of the social fabric. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not touted Birmingham and East Birmingham as having more bars per square block than any other place in the world.

Every nationality built their own schools and churches. The steel mills declined rapidly in the 70’s and the city lost nearly half its population. Churches were consolidated and many are no longer houses of worship [four on the flats are businesses, one is a home and two are being converted to condominiums], yet four Roman Catholic, two Orthodox Catholic, one Methodist and a Presbyterian church are still active.

The early 80’s brought an economically crippled Carson Street business district. Strong leadership led to the start of the South Side Local Development Company and the National Historic District designation for East Carson Street.

The neighborhood has risen to a new success which has presented Pittsburghers with a National gem in East Carson Street, the city’s most dynamic and eclectic street.

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Pittsburgh's South Side