Which city sits where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet?
Quick answer
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, sits at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, where they join to form the Ohio River. The meeting point, a triangle of land called the Point, was fought over in the 1750s because it controlled travel into the American interior.
The Three Rivers
| River | Flows from |
|---|---|
| Allegheny | The north, from Pennsylvania and New York |
| Monongahela | The south, from West Virginia |
| Ohio | Formed at Pittsburgh; flows west about 1,579 km to the Mississippi |
The two rivers often look different where they meet, as they carry different amounts of sediment.
A strategic fort
In 1754, the French built Fort Duquesne at the Point, sparking a clash with British colonial forces that included a young George Washington. This helped start the French and Indian War. The British captured the site in 1758, built Fort Pitt, and named the settlement after British statesman William Pitt. Today, Point State Park marks the spot, with a large fountain.
The Steel City
In the late 1800s, Pittsburgh became the steel-making capital of America, led by Andrew Carnegie. At its peak, it produced a huge share of the nation’s steel. Smoke was so thick that streetlights sometimes burned at midday. After the steel industry collapsed in the 1980s, the city reinvented itself around health care, universities and technology.
More Pittsburgh facts
- Known as the City of Bridges, with about 446 bridges, more than Venice.
- Its sports teams, the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins, all wear black and gold.
- Fred Rogers filmed Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood here.
- Artist Andy Warhol was born in Pittsburgh.
For another city with a nickname from its industry, see the Motor City. For the longest US river, see the longest river in the United States.
Still curious?
Jump to a random question from the archive.