Why did Pittsburgh become an industrial center?
1 Answer
Transportation
Explanation:
Three rivers converge in Pittsburgh, These rivers were used to bring resources from various areas to Pittsburgh and then to transport the finished manufactured products to their markets.
The Monogahela runs from south to north ( unusual in North America) This river could be used to bring coal from West Virginia to augment the local coal found in the the Pittsburg area. The river transportation is inexpensive and going downriver from the coal mines to Pittsburgh made it easy.
The Allegheny River runs from the north and east to Pittsburgh. This river could be used to bring the oil from the newly discovered oil field of western Pennsylvania down to Pittsburgh. The oil provided an inexpensive form of energy to augment the coal used in steel production. The Allegheny could also connect to the Great Lakes.
The Ohio River brought iron ore from the Great Lakes. The iron ore and coal coming together made Pittsburgh a manufacturing center.
The Ohio River is navigable all the way from St Louis to Pittsburgh.
The Ohio River flows down to the Mississippi River allowing the Manufactured products from Pittsburgh ocean access.
