As luck would have it, this geological arrangement resulted in the lowest raw material assembly costs in the United States. These were the raw materials essential for making iron and steel, and at some locations within the district, deposits were only a few miles apart. The unique geological conditions provided the Birmingham District with closely associated and abundant deposits of iron ore, coal, limestone, and dolomite. Although Gadsden and the Florence Sheffield District along the Tennessee River contributed to the rise, the Birmingham District became the largest iron and steel producer in the southern United States, earning it the nickname “The Pittsburgh of the South”. well come on, no contest.In the decades following the Civil War, Alabama became one of the leading iron and steel producers. And the architectural legacy that was left behind from it. Interesting, but can't touch Pittsburgh's much longer and more varied history IMHO. And of course played a big role in the formation of unions and organized labor.īirmingham has a fairly short history that is concentrated in steel and the civil rights movement. Also was a center of early glassmaking and oil production in the US, along with iron, and eventually aluminum and steel. Pittsburgh also has an old history as a boat/shipbuilding center, and acted as the gateway to the west for exploration and settlement, after the Revolution. It was an unincorporated town after Fort Duquesne was taken by the British there, during the French and Indian war. etc.Īctually Pittsburgh was around since 1758, well before the Revolution. Pgh has been around since shortly after the Revolutionary War! Consider its involvement with the French & Indian War (General Washington fought there), the birth of the US steel industry, significant events is labor history, its importance in WWII, Jonas Salk and the discovery of polio vaccine, KDKA, the first commercial radio station, the development of the atom smasher, etc. Seriously? B'ham is one of the youngest big cities in the country! Not much time yet for a rich history. It isn't close, because Pitt isn't even the top school in Pittsburgh. Similar to my universities comparison the name recognition and significance of the civil rights movement in Birmingham was nothing short of world changing on many levels (politically, socially, globally) and that's probably somewhat of an understatement. The legacies of both times are part of our fabric but the Birmingham movement is much more relevant in the life on the average person and more familiar to many America and the world than the events of the French and Indian War by far. Birmingham to be as young as it is and to carry the historical weight and relevance that it does can't be matched here. I also agree that Pittsburgh is underrated as a historical site due to it's role at the center of the French & Indian War. Both were pivotal to the production efforts of WW I & II. Both are iron cities and have deep industrial heritages. If history was a section Birmingham would get the nod. This was a good Pittsburgh vs Pittsburgh of the South comparison. Outdoor activities: Birmingham(this was close both have similar terrain but Bham's summer beauty is hard to beat)
Best universities: Pittsburgh (this was close because UAB is vastly underrated but Pitt carries the day due to name recognition for me both cities have several high quality smaller schools)Ĭulture: Pittsburgh/Birmingham(this is a wash for me it boils down to a preference of a modern southern iron city with blue collar veins and a northern/midwestern iron city with blue collar veins in my opinion both are underrated)
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