The History of Uptown

Pittsburgh’s Uptown neighborhood may be just a short walk from Downtown, but for many, it’s an area that’s largely untapped and under-explored. We love living in Uptown for its timeless charm and sweeping city views, but the history of the neighborhood is just as appealing.

Uptown was founded in the mid-1700s by American frontiersman, and at that time, it was known as Ayer’s Hill. Around the time of the Revolutionary War and through the 19th century, when Pittsburgh was first becoming an Industrial city, it became known as Boyd’s Hill.

Development began when Englishman James Tustin built his estate in Boyd’s Hill in the late 1800s. With its English architecture and fruit orchards, the Pittsburgh Gazette–Times called it "the most beautiful place in Pittsburgh.”

As the mills took over the city, Uptown became largely populated by mill workers and their families, and the wealthier residents moved out. By the 1960s, Uptown was negatively affected by the city’s urban renewal efforts, though many families stuck around and kept the area alive.

Today, Uptown is largely populated by longtime residents who appreciate the area’s historic architecture and proximity to downtown, though more and more university students, artists and hospital employees have moved in in recent years. The new PPG Paints Arena and expansions at both Duquesne University and UPMC Mercy have brought new business to the area, and slowly but surely, new construction and renovation creates more space for new residents to call Uptown home.