Pittsburgh Neighborhoods: History of Arlington

A Brief History & Facts about Arlington





history of Arlington




Arlington, or Arlington Heights, are neighborhoods in the southern part of Pittsburgh. The neighborhood is home to five government housing projects and once was connected to the mills that ran along the Monongahela River near the old Twenty-Second Street Incline. The incline once ran from Josephine St. to Salisbury St. The incline was near the location of the old Fort McKinley. There was concern that the Confederate Army would target Pittsburgh for invasion during the Civil War so an emergency fort was built by the employees of Jones and Laughlin Steel and Ormsby’s Hill. The emergency fort was called Fort McKinley. Surrounding communities include the South Side Slopes, the South Side Flats,  Hays, Mount Oliver, and St. Clair. The important, vital 22 engine fire department is in Arlington. Unfortunately, in recent years, the city has talked about possibly closing the 22 engine completely. The 22 fights second and third alarm fires in the city of Pittsburgh. The neighborhood, mostly residential, is lined up on a somewhat loose grid and most of the streets rise and fall along steep hills. Arlington’s population is 2,061 people with the median income just under the regular city’s. The average household is 2.1 people, which is on par for the rest of the city.




history of Arlington



5 thoughts on “Pittsburgh Neighborhoods: History of Arlington”

  1. Arlington is not Arlington Heights. Arlington is not a public housing project. Arlington is a neighborhood that continues to survive with a large percentage of 3rd or 4 th generation residents living proudly as homeowners. There are real records documenting the history of the community. Contact the Arlington Civic Council if you want factual information.

    1. Linda (Sperl) Meyer

      Absolutely right! I wish people would get it straight. My dad built our house on Sterling St. (off of Spring) when I was 6 yrs old,. We lived in Arlington. I got so used to saying I was from Mt. Oliver because as soon as I said Arlington, they thought I lived in the project.

      Thank you Michele.

  2. Arlington is scum. I watch cars drive to lone house at the end of a dead end alley to buy drugs all evening, especially on weekends. Properties are overgrown and deplorable. I have the only manicured property in a 2 block radius. I’ve been here since 1975. It’s a shame to see the decline of this neighborhood.

  3. Growing up in Arlington ( Eccles St) my dads’s store on the Avenue along with Knaples, Sonia’s cleaners. Schliker hardware, aRege Wood gas stationSt Henry Lyceum, Knaples grocery Store. Yeager Drug Store. Sylvia’s little store, McKee movie theater, Stoltz and Stans bar, Rege’s gas station, Shoe repair shop ( can’t remember the name, Youngs, Sipes, and others I can’t remember, this was a great place to grow up, never forget ARLINGTON for this is our history
    MHJ
    Bards,

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