Images of America: Beechview

Description

Purportedly named for the many beech trees growing on its hillsides, Beechview was settled by Scotch-Irish and English pioneers in the late 1700s. This Pittsburgh neighborhood stretches along a broad ridge two and a half miles south of the the Point. While Pittsburgh grew and developed into the political and economic center of the region, one the ridge, self-reliant farmers, miners, and shopkeepers maintained an easy interdependency. In 1905, Beechview separated from Union Township to become a borough. The broad ridge was graded and laid with trolley track, which brought commercial and residential development to the area. Beechview became a destination community for inner-city residents seeking relief from the crowded urban spaces. Hundreds of new families arrived, established businesses, and created a degree of prosperity for the community. Beechview merged with Pittsburgh in 1909, and today, it is a thriving and diverse neighborhood.

The Images of America series celebrates the history of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country. Using archival photographs, each title presents the distinctive stories from the past that shape the character of the community today.