Carnegie, PA

This rich history of Carnegie dates as far back as the Native Americans and flourished through the Industrial Age, immortalized by Andrew Carnegie, the famous Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist.

During the earliest days, the industries of the Pittsburgh and Carnegie areas were farming and the production of whiskey. As the population began to flourish, the main industry became coal mining, resulting in the railroad system fueling the expansion of the area.

Carnegie Steel became the main source of employment for residents in the Carnegie area. In March 1894, the areas known as Mansfield and Chartiers merged, forming the area known today as Carnegie. The residents elected to name the community after Andrew Carnegie in honor of everything he had done for the community.

Mr. Carnegie returned the honor to the community by gifting the Carnegie High School and Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall.

Carnegie is a food-lover’s dream come true, offering an array of cuisine options ranging from franchise restaurants to Indian cuisine to Italian cuisine and everything in between.

One Thirty One East brings the swanky downtown vibe to East Main Street with its modern decor and world fusion freestyle menu. Its attractive decor, comprehensive cocktail menu, and eclectic dining menu draw in the locals. For starters, diners recommend the brilliant blue cheese flatbread, followed by the well-seasoned, hanger steak cooked to your preferred temperature. Be sure to save room for dessert, and indulge yourself in the decadent Snickers cheesecake.

For the best Tuscan-style Italian food in the Pittsburgh area, stop in to PaPa J’s. When you enter this inviting little Italian restaurant, you are greeted by the smell of freshly baked bread and welcoming atmosphere. Start your meal with a home-made bowl of wedding soup and the local favorite, sautéed banana peppers. For your main course, enjoy the rich, creamy carbonara pasta or the juicy lamb chops grilled to perfection with a harmonious marriage of rosemary and garlic come highly recommended.

Café Delhi wins the hearts of Carnegie residents with some of the best Indian food in the Pittsburgh area. This casual dining restaurant features Indian cuisine from north and south India, putting a modern twist on classic street foods. If you are looking for authentic Indian food, locals recommend the chicken 65 and Samosa chaat. For your main course, try the chicken tikka or chicken biryani for a perfectly cooked meal your taste buds will fancy.

While there is not an extensive selection of bars to choose from in the borough of Carnegie, there are a few likely nightspots locals frequent. Pittsburghers from the north, south, east and west travel to the Pennsbury Pub & Grille to cheer on their favorite black and gold teams, with 32 HD televisions in the place and outstanding drink specials, including beer for $2.75.

For dancing and live music from local bands, the residents of Carnegie head over to the Hop House. If the fun-filled, lively atmosphere is not enough, during Penguin games you can enjoy an ice-cold Labatt’s for the price of $1.87

The residents of Carnegie have a variety options to get around. When staying within the community, most locals walk since the borough only covers 1.3 square miles. However, many people drive or take a bus downtown, or to outlying communities.

When driving along the business district of Carnegie, you will have access to on-street metered parking.

For those who prefer public transportation, a one-way ride to downtown costs you $2.50; once in the downtown section of Pittsburgh, you can ride from one end to the other for free.

Taxi cabs are seen around Carnegie and the city of Pittsburgh, but not frequently enough for one to hail a cab. A call must be placed to the taxi cab company to arrange a pickup time. For a more convenient transportation option, Uber may be utilized as well.

Carnegie offers one major park to its residents, the Carnegie Park on Forsythe Road. Residents and neighborhood children can also visit three smaller neighborhood parks throughout the community. These parks are free for residents to use and offer pavilion rentals March through November. Unfortunately for pet owners, pets are prohibited in the community parks.

Pitcher Park Memorial Skate Park proudly calls Carnegie home. Built and dedicated in memory of two young men who touched the hearts of the community, this skate park gives teenagers and adolescents a place to skateboard, roller blade and ride their bikes safely.

Carnegie and the city of Pittsburgh proudly host a variety of annual festivals and events, including but not limited to film festivals, blues festivals, folk festivals, wine festivals, Greek festivals, the Reading Extravaganza, jazz festivals and arts festivals. After visiting the Carnegie Museum of Art or the Andy Warhol Museum, make it a point to stop by Three Rivers Arts Festival for one of the most memorable experiences of your life.

The average cost of living in the borough of Carnegie runs about 12.5 percent lower than the city of Pittsburgh, making food, rent and gas less expensive. Those looking to move to this historic community can expect to pay approximately $919.99 per month for a one-bedroom apartment.

The price of gas remains a consistent 3.5 percent below the city average and approximately 8.8 percent above the national average.

While the area of Carnegie does not have any high-end or high-value shops to offer the residents, both East and West Main Street offer a variety of little shops. For special occasions, locals stop by Puhlman Flower Shoppe for the perfect floral arrangement. Fashion savvy individuals head to Moop to find the latest hand-sewn, locally design handbags.

As for groceries, the neighborhood is serviced by Shop ‘N Save, Walmart and Fleck Foods. From June through November, residents head to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Food Stand to purchase locally grown produce from the annual farmers market.