Talk:Great Fire of Pittsburgh

Dispersal
One important effect of the fire which still remains to be documented on this page lies in the phrase "rich and poor alike." Early Pittsburgh was concentrated within a remarkably small space. The city was thus more egalitarian than its peers. After 1845 we developed areas for wealthier citizens beyond the city center, leaving the poor to places which were dangerous and produced sickness. Although the borders of these areas have changed (for example, see Rat Hollow at the edge of Greenfield, or the decline of Hazelwood), the pattern has remained in effect to this day. (Later addition: Of course, it coincides with the new influx of immigrants from different places than the British Isles.) Pittsburgh Poet (talk) 15:56, 9 February 2014 (UTC)