Pitcairn, Pennsylvania
Pitcairn is a borough of 3,032 people in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, founded in 1894.
Why visit Pitcairn
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 8 parks and trails and 5 places to eat in and around town.
Highlights include George Westinghouse Bridge and Turtle Creek High School.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 22°F, and about 25 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Pitcairn
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Pitcairn
Pitcairn is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, located 12 miles (19 km) east of Pittsburgh's central business district, named for Robert Pitcairn, an official of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
From the Wikipedia article Pitcairn, Pennsylvania (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks3
George Westinghouse Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Concrete arch bridge over Turtle Creek
Turtle Creek High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
High school in Pennsylvania, United States
Westinghouse Air Brake Company General Office Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Historic building in Wilmerding, Pennsylvania, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds8
Restaurants and cafes5
Caliente Pizza and Draft House
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.8 mi
2125 Mosside Boulevard, Monroeville
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-24:00
Burger King
Fast food · Burger · 1.2 mi
4490 Broadway Boulevard, Monroeville
Mo-Sa 06:00-22:00; Su 07:00-22:00
Churches and places of worship8
Hillcrest United Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · 1.4 mi
1622 James Street, Monroeville
History
The settlement that would become modern Pitcairn began to grow on the banks of Turtle Creek in 1841 when farmer John McGinnis began sell land to fellow settlers.
In 1850, the Pennsylvania Railroad purchased a corridor from McGinnis. In 1874, Robert Pitcairn of the Pennsylvania Railroad purchased a further 215 acres in the area to serve as a new hub for the Pittsburgh railyard, the original location of which was deemed too small to support the growing level of rail traffic in the region.
During the late 1800s, the growing settlement was called "Wallurba" by residents. In 1894, the settlement separated from current-day Monroeville (formerly known as Patton Township) and was incorporated as the borough of Pitcairn.
The Pitcairn Rail Yard operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad facilitated the growth of Pitcairn into a robust industrial community during the first half of the 20th century. In 1950, the Pennsylvania Railroad decided to expand the Conway Terminal north of Pittsburgh. This led to a slow decline of the importance of the Pitcairn Rail Yard in the second half of the 20th century, and a subsequent population decline in the borough.
In 1996, the Pitcairn Rail Yard was re-opened as an intermodal facility, operated since 2012 by Norfolk Southern.
From the History section of Pitcairn, Pennsylvania on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries44
Dr Cleveland Steward Jr El Sch
School · 1.8 mi
5000 Gateway Campus Blvd, Monroeville
Map of Pitcairn
73 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 22°F | 3.2 in | 10.2 in |
| Feb | 41°F | 22°F | 2.8 in | 5.6 in |
| Mar | 50°F | 29°F | 3.3 in | 3.0 in |
| Apr | 64°F | 39°F | 3.8 in | 0.2 in |
| May | 74°F | 51°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 83°F | 59°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 64°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 62°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 77°F | 55°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 65°F | 43°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 52°F | 33°F | 2.9 in | 0.7 in |
| Dec | 41°F | 27°F | 3.2 in | 5.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Murrysville 2 Sw (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Allegheny County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2020-03-30: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-10-01: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2012-10-29: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
- 2010-04-16: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms (Snowstorm)
- 2005-09-10: Hurricane Katrina (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Allegheny County Airport (AGC) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 9 miles away.
- Monroeville 2 mi northeast, about 2 min by car
- East McKeesport 2 mi southwest, about 4 min by car
- Level Green 3 mi southeast, about 5 min by car
- East Pittsburgh 3 mi west, about 5 min by car
- North Braddock 4 mi west, about 7 min by car
- Churchill 4 mi northwest, about 7 min by car
- Forest Hills 4 mi west, about 7 min by car
- Braddock Hills 4 mi west, about 7 min by car
- Duquesne 5 mi southwest, about 7 min by car
- Braddock 5 mi west, about 8 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Broadway Pitcairn 2013, Canadian2006, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.