They're Everywhere: People and Plates from Out of State

Something interesting is afoot around Pittsburgh. It might not be obvious if you're walking around, looking about town. But, hop in your car and travel about the airport corridor. Look at the cars around you. Look at the licence plates. Specifically, look at the states of the plates around you. There are suddenly a lot of out-of-state people coming to Pittsburgh.  

Like most kids, I grew up playing the licence plate game on trips. Playing the license plate game always had to be on trips, because, at the time I was growing up, people were leaving the area--not coming here. 

Around here, it was always just PA plates and you'd have to hope for the occasional over-the-road truck passing through with an out-of-state plate. As a result, punch bugs, counting cows or cemetaries had to suffice for trips within the area. 

But, that has seemingly changed recently. Even on my 30 minute commute, it's nothing for me to see license plates from 15 states, which is awesome. It means people are coming to Pittsburgh from other places. And, it's not just people passing through. These are people here daily for the business commute. 

Maybe it's a result of more movies being filmed in town. Maybe it's because Pittsburgh is continuously voted a most-livable city. Maybe it's because our property is relatively inexpensive, stable and spacious. Maybe it's the emerging green living trend here in Pittsburgh. Maybe some of it is rental car traffic through the airport. But, popular consensus seems to be that a lot of these people are here to work.

People are coming to Pittsburgh to work for Google or CMU. People are coming to Pittsburgh to work in medical research. People are coming to Pittsburgh to work in the natural gas drilling boom that's happening in the area. Jobs are bringing people to Pittsburgh. That's something I haven't seen most of my life. 

It's been more than a couple of generations since Pittsburgh was stood on its head by unemployment from the fall of the industrial age. There's a reason that Steelers fans are everywhere. It's not just because they're an honorable, winning franchise. It's because Pittsburghers were scattered about the nation in search of work after our industrial heritage became passe. 

So, to see people coming to the area--in some cases, coming BACK to the area, is fantastic. It's validation that Pittsburgh has turned the corner and is returning to its prominance as more than a place to visit--it's a great place to live. Take a look the next time you're out and about. See how many plates you see representing people coming to our area.