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Allegheny County in Pennsylvania may not be as well-known as its neighboring county Philadelphia, but it has its own rich history that is worth exploring. Here are 7 interesting facts about Allegheny County's past:
1. Allegheny County was originally part of Westmoreland County, which was created in 1773 from the western part of Lancaster County. It was named after the Allegheny River, which flows through the county.
2. The French and Indian War had a major impact on the county. Fort Duquesne (now Pittsburgh) was built on the site where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers meet to form the Ohio River. It was taken by the British in 1758 and renamed Fort Pitt, after British Prime Minister William Pitt the Elder.
3. The first steamboat to navigate the Western river system, the New Orleans, was built in Allegheny County in 1811 by Nicholas Roosevelt. The boat traveled down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans, where it was a sensation.
4. The Whiskey Rebellion of 1791-1794, a protest against a federal tax on whiskey, took place largely in western Pennsylvania. In 1794, a group of rebels marched on Pittsburgh, but were met by a force led by President George Washington himself. The rebellion was quickly put down.
5. Allegheny County played a key role in the Underground Railroad. Abolitionist John Brown stayed in Pittsburgh in 1859 while planning his raid on Harpers Ferry. Many escaped slaves passed through the area on their way to freedom in Canada.
6. The Homestead Strike of 1892, one of the most infamous labor disputes in American history, took place in Allegheny County. Workers at the Homestead Steel Works, owned by Andrew Carnegie, went on strike over wage cuts. After a standoff between the strikers and Pinkerton detectives hired by the company, the National Guard was called in to restore order.
7. In the 20th century, Allegheny County played a major role in the steel industry and was known as the "Steel City." The area suffered greatly when the industry declined in the 1970s, but has since diversified and is now home to a wide range of businesses and industries.
These are just a few of the many interesting facts about the history of Allegheny County in Pennsylvania. From the French and Indian War to the labor struggles of the 19th and 20th centuries, the county has played an important role in shaping the history of Pennsylvania and the United States.
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