Larimer (Pittsburgh) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Larimer
Neighborhood of Pittsburgh
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Allegheny County
City	Pittsburgh
Area
• Total	0.445 sq mi (1.15 km2)
Population  (2010)
• Total	1,728
• Density	3,883/sq mi (1,499.3/km2)

Larimer is a neighborhood in the East End part of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The neighborhood is named after William Larimer Jr.. He grew up nearby and became very rich from railroads. He built a big house overlooking East Liberty. A path near his house became Larimer Avenue.

Larimer's History

Larimer's daughter, Rachel, married James Mellon. James was the son of Thomas Mellon, a famous judge and businessman. This marriage meant that the Mellon family gained control of the land that is now Larimer. The Mellons sold or rented this land. They used the money to help build Pittsburgh's coal, steel, and gas industries. Many of James Mellon's children used Larimer as a middle name. This included William Larimer Mellon Sr., who started Gulf Oil. They made sure the neighborhood kept the Larimer name.

Early Settlers

Germans first settled in Larimer in the late 1800s. By the early 1900s, many Italians moved here from different parts of Italy, like Abruzzi. These Italian settlers were a bit better off than those who moved to Bloomfield. In Bloomfield, people built simple row-houses. But in Larimer, people built nicer brick homes with small yards.

Soon, Larimer residents started businesses. They ran concrete factories and bakeries along Lincoln Avenue. Some of these businesses still exist today. A successful shopping area grew at Larimer Avenue and Meadow Street. This was near Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church, built in 1898. In 1928, the Italian Sons and Daughters of America group was started in the neighborhood. Larimer was known as Pittsburgh's Little Italy until the 1960s.

Changes in the 1960s

Like other neighborhoods in Pittsburgh's East End, the 1960s brought big changes to Larimer. Some residents started moving to the suburbs. This move sped up because of urban renewal in East Liberty. Also, a large housing project was built on Larimer Avenue. Today, most of the neighborhood's Italian community is gone. Our Lady Help of Christians Church closed in 1992. Most residents are now African-American. Many of them are among the poorest people in Pittsburgh.

Larimer's Geography

Larimer is surrounded by small valleys. These are called "runs" in the local language. Branches of Negley Run form a border between Larimer and Highland Park to the northwest. They also form a border between Larimer and Lincoln-Lemington to the northeast. The end of Two-Mile Run, where the East Busway is now, borders Larimer and Homewood to the southeast. To the southwest, there is a natural path from East Liberty to Larimer along Larimer Avenue.

More than 60 years ago, the city buried the stream that once carried floodwater. Judge Thomas Mellon argued against this. He said there was too much water for an underground sewer line. He warned that during heavy rains, the run would become a "raging torrent" that an eight-and-a-half-foot sewer could not handle.

Community Development

In June 2014, Larimer received a big grant. It was a $30 million grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. This money will help rebuild the neighborhood. It will provide over 350 homes for people with different income levels. The Mayor of Pittsburgh, William "Bill" Peduto, said the grant was "huge."

Images for kids

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  East End Brewing Company, Larimer