You might notice that some of our logos just say Pittsburgh Christian Schools Network while other of our artwork says Greater Pittsburgh Christian Schools Network. The why is probably pretty obvious: As an organization we realized that we represent towns from all over the GREATER Pittsburgh region. In fact, while students who live in the city definitely do attend our schools, even using their school’s school buses, we currently have no school in the city! Christian schools surround the city! Some are pretty close to city borders, like Pittsburgh Urban Christian School in Wilkinsburg or Trinity Christian School in Forest Hills, and some reach students from further north or east like Cheswick Christian Academy and Greater Works Christian School. And finally, Penn Christian Academy in Butler and Beaver County Christian School reach even further north (and east or west, respectively) into Butler and Beaver County and beyond! If you live in or near Pittsburgh, there is a Christian school for you!
But what about the name Pittsburgh? Why the H?
On November 27, 1758, British General John Forbes sent a letter to William Pitt telling him that a city had been named for him: Pittsbourgh. Prior to that, the French had claimed the area and constructed a fort at the point where the three rivers meet, which they named Fort Duquesne. In 1758, they burned Fort Duquesne as they were being forced out by the British, and the fort that would replace it, which we can still visit as a museum, is still called Fort Pitt.
In 1891, however the United States Board on Geographic Names, in an attempt to standardize addresses, declared the -h to be dropped at the end of -burgh names. Fortunately, Pittsburghers mainly refused to use the new official spelling. Eventually on July 19, 1911, the board restored the official name to Pittsburgh to appease the masses. Yay!