Once a thriving steel town where the clang of machinery and the hum of industry filled the air, Braddock, Pennsylvania, now stands as a shadow of its former self.
Located just outside Pittsburgh, this small town, once bustling with workers and families, now grapples with the remnants of its industrial legacy, empty buildings, polluted land, and a population that has dwindled to a fraction of what it once was.
But despite the scars left by deindustrialization, Braddock’s story isn’t one of total despair. There are still signs of hope, new initiatives, a growing arts scene, and a community determined to rebuild. In many ways, Braddock is not just a town marked by its past, but a place where the struggle for renewal is very much alive.
A Once Thriving Steel Town Now Faces Decline
Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Braddock was absolutely buzzing with activity. Steel mills operated around the clock, and workers from all over the world came here for jobs that paid decent wages. Families built lives, opened businesses, and filled the neighborhoods with energy…