}} Oakland is officially divided into four
neighborhoods:
North Oakland,
West Oakland,
Central Oakland, and
South Oakland. Each has a unique cultural identity. Oakland is Pittsburgh's second most populated neighborhood, with 22,210 residents, most of whom are students. Scattered amongst Oakland's four neighborhoods are 29 flights of the
Steps of Pittsburgh.
North Oakland North Oakland can be loosely defined as the area of Oakland between Neville and Bouquet Streets, encompassing all of Craig Street and running north to
Polish Hill. The
Cathedral of Learning, the
engineering or midsection of the
University of Pittsburgh campus, and the Craig Street business district are in North Oakland.
RAND's Pittsburgh center is located in North Oakland as well as the long time
RIDC business incubator on Henry Street. The
Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, the largest
mosque in the city, is located in North Oakland. This sector is also home to the
Schenley Farms Historic District and many mid-rise condominium and apartment buildings.
Central Oakland Central Oakland is bordered by
Schenley Park, the Boulevard of the Allies, Fifth Avenue, and Halket Street. Many students at the University of Pittsburgh who decide to live off-campus reside in this neighborhood. Many of its homes are historic masonry structures dating from the turn of the century. The area is often confused with South Oakland. Its Main Business District runs along Forbes and Fifth Avenue, and contains a diversity of restaurants, retailers, and financial services. These businesses are organized by the
Oakland Business Improvement District (OBID). Smaller business districts in Central Oakland provide additional dining options along Atwood Street and Semple Street. It is also the location of the relatively isolated and historic neighborhood of
Panther Hollow which runs along Boundary Street in
Junction Hollow as well as the
Oakland Square Historic District.
South Oakland South Oakland runs along the
Monongahela River and forms a triangular shape between the
Monongahela River, the Boulevard of the Allies, and the western bank of
Junction Hollow.
Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC and the
Pittsburgh Technology Center are major landmarks of this neighborhood. The neighborhood is split between a riverfront flood plain to the southwest and a plateau to the northeast. The plateau is divided into two primarily residential areas which are separated from one another by Bates Street, which runs up a valley from the flood plain to the plateau. The residents of the neighborhood on the north side of Bates Avenue call their neighborhood Oakcliffe. The flood plain was previously packed with industrial sites such as the Pittsburgh Works Consolidated Gas Co. and the Jones & Laughlin Steel Co., but presently, the Pittsburgh Technology Center hosts facilities such as the Entertainment Technology Center of
Carnegie Mellon University. Many residents of Central Oakland - as well as news outlets - often consider their neighborhood part of South Oakland. However, the longstanding border between Central Oakland and South Oakland was established long ago along the Boulevard of the Allies.
Forbes Avenue provides much of the neighborhood’s northern boundary. South Oakland is reputed to be a student neighborhood, but only 36.9% of its population is between the ages of 18 and 24, compared to Central Oakland's figure of 74.1%. The difference is largely because the area between Forbes Avenue and the Boulevard of the Allies houses many undergraduate students. While it is commonly considered to be in South Oakland, it is actually the heart of Central Oakland. South Oakland was the childhood home of
Andy Warhol, and later the residence of fellow pop artist
Keith Haring. Haring had his first art show while living in Oakland.
NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback
Dan Marino was also born in Oakland, not far from Warhol's home. Dan Marino Field on Frazier Street was named in honor of its native son. Although they were not contemporaries, Warhol and Marino grew up on the same block with their former houses only a few doors apart.
West Oakland West Oakland is bordered by
Fifth Avenue in the south, DeSoto Street in the east, the
Birmingham Bridge to the west, and Aliquippa Street to the north. While the smallest of the Oakland districts, the neighborhood hosts a range of commercial and residential dwellings. Among notable commercial operations exists
Carlow University and most of the
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, including UPMC Presbyterian and UPMC Montefiore. The residential makeup is diverse and consists of a number of long-time, permanent residents living alongside students completing their undergrad and graduate degrees. Many permanent residents have called West Oakland home dating back to around 1990, when a program to incentivize first time home buyers actively brought the neighborhood to life.
Not Oakland Although the campus of
Carnegie Mellon University and parts of
Schenley Park, including
Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens and
Flagstaff Hill, are popularly referred to as being in Oakland, and are located in the 15213 zip code, they are actually part of the adjacent neighborhood of
Squirrel Hill North. The border between Oakland and Squirrel Hill runs along
Junction Hollow. ==History==