Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
| Allegheny County, Pennsylvania | |||
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Allegheny County Courthouse
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 Location in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania |
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 Pennsylvania's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | September 24, 1788 | ||
| Named for | Allegheny River | ||
| Seat | Pittsburgh | ||
| Largest city | Pittsburgh | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 745 sq mi (1,930 km2) | ||
| • Land | 730 sq mi (1,891 km2) | ||
| • Water | 14 sq mi (36 km2), 1.9% | ||
| Population (est.) | |||
| • (2015) | 1,230,459 | ||
| • Density | 1,686/sq mi (651/km²) | ||
| Congressional districts | 12th, 14th, 18th | ||
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 | ||
| Website | www |
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| Footnotes: | |||
| Designated | December 30, 1982 | ||
Allegheny County (/ælᵻˈɡeɪni/) is a county in the southwestern quarter of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2014 the population was 1,231,225, making it the second-most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh. Allegheny County is included in the Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is in the Pittsburgh Designated Market Area.
Allegheny County was the first in Pennsylvania to be given a Native American name, being named after the Allegheny River. The word "Allegheny" is of Lenape origin, with uncertain meaning. It is usually said to mean "fine river", but sometimes said to refer to an ancient mythical tribe called "Allegewi" that lived along the river long ago before being destroyed by the Lenape.
Not a great deal is known about the native inhabitants of the region prior to European contact. During the colonial era various native groups claimed or settled in the area, resulting in a multi-ethnic mix that included Iroquois, Lenape, Shawnee, and Mingo. European fur traders such as Peter Chartier established trading posts in the region in the early eighteenth century.
In 1749 Captain Pierre Joseph Céloron de Blainville, claimed the Ohio Valley and all of western Pennsylvania for Louis XV of France. The captain traveled along the Ohio and Allegheny rivers inserting lead plates in the ground to mark the land for France.
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