All time 20 largest cities in the United States

[PghUSA]

^^facilities, on a metro basis I don't think there is a greater dispora in American (or for that matter Western Civilization) history, then Pittsburgh, bar none. Puerto Rico or the Cubans fleeing Castro is the only thing I could compare it to in pathos and lore.

Detroit, St. Louis, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Buffalo have all shared the pain in the demise of the rust belt and have lost tons of talent and brains, but the Lions, Browns, Bills, and Rams/Cardinals just don't produce the same outpouring of "behind enemy lines" fan base as the Pittsburgh teams have, proof positive right there that it is much more similar to a nation state--things that Puerto Rico, Cuba or the Jewish people would carry forward generation to generation.

[facilities man]

PghUSA. I agree with you. Many cities have lost population, especially the rust belt, but none have held onto their ties more than an expatriot Pittsburgher.