Whitehall is said to be named after White Hall tavern, which still stands in neighboring Brentwood.
What makes the borough of Whitehall stand apart from other suburbs of Pittsburgh? You may well ask. If you took a walk down Brownsville Road, one of the main streets of Whitehall, and took a quick survey of the residents, then you would likely get a wide range of different answers to the question of why they like to live there. Keen golfers will cite the South Hills Country Club. Everyone, minus a few miserable misanthropes, would be likely to talk about the close-knit neighborly spirit that exists in this community of fewer than 14,000 residents (2010 U.S. Census).
Moving to Whitehall
One reason why the community spirit in Whitehall is strong is that once people set down roots here, they aren't in too much of a hurry to leave! Unfortunately, from the point of view of someone looking for an opening into this tight-knit group, that means that vacancies aren't always as easy to come by as you might like. Here are a few words of advice: start early, and move fast. Unless you like the idea of spending your first few weeks in town sleeping under the stars (not recommended in January, when snow often coats the ground), you will want to leave yourself plenty of time to find a rental apt in Whitehall.
Once you have fallen in love with a cute little townhouse or stumbled across the perfect condo for rent, it's time to put your money where your mouth is. Landlords expect a deposit up front (usually equal to first and last months' rent), as well as a pet deposit if you are bringing some furry little friends along. Note that not all landlords take kindly to pets, no matter how much you offer to pay, so make sure you check the rules on those luxury apartments early on to avoid setting yourself up for a disappointing rejection when you mention how much your Great Dane is looking forward to moving in.
Finding an all-bills-paid apartment is relatively rare, but if you can land yourself one of these deals then you can save yourself a lot of time worrying about how much you are going to be paying out on heating and cooling your home. Don't worry, though -- during most of the year temperatures here are quite comfortable, although summers can be very humid and winters definitely have some cold snaps. Bring a varied wardrobe, or be prepared for a shopping spree once you arrive.
Neighborhoods
Whitehall isn't big enough to have distinct neighborhoods. Nevertheless, here are a few local hints to help you pick where to live in Whitehall. Wherever you choose to live in Whitehall, one thing is for sure: you will be made to feel very welcome indeed. There are plenty of shopping malls and local businesses to cater to your needs, and a fair few parks where you can get some space to think. In fact, the most arduous task you will face might be choosing an apartment to live in. You'd better get to work on that right now!
Eastside: If you love golf and / or plan on taking the bus to work, then the east side of town gives you the best transport links and easy access to that big South Hills course. The municipal swimming pool is also on this side of town, and in fact so is the public library.
Westside: With so many amenities clustered around the east end of town, you might be wondering why anyone would ever choose to live the more western side of Whitehall. Some possible draws could include the collection of good schools, or maybe their stomachs are leading residents toward great eateries such as gourmet Chinese restaurant Silk Road, or Armstrong's, the home of good old-fashioned home Italian cooking, which is sure to put some meat on your bones. Either that, or they just really like knocking down pins at the Princess Lanes Bowling Center.
Life in Whitehall
Many people choose to live in Whitehall as a safer, more serene alternative to Pittsburgh, but that doesn't mean they have escaped the city entirely. With the average Whitehallian spending between 30 and 45 minutes commuting to work, it's a fair guess to say that most of them are probably traveling into the center of Pittsburgh every morning during peak times. The good news is that you can avoid the stress of driving yourself into work each day by hopping on the Y46 bus, which allows you to go back to sleep for another 20 minutes or so rather than having to keep your eyes on the road (just don't miss your stop!). Roughly 11 percent of people in Whitehall choose to take the bus to work, which is more than in many American cities. Carpooling is another popular option. After all, what is the point in having friendly neighbors if you aren't going to take advantage of them? (We're just kidding.)
Now that you know how you'll get to work and back, let's focus on all the things that you might like to do during your leisure time. Sure, sitting on the couch is an option in Whitehall, just as it is anywhere else, but that would not be making the most of all that the area has to offer. There is certainly no shortage of options for getting active around here. A municipal complex provides a large swimming pool, kids' pool, and four tennis courts for residents to enjoy. And if you can't live without your clubs, then you will be pleased to know that the South Hills Country Club gives you plenty of space to swing 'em on its 18-hole golf course.
