Downtown Elizabeth is a small borough on the banks of the mighty Monongahela River, just 15 miles southeast of the City of Pittsburgh. Settled in 1787, Elizabeth has strong roots to boating. From keelboats (possibly including the one used in the Lewis & Clark Expedition), steamboats, barges, motorboats, and now jet skis and kayaks can be found on the shores of the "Mon" River. The compact business district has seen its ups and downs and has begun to see a renaissance on Second Avenue and surrounding cross streets. This is in part to the efforts of committee members of what is now the Elizabeth Area Development Corporation (EADC) and local businesses to recreate Plum Street as a new destination. This small street has become the host to a weekly, free summer concert series. 10 years ago, a few patrons came to listen to the music, now more than 300 spectators pack the street which has brought new foot traffic to the historic downtown. New outdoor dinners and activities have spurred to help enable the committee to close off the street during the summer. Elizabeth is home to an eclectic mix of locally-owned businesses including a popular casual-fine dining restaurant, a vaudeville-era theater with local productions, specialty retail shops, pizzerias, a children's library, services and soon a nano-brewery. Elizabeth is often described as quaint and homey to those born-and-raised or those just visiting. While much of the surrounding Elizabeth-area is largely suburban, downtown remains a key gathering place for the community whether it be for parades, festivals, or day-to-day activities. Elizabeth is working towards become a destination "River Town." If selected for the Main Street Contest, EADC will prioritize improvements and amenities to turning Plum Street into a town square as well as improved signage, greenspace, and facades.
