Pittsburg (population 4,347), the county seat of Camp County, was first settled in the 1850s. In the 1870s, two railroad lines were constructed through the community, helping to ensure the importance of Pittsburg as a trade center and shipping point for local farmers.
In 1902, Pittsburg was the site of the reported flight of the Ezekiel Airship, a flying machine that predates the Wright Brothers plane. A replica of the Ezekiel Airship is now housed at Pittsburg's Northeast Texas Rural Heritage Museum, which also includes exhibit areas in a restored railroad depot (1901) and an historic farmstead complex.
To promote tourism to these and other historic resources, Pittsburg has partnered the cities of Mt. Vernon and Mt. Pleasant to create the Trail of 3 Cities Scenic Driving Tour. Pittsburg also participates in the Texas Historical Commission's Texas Forest Trail heritage tourism initiative.
Pittsburg is a Main Street Community, and over $6.5 million dollars was reinvested in the historic downtown commercial area during the 1986-2001 period. In one example of this reinvestment, the deteriorated historic Post Office (1925) has been converted into offices.
Designated a Preserve America Community in August 2004.