Chapter 7 Lesson 1

Ch. 7 L. 1 Vocabulary hub export import urban

After the war had everything it needed to develop industry (production of goods). Raw materials, such as coal, limestone, and iron ore were found in what is now Birmingham. Levin Goodrich, an iron producer, helped make AL the center of coal and iron in the South.

Henry DeBardeleben started several coal and iron companies in AL. In 1880 the manufacturing of textiles, or cloth, began to boom. In ,000 people worked in textile mills, and ten years later AL had 31 textile mills that employed more than 8,000 workers.

Railroad construction also began to boom at this time. This helped with travel and trade. The Seaboard Lumber Company used railways to transport wood, and the Cahaba Coal Mining Company transported coal. By 1900, the entire state was connected by railways and was also linked to larger systems throughout the US. Birmingham became AL’s transportation hub.

Railroads helped AL develop trade with other states and countries. Goods were shipped to the Port of Mobile Bay by railroad. Pig iron (used to make steel) and wheat were two important exports for AL. The cotton trade began to slow since Europeans were buying from Egypt and India, so people lost money and jobs.

Industry caused the growth of many urban areas. Because of the coal, iron ore, and railroad crossing Birmingham had more than 26,000 people in Woodstock Iron Company started the town of Anniston. Henry DeBardeleben founded the town of Bessemer, which became a major area for steel production.