Steel drives a lot of things
in economics, and advances in steel making were, in fact, one of the
main forces behind the Industrial Revolution in the U.S.
Birmingham's steel industry in the early 1900s fueled its economy at
the time, and rivaled that of Steel Town itself: Pittsburgh. This
gave birth to Birmingham's moniker as the "Pittsburgh of the
South."
From the late 1800s to the
early 1900s, Birmingham grew as a manufacturing hub. Its proximity to
deposits of iron ore, coal, and limestone spawned factories dishing
out quality steel, and skyscrapers housing businesses and homes for
workers. Those booming years also saw Birmingham absorbing
surrounding towns like Elyton.
Today, Birmingham's steel
history is hardly visible. Forgeries gave way to office buildings,
and residences swelled as the city shifted its focus to services.
Apartments now stand on what used to be processing plants and
marshaling yards. The noise of the nightlife and city culture wholly
replaced the sound of hammers striking hot iron.
Nevertheless, the city
remains the largest in Alabama. Now considered one of the major
business regions in the US, and Alabama’s cultural capital,
Birmingham has gracefully transformed its landscape from one littered
with billowing smoke from steel plants, to that of a highly livable
city where residents thrive and live the good life.
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