Most of North Carolina's town grew rapidly after Reconstruction. During the Civil War, only Wilmington had more than 10,000 people and seemed big enoughto be a city. Forty years later, at the start of the twentytieth century, a much bigger Wilmington-with 20,000 people-remained the state's largest town and most important seaport.
Why had this happened? There were two reasons. First, the railroads the Republicans restored during REconstruction finally connected North Carolina to the outside world.
Concord was a case in point. At the time of the Civil War, Concord had fever than 1,000 people. Its one factory made everything from nails to cotton yarn to burlap bags, but it seldom made a profit.
North Carolinians even built new towns during this period. High Point had begun as a depot on thon the North Carolina Railroad in 1854. It became a key trading spot after the plank road from Salem to Fayetteville was compeleted.
The largest shift in size in the western half of the state came in the comparative importance of Charlotte and Salisbury. At the start of the of the Civil War, the two towns were fairly equal in size and level of economic activity.
The early cotton mills of North Carolina were always full of young people.The mills bulit before the Civil War hired mostly young women, since young men could easily make more money working on a farm.
Why had this happened? There were two reasons. First, the railroads the Republicans restored during REconstruction finally connected North Carolina to the outside world.
Concord was a case in point. At the time of the Civil War, Concord had fever than 1,000 people. Its one factory made everything from nails to cotton yarn to burlap bags, but it seldom made a profit.
North Carolinians even built new towns during this period. High Point had begun as a depot on thon the North Carolina Railroad in 1854. It became a key trading spot after the plank road from Salem to Fayetteville was compeleted.
The largest shift in size in the western half of the state came in the comparative importance of Charlotte and Salisbury. At the start of the of the Civil War, the two towns were fairly equal in size and level of economic activity.
The early cotton mills of North Carolina were always full of young people.The mills bulit before the Civil War hired mostly young women, since young men could easily make more money working on a farm.