Alabama and the Turn of the 20th Century
At the turn of the 20th century—the time around the year 1900—Alabama was changing fast. New industries were growing, bringing more jobs, money, and people to the state. These changes helped shape Alabama’s economy and its communities for many years to come.
One of the biggest changes was the rise of the iron and steel industry. Birmingham became known as the “Magic City” because it grew so quickly. The area had rich supplies of iron ore, coal, and limestone, which are all needed to make steel. New factories and mills opened, and many workers moved to the city to find jobs.
The textile industry also grew during this time. Textile mills used cotton to make cloth and other products. Many of these mills were built in small towns, giving people new chances to work close to home. This helped Alabama’s economy by turning raw cotton into goods that could be sold around the country.
Another important industry was timber. Alabama had large forests, and companies cut down trees to make lumber, paper, and turpentine. Logging camps and sawmills became common, especially in southern Alabama, and timber became a major part of the state’s trade.
While these industries grew, inventors and entrepreneurs also made a difference. George Washington Carver, who worked at Tuskegee Institute, created new ways to use crops like peanuts and sweet potatoes. His work helped farmers across the South. Mary Anderson, from Alabama, invented the windshield wiper, which became important for cars all over the world. Ida Brandon Mathis worked to improve farming by teaching better ways to grow crops and take care of the land.
These new industries and inventions helped Alabama grow and change at the start of the 1900s. People moved to cities, new jobs were created, and Alabama became more connected to the rest of the country through its factories, mills, and farms.