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Industrialization and Urbanization in Nineteenth Century America

Author

Listed:
  • Jeremy Atack
  • Robert A. Margo
  • Paul Rhode

Abstract

During the nineteenth century the United States urbanized – the share of the population living in urban areas increased – and industrialized – the share of the labor force in manufacturing increased. Our survey of the literature and analyses of census data suggests that a key reason was the development of a nationwide transportation system, especially the railroad. Coupled with changes in manufacturing technology and organizational form, the “transportation revolution” increased demand for manufacturing labor in urban locations. Labor supply responded and because of agglomeration economies, population density and the size and number of urban places increased. Although our focus is on the US experience, a causal role for transportation is likely for other economies that experienced historical industrialization and urbanization.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeremy Atack & Robert A. Margo & Paul Rhode, 2021. "Industrialization and Urbanization in Nineteenth Century America," NBER Working Papers 28597, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:28597
    Note: DAE
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    Cited by:

    1. Carlo Ciccarelli & Torben Dall Schmidt, 2022. "The impact of history on regional development," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 42(3), pages 219-225, December.
    2. Nihal Ahmed & Zeeshan Hamid & Khalil Ur Rehman & Piotr Senkus & Nisar Ahmed Khan & Aneta Wysokińska-Senkus & Barbara Hadryjańska, 2023. "Environmental Regulation, Fiscal Decentralization, and Agricultural Carbon Intensity: A Challenge to Ecological Sustainability Policies in the United States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-21, March.
    3. Zhang, Xiaoli & Ahmad, Maaz & Gu, Xiao, 2024. "The Dual Faces of growth: Linear and non-linear effects of industrialization, financial development and natural resource rents on China's economy," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    4. Andersson, Jonatan & Molinder, Jakob, 2025. "Did cities increase skills during industrialization? Evidence from rural-urban migration," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    5. Hanlon, W.Walker & Heblich, Stephan, 2022. "History and urban economics," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    6. Guilfoos, Todd, 2025. "The evolution of the value of water power during the Industrial Revolution," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    7. Dalmazzo, Alberto & de Blasio, Guido & Poy, Samuele, 2022. "Can Public Housing Trigger Industrialization?," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    8. Wernick, Iddo K., 2025. "Is America dematerializing? Trends and tradeoffs in historic demand for one hundred commodities in the United States," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    9. Lianchun Zhao & Chengzhang Zhao & Jiajing Huang, 2022. "Spatial Dynamics and Determinants of Population Urbanization in the Upper Reaches of the Yellow River," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-12, August.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • N61 - Economic History - - Manufacturing and Construction - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N91 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913

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