What impact did railroads have on cities across the United States?
On May 10, 1869, as the last spike was driven in the Utah desert, the blows were heard across the country. Telegraph wires wrapped around spike and sledgehammer transmitted the impact instantaneously east and west. In San Francisco and New York, wires had been connected to cannons facing outward across the ocean. When the signal from the spike came through, the cannons fired. The world was put on notice: the transcontinental railroad was completed and America was moving to the forefront of the world's stage. Show
The World Grew Smaller A Competing Canal Surging Interstate Trade Improved Public Discourse A Disaster for Native Americans A Web of Rails 5 Reasons Why Trains Are Key To The... Please enable JavaScript 5 Reasons Why Trains Are Key To The FutureThe growth of railroads throughout history has facilitated the growth of cities, leading to improved quality of life in many areas. A major contributor to city growth was the development of transcontinental railroads which linked America and cities popped up along this railroad. Railroads today continue to help our economic growth by creating jobs, increasing international trades, and offering lower freight costs. However, to best understand how these railroads impacted cities, we need to discuss the history of our modern railroad systems. To learn more about the impact of railroads and how they continue to be important today, keep reading. Todd and Jack HumphreyHow Railroads Led to City and Economic GrowthUpon completion of the transcontinental railroads, America began a new surge of economic growth. These railroads allowed people to reach each other in new ways. They increased travel and grew cities exponentially. One of the biggest reasons that cities began to grow throughout the country and not just out west, is because travel became much simpler. Individuals who wanted to move to new areas could simply hop on a train and be there, versus taking weeks on a stagecoach. There was an overall increase in mailing abilities, commerce abilities, and traveling. What Were Railroad Towns?A major impact of the growth of railroads was the advancement of railroad towns. These were towns that popped up along the routes that the railroad tracks were passing through. During the growth of the transcontinental railroad, these towns were simple tents and makeshift establishments. These cities would pop up as travelers began moving westward and goods were needed along the railroad route. However, many of the towns continued to grow and some are still around today and are major cities across the United States. Over time, the makeshift railroads grew into larger cities with more concrete establishments. These cities could more easily transport their goods to other areas around the country by being near train stations. Some railroad towns were created by the railroad themselves as somewhat of a marketing technique and would help drive populations to their railroad stops, helping make them money. They would create towns near already existing cities and the population would eventually shift into the railroad town as they were more economically sound. The Santa Fe Kansas City Chief Waits to Depart Dearborn Station in ChicagoRoger Puta photo, Marty Bernard Collection This would increase economic growth in the area and would make the railroad money, as many living there would begin utilizing the railroad for travel and freight purposes. Since these towns were along the railroad tracks, they could easily access goods from the trains. This allowed the cities to grow even further, as they were able to transport goods to surrounding areas and make money. Over time, these cities became vital parts of the area and the nation. Some still existing railroad towns that have grown into major cities today are:
Economic Benefits of Railroad CitiesWhile the cities themselves become large parts of our country even today, the economic impact of these cities was vital at the time. Many moved to the areas because they offered opportunities that were once impossible, especially for those who moved to new territories. For the first time, many were able to purchase goods from other areas and businesses could transport their goods more easily. Here’s some of the many economic benefits of railroads that helped grow these railway cities. It Lowered Business CostsRailroads allowed for goods to be transported at much lower rates, which led to lowered business costs. In fact, the railroad had a larger technological impact than many modern advancements today. With the advancement of railroads, the costs to transport goods became exponentially cheaper. The theory of comparative advantage describes this, explaining how the costs of transporting materials via railroads was far cheaper than previous methods. With practically no transportation costs of their goods, businesses were able to profit substantially. Also, companies were able to transport their raw materials more easily and from less expensive sources. UP Challenger 3985 charges through Colton, Ca in 1994Craig Walker photo It Created New MarketsRailroads allowed businesses and individuals to be more particular about where they received their goods and services from. They were able to transport items more effectively and from areas that were further away. For example, areas nowhere near water could now get fresh seafood within days. In addition to creating new pathways to goods, the railroads also created new markets entirely. Prior to the growth of railroads, there was not much travel for leisure purposes. However, railroads opened an entirely new opportunity for tourism which led to growth in many cities. It Increased Living Standards Across the CountryDue to this economic growth and increased ability to achieve goods, the living standard around the country increased dramatically. The costs of living decreased greatly through lowered food and goods costs. Those living around the country were able to get items that were once not available for costs that did not break their budgets. In addition to offering new items and making it easier to obtain goods, the railroads also opened new business opportunities for people. Before railroads spread across the country, most people lived within walking distance of their workplace. This means that many were subjected to work in less than ideal conditions and for less money than they deserved. However, with the increase in railroads, many were able to begin using railroads as transportation to new workplaces. This allowed people to find jobs that were safer and offered higher pay, increasing their overall standard of living. This also drove many to the cities because they were able to find better work in these areas. Southern Pacific 2472 heads through Refugio State Beach, Ca in 1992.Craig Walker photo The Impact of the Transcontinental RailroadOne of the most notable and influential advancements in the railroad industry was the development of the transcontinental railroad. As mentioned previously, this was a railroad that linked the East Coast to the West Coast. The first transcontinental railroad also inspired the expansion of railroads across the country and led to additional similar designs that linked other areas of the country, creating an extensive railroad system that is still used today. The original transcontinental railroad was created by joining together the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad and Central Pacific Railroad in Promontory, Utah. This opened up the ability for trains to travel from New York to San Francisco in only a week’s time, something once impossible. The railroad utilized 21,000 workers, cost around $60 million, and consisted of 1,776 miles of track being laid. Some of the many impacts of this original transcontinental railroad on cities at the time were: Increased Western ImportanceUpon first expanding westward, this land was highly unknown and was not being utilized as fully as other American owned land as it was difficult to travel to and required a long stagecoach ride. Workers gather at Promontory Point, Utah, the site of the completion of the first transcontinental railroadHowever, the expansion of railroad systems allowed for areas like California, to become larger economic forces that are still notable today. This led to quicker growth and higher importance for western locations and allowed more Americans to travel to the area. Travel Costs Were LoweredPreviously, going west required a lot more preparation and often much more money than what a later train ride would cost. However, the costs of this same trip dropped by 85 percent when the transcontinental railroad was completed. It Created New CitiesOne of the biggest changes that came with the completion of the transcontinental railroad is that new cities were created. These were designed to be stops along the way for the trains, such as water stops, depots, and more. Commerce Became Possible on a Larger ScaleReaching the west with goods and bringing goods back was nearly impossible prior to the transcontinental railroad and was done on a much smaller scale. However, with the creation of the transcontinental railroad, goods could be transported on a much, much larger scale. Mail Order Catalogs Were CreatedPrior to the creation of the transcontinental railroads, those living in western cities had to create much of their wardrobes, home décor, and other items on their own with the limited supplies available. Led to More Government Financed Business VenturesSince the transcontinental railroad was created using mainly government grants and loans, this opened up the influx of government-financed businesses. In fact, many of the companies who utilized this money during the railroad’s construction did not have the financial means to do so on their own, and in turn, did not pay back these loans upon completion. Upon seeing this, many companies followed a similar pattern and used government money to create new businesses. Matt Spencer PhotoA Brief History of Railroads in AmericaWhile it may be hard to imagine a world without railroads, they were once just a construct that had yet to come to life. Before we jump into the ways that railroads benefited the economy and growth of cities, we will discuss how railroads emerged in America today. Starting from the beginning, some of the notable moments in the development of railroads are:
What are the Impacts of Railroads Today?For many, railroads seem like a thing of the past, but they are still very beneficial today. While most do not use railroads for transportation purposes, they are still very important for transporting goods and materials. In fact, railroads significantly contribute to our economy each year. Some of the many ways that railroads are still important to cities and our economy today are: They Offer Job OpportunitiesThere are around 140,000 railroad employees in America today and it continues to be one of the largest job opportunities in the country. In addition to active railway workers, there are thousands who are paid retirement each year due to past railroad work. In fact, this is a higher paying job for many areas and is a great employment option. The New York Central was instrumental in the growth of railroads with their famous “Water Level Route”.Roger Puta photo, Marty Bernard collection They Actually Save Citizen’s MoneyMost roadways and highways are paid for by the government, which means a large amount of taxes go to these projects each year and costs citizens money. However, railroads are often paid for by the company themselves and utilize cars, tracks, and infrastructure they pay to maintain. If the freight that was hauled via railroad was hauled on highways, it would cost taxpayers millions more each year. Increase International TradeRailroads help Americans continue being competitive and actually help increase international trade abilities. Close to half of the international trade completed in the U.S. today is done through railroads and at a lowered cost than other trade sources. Overall, freight railroads help save America money while also allowing us to trade with nearby countries. Create Lowered Shipment CostsWhile there are several options for shipping goods today, the railroad continues to be one of the lowest costing options available today. For companies that need to send a large amount of freight, railroads are far less expensive than other transportation methods. Though the economic impact of railroads has come to light in recent years, they still serve as a quality way to transport materials at a low cost. Penn Central GG1 4879 leads the “Crescent” at Washington Union Station in 1976.Drew Jacksich Photo Railroads Led to Vast Economic GrowthAs railroads began to spread across the country, cities popped up along these railroads, which has led to some of the biggest cities in the country still today. A major reason why these cities began to grow is because of the positive economic impact of the railroads themselves, which allowed those living in these areas the ability to transport goods in new ways. The railroads helped link the sides of the country together, allowing goods to be transported across the country. Railroads are responsible for increasing the quality of life throughout the country and made it much easier for the country to expand as travel was far simpler than stagecoach days. Today, railroads still positively impact the economy, and many companies utilize railroads for inexpensive transportation costs. While today we have far more options for transportation, railroads continue to prove beneficial in the modern world. What impact did railroads have on cities across the United States as the turn of the 20th century?Railroads became a major industry, stimulating other heavy industries such as iron and steel production. These advances in travel and transport helped drive settlement in the western regions of North America and were integral to the nation's industrialization.
What impact did railroads have on cities across the United States at the turn of the 20th century quizlet?What impact did railroads have on cities across the United States at the turn of the 20th century? Many cities became industrial centers. What was a result of creating rail standardization? Trains from different rail lines could use each other's tracks.
What impact did the railroad have on time in the United States?Railroads created a more interconnected society. Counties were able to more easily work together due to the decreased travel time. With the use of the steam engine, people were able to travel to distant locations much more quickly than if they were using only horse-powered transportation.
How did the railroads contribute to the growth of American cities?Railroads helped cities grow by providing the greatest number of jobs. Railroads helped cities grow by transporting goods and raw materials. Railroads led to the decline of cities by taking workers away from factories.
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