Industrialization and Urbanization in Nineteenth Century America

Jeremy Atack, Robert Margo and Paul Rhode

No 28597, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

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.

JEL-codes: N61 N91 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-geo, nep-his and nep-ure
Note: DAE
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published as Jeremy Atack & Robert A. Margo & Paul W. Rhode, 2021. "Industrialization and urbanization in nineteenth century America," Regional Science and Urban Economics, .

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