History of Gadsden, Alabama
Gadsden is a city in the county seat of Etowah County, Alabama. It is located in northeastern Alabama, approximately 60 miles northeast of Birmingham. It is the principal city of and is included in the Gadsden metropolitan statistical area, which has a population of 103,459. As of the 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 37,405.
It was at one time the state's 2nd most important industrial center, trailing only Mobile. The two cities were important shipping centers: Gadsden for riverboats and Mobile for international trade. Up until the 1980s, Gadsden was almost totally dependent on heavy industry, including Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and Republic Steel. After virtually crumbling in the 1970s and 1980s, Gadsden decided its best course of action was to stop being dependent on industry, and shedding its "company town" image.
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