Editing Caswell County, North Carolina (section)

====Post–World War II to early 21st century====
After World War II, as Caswell County and the broader United States returned to civilian life, it became evident that new efforts were needed to overcome longstanding economic barriers. County leaders in the 1950s and 1960s recognized that economic advancement depended on developing sufficient water resources for industrial expansion, improving infrastructure such as roads, providing new and diverse county-wide services, increasing cultural resources, and operating local government in a more business-like manner.{{sfn|Powell|1977}} The history of Caswell County in the second half of the 20th century is marked by significant progress in these areas, though critical needs persisted. Moreover, the county's heritage from the earlier Boom Era of bright leaf tobacco and Greek Revival architecture served as both an opportunity and a challenge.{{sfn|Powell|1977}}

By 1950, Caswell County reached a peak of 20,870 inhabitants, which was not surpassed until the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]].<ref>{{cite web| title=United States Census Bureau| url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.1950.html|access-date=August 7, 2021}}</ref> The economic upswing of the 1950s saw new businesses entering the area. This included the opening of a meatpacking operation in 1956 in the county's southwest corner. Between the mid-1950s and mid-1980s, the county also attracted textile mills to Yanceyville.<ref>{{cite web| title=Caswell County Textile Industry| url=https://ncccha.org/pdf/textilemills/caswellcountytextilemillhistory.pdf|access-date=December 26, 2022}}</ref> Such growth enabled the local government to broaden its tax base and see increases in [[public revenue]].<ref name="auto3"/>

As the county entered the 21st century, it faced the aftermath of [[Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement|a crisis in the tobacco industry]], the urgent need for economic development in light of the [[Information Age]], and a national trend toward [[heritage tourism]] as a means of economic growth.<ref name="Yanceyville"/> Caswell County's economy continued to develop, diversify, and shift its growth away from tobacco production. Business and entrepreneurial activity increased due to the area's location, commercial properties, land primed for development, relatively low property tax rate, and other factors.<ref name="Yanceyville">{{cite web| title=History of Yanceyville| url=https://yanceyvillenc.gov/living-in-yanceyville/|access-date=June 7, 2022}}</ref><ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://allincaswellnc.com/business-and-entrepreneurship|title=Business & Entrepreneurship|publisher=AllinCaswellNC.com|access-date=July 13, 2021}}</ref>