Editing Bessemer, Alabama (section)

==Economy==
[[File:The Bright Star, Bessemer, Alabama.jpg|thumb|upright|The Bright Star in Bessemer is Alabama's oldest restaurant<ref>{{cite news|last=Swagler |first=Susan |date=October 11, 2017 |title=The Bright Star, Alabama's oldest restaurant, still shines |url=http://alabamanewscenter.com/2017/10/11/bright-star-alabamas-oldest-restaurant-still-shines/ |work=Alabama Newscenter}}</ref>]]
[[File:Amazon groundbreaking Bessemer.jpg|thumb|The groundbreaking of the Amazon fulfillment center in Bessemer in 2018.]]
In 1900, Bessemer ranked eighth in the population in Alabama, second in the amount of capital invested in manufacturing, and fourth in the value of its manufactured product for the year. By 1911, ore mining, iron smelting, and the manufacture of [[iron]] and [[coke (fuel)|coke]] were the chief industries of Bessemer.  Truck farming was an important industry, dating from the area's agricultural past.{{cn|date=November 2021}}

Both blacks and whites from rural areas were attracted to the city for its new work opportunities. Gradually African Americans moved into industrial jobs and became part of integrated unions. Such jobs enabled many working-class families to enjoy middle-class incomes.{{cn|date=November 2021}}

Today, ore mining has ended, as supplies were exhausted. Manufacturing remains a factor, with the U.S. Pipe and Foundry ductile pipe plant on the city's north side. In May 2007, U.S. Pipe announced that it would be building a new $45-million foundry near the current plant.  The site was selected, among other reasons, for having available space for potential future expansions. U.S. Pipe is the largest domestic producer of [[ductile iron pipe]] in sizes 4 inch through 64 inch.<ref>{{cite web|title=Restrained Joint Ductile Iron Pipe and Fittings |publisher=U.S. Pipe |url=https://uspipe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Restrained-Joint-Ductile-Iron-Pipe-and-Fittings.pdf |access-date=March 29, 2024}}</ref>

Bessemer was once home to a large railroad car manufacturing factory, operated by [[Pullman Standard]] for many decades and later by Trinity Industries. With railroad restructuring in the late 20th century and other manufacturing moving offshore, this plant ceased most production in the 1990s. In 2012, BLOX LLC (bloxbuilt.com) a manufacturer of modular components for healthcare facilities moved into this facility.{{cn|date=November 2021}}

The decline of mining and exodus of the steelmaking and railcar manufacturing industries resulted in extensive loss of jobs. Bessemer has lost population since a peak population in 1970. It faced an economic crisis in the early to mid-1980s, as unemployed workers constituted more than one-third of the workforce. Since that time the city has been successful in diversifying its economy, through the efforts of the Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce and the Bessemer Industrial Development Board. It is recognized for its business growth.  In June 2018, [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] announced that it would build a new {{convert|800000|sqft|m2}}, $325 million fulfillment center in Bessemer, which will initially create 1,500 new jobs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Edgemon |first1=Erin |title='The deal is done:' Amazon to bring 1,500 jobs to Bessemer |url=https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2018/06/the_deal_is_done_amazon_to_bri.html |website=al.com |date=June 22, 2018 |publisher=Advance Local Media LLC |access-date=June 23, 2018}}</ref>