How Durango To Farmington Railroad Impacted The Economic Development Of The San Juan Basin

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How the Durango to Farmington Railroad Impacted the Economic Development of the San Juan Basin from 1905 to 1968. The rise of railroads in the American West played a crucial role in boosting the economy of distant areas in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Trains linked far-off places to big cities and markets, making it easy to move goods, people, and resources that drove industrial growth. A prime example of this game-changing power is the Durango to Farmington rail line, built in 1905. This train route had a substantial impact on the economy and society of the San Juan Basin, which spans parts of Colorado and New Mexico. The railroad connected the towns of Durango, Colorado, and Farmington, New Mexico, to wider economic networks. This link allowed the area to grow by shipping coal, farm products, and other key goods. The train line also helped small towns pop up along its path and brought more people to the region. This paper shows how the Durango to Farmington Railroad changed the San Juan Basin …show more content…

The area was pretty cut off before the train came, without many ways to get to other parts of the country. The railroad changed all that. It made it easier for folks to come and go, which led to more people moving in and new towns popping up along the tracks. John H. Marshall's account highlights how the railroad had a significant impact on linking communities that were once cut off. He points out that the railroad did not just make it simpler to move goods around, but also helped people travel between towns and cities more. This boost in people's ability to move around led to a big jump in the number of folks living along the railroad's path. New settlers flocked to the area to grab the money-making opportunities the railroad created. Small, out-of-the-way towns like Farmington grew as the railroad brought new businesses, workers, and families to

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