The history of the steel industry in the United States spans nearly 200 years. Production surged in the 1950s, the era of the post-World War II boom and the growing American love affair with metal-heavy cars.
Vast amounts of iron ore and coke were used in massive steel mills that provided the lifeblood to surrounding cities and towns. Although the U.S. became a major importer of steel, mostly from Japan, in the 1960s, domestic production of iron and steel peaked in 1973.
In the intervening time, many large steel mills have closed or merged. In recent years, much of the U.S. Steel industry has shifted to specialty and minimills. Iron and scrap steel has replaced ore as a feedstock, supporting the recycling sector.
As the steel industry continues to evolve, some businesses have long witnessed its development. Some steel companies born in the 1800s still serve today's markets.
The 10 Oldest Steel Companies in the U.S.
10: ArcelorMittal USA Inc. in Chicago, Illinois, has been around since 1893. The company makes flat-rolled steel. Founded as Acme Flexible Clasp Company, the business has survived through many incarnations.
After merging with a hardware manufacturer, it became Acme Steel Goods in 1907, then Acme Steel in 1925. During the depression, it offered much-needed jobs to approximately 1,400 residents of the Chicago area. In 1964 Acme became part of the Interlake Steel Corp. By the mid-1970s sales had soared, approaching $700 million. Its workforce drawn from around Chicago had swelled to 3500.
In 1986 a new but struggling Acme was spun off from Interlake. With a remaining staff of only 100, the plant began a shutdown in 2001.
Acme Steel was bought out of bankruptcy and reopened as ISG, a minimill with 200 employees. Now, as a division of ArcelorMittal, it is part of the largest steel company in the world.
9: Duncan Galvanizing Corp. in Everett, Massachusetts, was established in 1890 as J. Duncan Company. It specialized in the galvanization of patented switches and systems for monorails.
The company now applies corrosion resistant zinc coatings for a variety of applications. Its present customers include architects, fabricators, general contractors and engineers.
8: Ashland Foundry & Machine Works Inc. in Ashland, Pennsylvania, manufactures a broad array of alloys. It casts parts and also machines them.
Since its establishment in 1881, as Goyne Brothers, a pump manufacturer, the company has continuously been in business.
It merged with a foundry in 2010. Ashland serves the oil field, pump, chemical, valve, industrial, marine and other industry sectors.
7: AZZ Galvanizing Services in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was established in 1881. It specializes in the hot dip galvanizing process, which is even older, dating back 150 years. The industries it serves include infrastructure, agriculture, petrochemicals, electrical utilities, transportation and recreation.
6: United States Steel Corp., Granite City Works, in Granite City, Illinois, was established in 1878. The company produces high quality hot and cold rolled steel, and coated sheet steel. Its customers are in the container, construction, service center, pipes and vehicle sectors. The company can turn out almost 3 million tons of steel annually.
5: Plateplus Inc. in Catoosa, Oklahoma, and established in 1865, offers hot rolled sheet and plate. The company specializes in simplifying the logistics of their customers' supply chains by maintaining the inventory and capabilities to provide the right products when they are needed. The company offersJust in Time (JIT) delivery and has a record of 100 percent fulfillment on its contracts.
4: Samuel, Son & Company Inc., established by two brothers in 1855, is a provider of carbon steel and other products in Lancaster, New York.
The company is family owned and operated. In 1963 it created a packaging division offering steel strapping, hand tools and equipment. In 1973 it added stainless steel to its repertoire. In 2014 it established an independent trucking affiliate to handle its growing volume of metal processing.
3: California Electric Steel Inc. is in Angels Camp, California, where it is regarded as living history. The company, which was established in 1854, provides castings to customers around the world.
Started as a blacksmith shop, the company became Altaville Foundry and Machine Shop to meet a high demand for mining equipment. It took its present name in 1934 as one of the first business to operate by electricity.
2: Wollaston Foundry Corp, was established inTaunton, Massachusetts in 1848. The company, which also does business under the name of Wollaston Foundry Machine, supplies commercial and industrial equipment. The company is privately held and operates at a single location. It is part of Wollaston Industries.
1. Blair Strip Steel is the elder statesman of U.S. steel companies. Gap Furnace began smelting iron in Central Pennsylvania back in 1783 and, following the evolution from ironmakers to steelmakers, still operates today after nine generations in the Blair family as Blair Strip Steel in New Castle, PA. The company's 239 year history is chronicled in "Rolling On: 200 Years of Blair Iron and Steel" by Carlee Alson and includes several years with a vice president named Andrew Carnegie, then in his 30's. Not only is Blair the oldest iron and steel company in the Western hemisphere, it's one of the oldest ongoing companies of any kind.
For a full listing of all U.S. steel companies in the U.S., both young and old, start your search on IndustryNet.
Editor's note: A version of this article was originally published in August 2018.
