(Cotton farmers in town image - Courtesy of the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room - Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.)

Cotton

The agricultural industry in Mecklenburg County underwent significant changes following the Civil War.  While the coming of the railroad had lessened the self-sufficiency of area farmers to some degree, they continued to produce a wide variety of crops such as corn, wheat, oats, peas, and beans in order to feed their families and livestock.  After the war, the production of cotton took on a larger role.  High cotton prices and the easy access of Charlotte's transportation links to large markets urged farmers to grow the cash crop as a way to get out of debt.  The railroads brought in loads of guano and other fertilizers that allowed farmers to grow more cotton on more acres of land.  Mecklenburg County farmers began to grow cotton at the expense of other crops, the size of area farms decreased, and the numbers of sharecroppers and tenants increased.

 

The Railroad Comes to Charlotte Home Page

Return to Main Exhibits Page