Charts and Data
America’s Largest Airlines 1950-2019 in Two Animated Charts
The United States airline system, one of the technological and business wonders of the twentieth century, evolved in the 1920s and 1930s. With early subsidies from the Post Office for carrying mail, airplanes began connecting US cities. With successive air...
Americans Vote with Their Feet
Last week, the Census Bureau published their annual estimates of population, as of July 1, 2020. Population trends underly all economic activity, so we study that data as soon as it is released. The fastest growing and shrinking cities and metropolitan areas...
Superwealth: A Historical Perspective
Few business subjects fascinate people as much as the very wealthy. Our obsession with celebrity goes back centuries but seems to have accelerated in recent decades. Forbes produced its first list of the richest Americans in 1982 and later started publishing it...
Bye Bye, New York
One of the most significant shifts in American business over the last several decades has been the shrinking number of big corporations headquartered in New York City. At first, some moved “upstate” to the New York suburbs and to Connecticut. But more...
Giant Companies Rarely Survive
A careful study of this week’s list will show you the huge American industries which once dominated stock markets, employment, and community life, but which are not as important in the age of Amazon and Google. Our readers know we love lists. There are few other...
Retailing Trends 1992 through 2020
The $6.3 trillion US retailing industry has evolved continuously since the end of the Civil War, when the first chain grocery stores and first department stores began to develop. This chart, based on data from the US Census, shows how the different types of...
The Drugstore Shelf and the Stewardship of Brands
“Big pharma” and “biotech” are in the news these days. Politicians attack the industry and the price of drugs. At the same time, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and others hurry along to develop a COVID vaccine. These companies have been among the...
The Biggest Companies in the World
Fifty-seven years ago, meatpacking giant Swift was the 15th largest public company in the world. Today that 15th spot is held by American health insurer UnitedHealth. Apple sits in the 12th position formerly held by Texaco, now part of Chevron. ...
What Became of My Bank?
No industry has seen more name changes and mergers and acquisitions than America’s banking industry. Many people don’t realize that BankAmerica, Chase Manhattan, JP Morgan, and Wells Fargo – all among the ten largest banks thirty years ago – were each absorbed...
Most Valuable Companies: The Last 25 Years
On Market Capitalization as a Measure of Size or Success Your history reporter has been studying big business for fifty-seven years (I started subscribing to Fortune magazine in 1963, when I was twelve years old). Over the decades, we have witnessed many...
America’s Highest Profit Companies 1994-2019
This week we present another of our animated charts based on Fortune magazine’s annual lists of the 500 largest US public companies (based on revenues). This time, our focus is on the companies which made the highest dollar profits, from 1994 through 2019. You...
Big Companies Hiring (and Laying Off) Employees
This week we present another of our animated charts based on Fortune magazine’s annual lists of the 500 largest US public companies (based on revenues). This time, our focus is on the largest employers among these big companies, from 1994 through 2019. You...
Dinosaur Age: Charting Giant Companies 66 Years Ago
“Last week we brought you an unprecedented animated chart of the Fortune 500 list since 1994. Here we go back another 40 years, when steel companies and meatpackers were still giants. Taken together, you can learn a lot from 65 years of history.” Last...
25 Years of the Fortune 500 Animated Chart
The saga of American business in one chart! The fall of Enron, the rise of Apple and Amazon, the enduring legacy of John Rockefeller in Exxon and Chevron – see the years fly by! Below the two charts is more information about the history and quirks of...
Our Great Department Stores 40 Years Ago
Here is the article closest to my heart, which I had never intended to publish this soon, but once I got rolling on it, I could not stop.Gary Hoover Today, America’s great old department stores are under siege. The reasons for their decline are manifold,...
1979 Department Store Database
Click here to download the excel file.
Our Friend the Grocery Store: 40 Years of Change
In these difficult times, few companies are doing more for us than our food retailers. From aggressive steps by the largest food retailer in the world, Walmart, to advance planning by regional firms such as HEB in Texas, the nation’s grocers are continuing to...
Evolution: Hotel and Restaurant Companies Fifty Years Ago
Few industries are more fascinating than the “hospitality” industry, which includes lodging (hotels, motels, BnBs) and foodservice (restaurants, bars, stadium corporate and institutional foodservice). Going to a restaurant convention is one of the most exhilarating...
The Data-Driven Visionary
In 1941, Fred Lazarus, Jr., had some time to kill in Houston. He had come to visit his son Ralph who was serving in the Army at nearby Ellington Field. Twelve years earlier, Lazarus and his family had united their family-owned Lazarus department...
Which Cities Are Americans Fleeing?
Click here to see the detailed chart or watch it here on youtube. Two weeks ago, we presented an animated chart showing the most popular American cities – the metropolitan areas which received the most domestic migrants in each year from 2010 through...
Where Americans are Leaving
Two weeks ago, we presented an animated chart showing the most popular American cities – the metropolitan areas which received the most domestic migrants in each year from 2010 through 2018. This week, we created an animated chart showing “the...
Most Popular Metro Areas to Move To 2010 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbOMtlruBDE
What are the Most Popular American Cities to Move To?
This week we present another of our animated charts. This one looks at which cities Americans have been moving to, from 2010 through 2018. Population growth is a key factor in business and where business takes place. Entrepreneurs and innovators often...
Where Americans are Moving
American Boomtowns and Slowdowns
Dear Friends of History, Here at the American Business History Center, we usually focus on the long-term view, going back decades. But today, for a change of pace, we take a look at very recent history….the 2010’s. Here is one of our “bar race charts” created using...
Metro Areas with Largest Population Increase 2010-2018
24 years of Big Company Change
American Spending Patterns 1929 to 2018
This week, we present more of our animated “bar race charts” made with Flourish.studio, in which you can see how change takes place over time. We have produced two versions, one for close study that takes five minutes and a very fast one that you can watch in...
The Rise and Fall of American Cities
History lovers, Today we present something a little different….an animated chart showing the rise and fall of American cities. If you play (or replay) the graphic linked here, you will see the rise and fall of the thirty most populous metropolitan areas in the...
70 Years of American Car History in Under a Minute (1896-1966)
Few industries have had more impact on American society (and workers) than the auto industry. The famous “Big Three” of General Motors (GM), Ford, and Chrysler evolved from hundreds of small carmakers, a pattern seen in many industries to this day. The...
Market Share Percent of Major Auto Companies
Makes of American Cars Ranked by Annual Production
Another very cool way of looking at the data, showing the ups and downs of each car make, see this animated chart, making sure and try both the rankings and the production number style – they appear very differently:
Annual US Auto Production by Make 1896-1966
Few industries have had more impact on American society (and workers) than the auto industry. The famous “Big Three” of General Motors (GM), Ford, and Chrysler evolved from hundreds of small carmakers, a pattern seen in many industries to this day. The...
The First Fortune 500 – 1954 Data
The first Fortune 500 - 1954 Data set Source: Fortune Magazine 1954 The First Fortune 500 1954 Data (XLSX)
US Auto Industry Big 3 Sales & Profits 1909-37
Here is data on the rise of the Big 3 US automakers: Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. Source: Report on the Motor Vehicle Industry, Federal Trade Commission, 1939 US Auto Industry Big 3 Sales & Profits 1909-37(XLSX)
US Auto Production by Make 1896-1966
Here are estimates of the largest car makers in the early years of the industry, 1896-1966. Source: The American Car since 1775, 1971, by the Editors of Automobile Quarterly US Auto Production by Make 1896-1966 (XLSX)
New York Newspaper Wars Circulation History 1894-2015
New York City once had many newspapers, and they had serious circulation wars. Here is some circulation data, from 1894, 1928, 1962, and 2015. Source: Various Newspaper Directories New York Newspaper Wars Circulation History 1894-2015 (XLSX)
1955 Fortune 500 companies no longer independent
Here is our first effort to list the companies that were on the Fortune 500 list in 1955 that no longer exist as independent companies. We have more work to do here, going down the entire list. But it should remind us of all the fallen giants! Source:...
Market Capitalization Large US Companies 1964
Largest US companies and their Market Capitalizations in 1964. Market Capitalization Large US Companies 1964 (XLSX)
Largest US Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Companies 1956
An interesting list of cosmetics and pharmaceutical companies in 1956, with sales and profit data. Source: Various Financial Reference Books Largest US Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Companies 1956 (XLSX)
Most Powerful Brands in US 1923
Here is an interesting list of the most-recognized brand names in America in 1923. Source: The Leadership of Advertised Brands, by Hotchkiss and Franken, 1923 Most Powerful Brands in US 1923 (XLSX)
Leading US National Advertisers 1979
Here is a list of the companies which spent the most on advertising campaigns in 1979. Source: Advertising Age Yearbook 1981 Leading US National Advertisers 1979 (XLSX)
Largest American discount store chains 1968
Here is a list of the largest US discount store chains in 1968. Note that K Mart, Target, and Walmart were all founded in 1962, six years earlier. However, Walmart was not nearly big enough to make this list! Source: Discount Merchandiser Magazine, June 1969...
Largest US food companies 1954 based on Fortune 500 List
This spreadsheet lists the largest publicly-held US food manufacturers in 1954, and includes tabulations by industry segment (meatpacking, bakeries, canners, etc.). Source: 1955 Fortune Magazine with list of the 500 largest US publicly-held companies in 1954 Largest...
1969 largest hotel chains
Here is a list of the largest US-based hotel chains in 1969, including the number of hotels and motels (“units”). Source: Institutions Magazine 400 1969 list. 1969 largest hotel chains (XLSX)
Big three electrical manufacturers historical data
This sheet contains sales and profit data on Allis-Chalmers, General Electric, and Westinghouse in 1910, 1928, and 1958. Source: Moody's, Standard & Poor's, and Poor's Manuals Big three electrical manufacturers historical data (XLSX)
Retail Industry History Data
Here are the data slides from our video on the history of this industry. Retail History Data (PDF)
Magazine and Broadcasting Industry History Data
Here are the data slides from our video on the history of this industry. Magazine and Broadcasting History Data (PDF)
Movie Industry History Data
Here are the data slides from our video on the history of this industry. Movie Industry History Data (PDF)
Computer Industry History Data
Here are the data slides from our video on the history of this industry. Computer Industry History Data (PDF)
Automobile Industry History Data
Here are the data slides from our video on the history of this industry. Automobile Industry History Data (PDF)
Airline Industry History Data
Here are the data slides from our video on the history of this industry. Airline Industry History Data (PDF)
Top Selling Headache Remedies and Beer Brands Mid-1960s
Here are two interesting lists, on headache remedies and beer, in the mid-1960s. Source: Television Advertising Representatives Brand Comparisons 1965 Top Selling Headache Remedy Brands in Selected US Cities 1965 (XLSX) Top Selling Beer Brands in Selected US Cities...
Largest Public Consumer Nondurable Products Makers 1954 and 2016
Here are two spreadsheets, listing extensive data on the largest US publicly-held makers of “non-durable consumer products” – food, beverage, soap, etc. – in 1954 and 2016. Source: Fortune Magazine annual lists of the 500 largest US companies (excluding privately-held...
Top Automobile Makes Mentioned in a 1923 Survey
A list of the best-known US automobile brands in 1923. Source: The Leadership of Advertised Brands, by Hotchkiss and Franken, 1923 Top Automobile Makes Mentioned in a 1923 Survey (XLSX)
Largest Companies 1917 and 1929
Here are lists of selected large American companies in 1917 and 1929. The notes on the spreadsheet tabs are important to read. Source: Forbes Magazine 50th Anniversary Issue, 9/15/1967 Largest Companies 1917 and 1929 (XLSX) In our continuing research, we...
Largest American Retailers 1929-2015
This spreadsheet contains extensive data on the largest US publicly-held retailers in 1929, 1955, 1985, and 2015. Source: Compiled by Gary Hoover from Fortune magazine lists of the biggest retailers in 1955, 1985, and 2015, and from the 1930 Moody’s Industrial Manual....
Support Us
Your donations help us show the importance of learning from the past.
You can also support the American Business History Center through the Amazon Smile program, which will give us 0.5% of the value of your purchases on Amazon without costing you anything additional.
