This week on the Lectures and History podcast, a discussion about rural America after the Civil War.

James Madison University professor Andrew Whitmer teaches a class about the evolution of rural areas after the Civil War in the 1860s.

Development of the railroad network in the United States.

This made it possible to profitably ship heavy stone over long distances.

Development of the railroad network.

As part of this, conversion to steel rails, thank you, Andrew Carnegie.

Conversion to steel rails allowed people to use larger locomotives that could haul heavier loads.

Using his own hometown of Monson, Maine as a case study, Professor Whitmer examines rural industry such as slate mining and the rise of country tourism, aided by the expansion of railroad networks.

Good afternoon.

Welcome to class.

Our topic today is small town, Maine, and the world.

The year is 1872, and the little town of Monson in central Maine has a big problem. The town has bounced back from the fire

that swept through its downtown, destroying many of the buildings in 1860, and it's recovering from the trauma

of the American Civil War. The Civil War ended just seven years earlier in 1865. More than 10%

of townspeople served in the Civil War, and at least six of them died.

The problem, even as the town of Monson celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding,

is that so many of its young people are moving away.

In the census of 1870, Monson was listed as having

604 residents.

Six hundred and four.

Out of curiosity, how many of you are from places with more than 604 residents? Show of hands.

Virtually everyone. How many of you went to high school with more than 604 people?

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