25 U.S. Towns That Shrunk or Disappeared After the Post-War Boom

Built by U.S. Steel as a model industrial city, Gary, Indiana, represented the pinnacle of American manufacturing prowess during the post-war boom. Named after company chairman Elbert Gary, the city attracted thousands of workers seeking good-paying jobs in the steel mills. However, foreign competition and changing industry practices gradually eroded its economic foundation. Entire neighborhoods eventually stood empty, their residents having fled to more prosperous areas.