15 Appalachian Steel Towns That Once Powered America — Then the Mills Shut Down

Once, these towns were the industrial heart of America. Thousands of workers made the steel that built the nation’s railroads, bridges, factories, and cities. Then the mills began to close — and entire communities started disappearing with them. In this video, we travel through 15 Appalachian steel towns, from Homestead and Johnstown to Aliquippa, Youngstown, Donora, and beyond. We uncover the strikes, disasters, pollution, mass layoffs, and mill closures that transformed these communities forever. But one town is different. In Braddock, Pennsylvania, the steel mill never closed. Steel is still being made there today. And yet the town has lost more than 90% of its population. How can a town disappear while its steel mill keeps running? This is the story of the steel that built America — and the towns that were left behind.