American Towns That Used to Be Rich But Are Now Poor

© Courtesy New York Public Library

Camden, Arkansas

In the late 19th century Camden was known for its buzzing cotton trade. The area welcomed four steamboats a day, arriving to haul the 40,000 bales of cotton that the area produced in a season to New Orleans. Pictured are some cotton pickers from the area.

Cotton is still produced in Arkansas, but as foreign markets developed, especially after World War II, production in America has greatly slowed. In fact, in 2015 American farmers planted the fewest acres of cotton since 1983.