Job losses also extended to manufacturing. From World War II through the early 1960s, the steel industry was booming. But in the 1960s, production started to decline. Foreign competition made it hard for companies like Wheeling Steel to stay profitable. In 1968, it merged with Pittsburgh Steel to become Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel. Both it and Weirton Steel (pictured) tried to modernize, but the industry kept shrinking.

During the 21st century, most of West Virginia’s steel production has faded away due to cheaper steel from other countries. Job losses in mining and manufacturing are big reasons why more people have left West Virginia than have moved here.