Abstract:
The railroad helped Ararat in Surry County grow while the tobacco industry eventually led the town into decline. Ararat, a farming community, gained prosperity when the Atlantic and Yadkin Railroad connected the town to Greensboro in 1890. The town specialized in tobacco production and the railroad connection created a trading center in Ararat. The decline in tobacco production that happened after the Great Depression led to the town economy sinking as no industry's remained in the town.