U.S. Steel

In 1857, Jones & Co. was founded in Newburgh, which eventually became part of the U.S. Steel Corp. This marked the beginning of the company's presence in Cleveland's steel industry.

In 1861, the first blast furnace in Cleveland was built by the Cleveland Rolling Mill Co., which later became part of the U.S. Steel Corp. This was a significant development in the city's steel production.

In November 1863, the company was reorganized as the Cleveland Rolling Mill Co., which played a crucial role in the history of the U.S. Steel Corp. and the steel industry in Cleveland.

In 1868, steel was produced at the Newburgh mill using the new Bessemer process, marking a significant advancement in steel production for the company that later became part of the U.S. Steel Corp.

In 1881, the company expanded its facilities with the erection of the Central Furnace near the Cuyahoga River, which was a pivotal moment in the growth of the U.S. Steel Corp. in Cleveland.

In 1884, J. F. Holloway published a book titled 'Henry Bessemer and His Inventions', which likely detailed the life and inventions of Henry Bessemer, a British engineer and inventor known for the Bessemer process of steel production.

The violent strike at the Homestead, Pennsylvania plant of U.S. Steel resulted in the breaking of the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers union.

In 1899, H.P. Nail Co., the American Wire Co., and the Baackes Wire Nail Co. all became part of American Steel & Wire Co. of New Jersey, which later became a subsidiary of U.S. Steel.

U.S. Steel, with a total capitalization of $1.4 billion, had a significant impact on the economy and infrastructure in the early twentieth century. The company's integrated system controlled the entire process of steel production and played a crucial role in the construction of infrastructure, the growth of automobile usage, and the production of materials for World War I.

The U.S. Steel Corporation was founded in 1901, with George F. Baker being the largest individual owner of U.S. Steel stock. This event marked a significant development in the industrial and corporate landscape of the United States.

J.P. Morgan formed U.S. Steel by financing the merger of Carnegie Steel Company, Federal Steel Company, and National Steel Company. It became the largest steel producer and corporation in the world, with headquarters in New York City.

U.S. Steel was included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average from April 1, 1901, to May 3, 1991, under its USX Corporation name with Navistar International and Primerica.

In its first full year of operation, U.S. Steel made 67 percent of all the steel produced in the United States, establishing its dominance in the industry.

In 1904, the company made a significant acquisition by purchasing the Clairton Steel Company.

Gary Works, located in Gary, Indiana, on the shore of Lake Michigan, is U.S. Steel's largest domestic facility. It was built in 1906 and has been operating since June 28, 1908.

U.S. Steel bought its largest competitor, the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and replaced it in the Dow Jones Industrial Average with the General Electric Company.

The company formed the Committee on Safety of United States Steel to introduce the modern 'Safety First' movement, aiming to prevent worker accidents and safeguard the company against criticisms and legal liability.

The acquisition of the Columbia Steel Company took place in 1910, further strengthening the company's position in the industry.

The federal government attempted to use federal antitrust laws to break up U.S. Steel, but the effort ultimately failed, similar to the breakup of Standard Oil in the same year.

The photograph 'Blast Furnace View from Middle Platform over West Track of #1 Ore Bridge' taken on April 30, 1913, provides a visual record of the industrial infrastructure at that time.

In 1919, workers went on strike outside the US Steel plant in Gary, Indiana. This strike represents a significant labor dispute in the history of US Steel.

In 1920, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that U.S. Steel was not a monopoly in restraint of trade under the U.S. antitrust laws, impacting the company's position in the steel industry.

The publication 'United States Steel: A Corporation with a Soul' aimed to create a positive image of U.S. Steel through text and photographs illustrating the steel production process. It was part of the company's efforts to address negative public perceptions and portray the enterprise as more than just a 'soulless' corporation.

In 1924, the division's national headquarters were consolidated in the ROCKEFELLER BLDG. in Cleveland.

During the Great Depression in the 1930s, U. S. Steel moved its headquarters to New York City’s Empire State Building, which was completed in 1931 using their steel. This move signified a shift in focus towards modernizing operations and producing more steel for consumer products.

In 1936, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was constructed in California, with US Steel supplying steel for the project. This bridge is a notable structure that US Steel contributed to.

In 1937, Myron C. Taylor, the board chairman of U.S. Steel, recognized the United Steelworkers of America, marking a shift in the company's approach towards unions.

During World War II, women held one of every eight jobs at U.S. Steel, contributing to various roles in both operating facilities and office settings.

In 1943, U.S. Steel reached its peak employment with more than 340,000 employees.

In 1945, a man in a crane charges slabs of iron at the Gary Works plant in Gary, Indiana. It was US Steel's largest manufacturing plant and held the title of the largest steel mill in the world for most of the 20th century.

In 1946, striking steelworkers picketed in Homestead, Pennsylvania, with an estimated 750,000 workers participating in the walkout, leading to the shutdown of 1,200 plants in 30 states.

In 1948, steel beams for the United Nations Secretariat Building were loaded at a US Steel plant in Munhall, Pennsylvania. The construction of the building was underway during this time.

In 1949, the company revealed plans for the construction of the Fairless steelworks in Pennsylvania, signaling a new phase of expansion.

In 1950, a temporary television antenna was adjusted atop New York's Empire State Building by a worker from US Steel's American Bridge Co.

A portrait of a US Steel worker was taken circa 1951.

The Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) was introduced as a new steelmaking technology, allowing for cheaper and more efficient steel production. However, US Steel was slow to adopt this technology, which led to it falling behind other American companies in steel production.

A worker oversees pipe production at a plant in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, circa 1955.

New twin blast furnaces operate at US Steel's South Chicago Works in 1956. They were among the world's largest at the time, standing 235 feet tall.

U.S. Steel was an original member of the S&P 500 since 1957 but was removed from that index on July 2, 2014, due to declining market capitalization.

The Fortune 500 list in 1959, which may include the United States Steel Corporation as one of the top companies based on its revenue and influence.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy successfully pressured the steel industry into reversing price increases that were considered dangerously inflationary.

In 1963, U.S. Steel strongly resisted the Kennedy administration's efforts to enlist Alabama businesses to support the desegregation of the University of Alabama.

In a reorganization move, the American Steel & Wire Division was dissolved in 1964 and the Cleveland offices were moved to Pittsburgh.

Men work at the Homestead Steel Works factory in Homestead, Pennsylvania, circa 1970. From its peak in the 1950s, the company began to fall behind upstart competitors both foreign and domestic. Competitors in Japan and Germany, which were forced to rebuild from scratch after World War II, used new technologies that required far less labor and energy.

In 1971, U.S. Steel built both the Disney's Contemporary Resort and the Disney's Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World to showcase its residential steel building 'modular' products to high-end and luxury consumers.

New York City's One Liberty Plaza was built by U.S. Steel as the city's U.S. Steel Tower in 1973.

The Worcester Works in Worcester, Massachusetts, operated by U.S. Steel, closed in 1977.

In 1979, the company underwent a significant restructuring process, leading to the closure of 13 unprofitable steel plants.

The Ohio Works and Macdonald Works in Youngstown, Ohio, operated by U.S. Steel, closed in 1980.

In March 1982, U.S. Steel acquired Marathon Oil, saving approximately $500 million in taxes through the merger.

Further restructuring efforts in 1983 led to the closure of numerous outdated plants, streamlining the company's operations.

In May 1984, U.S. Steel closed the Cuyahoga Works, its last major operation in Cleveland.

About 22,000 USX employees stopped work on August 1, 1986, resulting in most USX facilities becoming idle until February 1, 1987.

A compromise was brokered and accepted by the union membership on January 31, 1987, ending the work stoppage.

On February 4, 1987, USX announced that four plants would remain closed permanently, eliminating about 3,500 union jobs.

Charles A. Corry assumed the role of Chairman & CEO on May 31, 1989.

In 1990, the company implemented cost-cutting measures through the consolidation of its Texas Oil and Marathon Oil operations, optimizing its resources.

South Chicago's South Works, operated by U.S. Steel, closed in 1992.

Thomas Usher took over as Chairman & CEO on July 1, 1995.

Under the leadership of CEO Thomas Usher, U.S. Steel spun off Marathon and other non-steel assets, except for the railroad company Transtar, in October 2001.

In 2002, U.S. Steel Group was spun off from USX Corporation, becoming an independent, publicly traded corporation under its original name, United States Steel Corporation.

U.S. Steel acquired National Steel Corporation in May 2003 for $850 million and assumption of $200 million in debt.

John Surma assumed the role of Chairman & CEO on October 1, 2004.

In 2007, U. S. Steel acquired Lone Star Technologies, a leading producer of welded pipe for the oil and gas industry. This acquisition bolstered U. S. Steel's position in the growing energy sector and made it North America’s largest manufacturer of tubular steel products.

In 2008, United States Steel Corporation was ranked as the eighth-largest steel producer globally, reflecting its significant presence in the steel industry.

On April 27, 2009, U.S. Steel's dividend was reduced to $0.05 per share.

In 2010, negotiations for pension rights for former Stelco employees were initiated due to U.S. Steel's purchase of Stelco in 2007 and its commitment to the Canadian government to fulfill the pension obligations.

In January 2012, U.S. Steel sold its Serbian mills outside Belgrade to the Serbian government due to operating at an economic loss.

In April 2013, U.S. Steel locked out approximately 1,000 workers at the Nanticoke, Ontario facility after they refused an earlier contract offer. This was the third lockout at the former Stelco facility since U.S. Steel's acquisition in 2007.

In May 2013, a new continuous annealing line at the joint venture PRO-TEC Coating Company was commissioned to process high-strength and highly formable steel grades, with a focus on the automotive industry.

On July 2, 2014, U.S. Steel was removed from the S&P 500 index and placed in the S&P MidCap 400 Index due to its declining market capitalization.

In 2015, a spokesman for US Steel mentioned that fluctuating oil prices, reduced rig counts, depressed steel prices, and unfairly traded imports were driving a consolidation of operations, putting 2000 jobs at risk at the Granite City Works.

In November 2016, U.S. Steel announced an agreement with Bedrock Industries Group LLC for the sale and transition of ownership of U. S. Steel Canada, Inc. to Bedrock, pending the completion of necessary documentation and approvals.

The sale and transition of ownership of U. S. Steel Canada, Inc. to Bedrock was finalized in June 2017.

In 2018, U.S. Steel announced a $750 million capital investment program for Gary Works, the company's largest manufacturing plant located on the south shore of Lake Michigan. The program aims to enhance environmental performance and improve cost competitiveness.

In 2019, US Steel announced an agreement to purchase a minority stake in Big River Steel, with the potential to acquire full control within four years. The deal was estimated to exceed $2 billion in value.

In February 2020, the dividend for U.S. Steel was reduced to $0.01 per share but was later increased back to $0.05 per share in November 2021.

In December 2020, U.S. Steel announced it would acquire the remaining ownership interest in Big River Steel for $774 million. The acquisition was completed in January 2021.

In January 2021, U.S. Steel fully acquired Big River Steel in northeast Arkansas.

In mid-2021, Transtar LLC, the transportation division of US Steel, was sold to Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC for $640 million. This sale was intended to allow US Steel to concentrate on its primary mining and steelmaking operations.

In February 2022, U.S. Steel began construction of a new mill in Osceola, Arkansas, which is expected to be operational by 2024.

In April 2022, the electric arc furnace flat-rolled Big River Steel mill in Osceola became the first ResponsibleSteel site certified in North America following an independent audit by SRI Quality System Registrar (SRI).

In June 2022, U.S. Steel signed a non-binding letter of intent with SunCoke Energy that would allow SunCoke to purchase two blast furnaces from U.S. Steel's Granite City Works for use in pig iron fabrication.

In December 2022, a new four-year contract was ratified between members of the United Steelworkers union and U.S. Steel, covering 11,000 workers at 13 locations.

On December 18, 2023, Nippon Steel announced an agreement with U.S. Steel to purchase the company for $14.1 billion USD, pending regulatory approval.

Biden has expressed his disapproval of the proposal to sell US Steel to a Japanese company, emphasizing the importance of supporting American steel workers.

The United Steelworkers union has officially given their support to Biden in the presidential race, strengthening his labor backing.