COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 1611

Highways & Street Construction, Except Elevated Highways

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

16companies1900–1971founding years16still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedGranite Rock CompanyFoundedGranite Rock Company
1900
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedJ.A. Jones, Inc.FoundedJ.A. Jones, Inc.
1920
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedL'Entreprise Jean LefebvreFoundedL'Entreprise Jean Lefebvre
1934
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedPeter Kiewit Sons' Inc.FoundedPeter Kiewit Sons' Inc.
1941
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedSundt Corp.FoundedSundt Corp.
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedBouygues S.A.FoundedBouygues S.A.
1952
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedBFC Construction CorporationFoundedBFC Construction Corporation
1969
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
FoundedVECO International, Inc.FoundedVECO International, Inc.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Granite Rock Company →
Active · founded 1900
The largest U.S.-owned and -managed construction materials supplier in northern California, Granite Rock Company…
Granite Rock Company →
Active · founded 1900
The largest U.S.-owned and -managed construction materials supplier in northern California, Granite Rock Company…
J.A. Jones, Inc. →
Active · founded 1920
J.A.
J.A. Jones, Inc. →
Active · founded 1920
J.A.
L'Entreprise Jean Lefebvre →
Active · founded 1934 · France
France's l'Entreprise Jean Lefebvre is engaged in highway construction, services, and maintenance, and related…
L'Entreprise Jean Lefebvre →
Active · founded 1934 · France
France's l'Entreprise Jean Lefebvre is engaged in highway construction, services, and maintenance, and related…
Peter Kiewit Sons' Inc. →
Active · founded 1941
Peter Kiewit Sons' Inc.
Peter Kiewit Sons' Inc. →
Active · founded 1941
Peter Kiewit Sons' Inc.
Sundt Corp. →
Active · founded 1946
A major general contractor in the United States and abroad, Tucson-based Sundt Corp.
Sundt Corp. →
Active · founded 1946
A major general contractor in the United States and abroad, Tucson-based Sundt Corp.
Bouygues S.A. →
Active · founded 1952 · France
Bouygues S.A.
Bouygues S.A. →
Active · founded 1952 · France
Bouygues S.A.
BFC Construction Corporation →
Active · founded 1969 · Canada
BFC Construction Corporation is one of Canada's largest construction companies.
BFC Construction Corporation →
Active · founded 1969 · Canada
BFC Construction Corporation is one of Canada's largest construction companies.
VECO International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
VECO International, Inc.
VECO International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
VECO International, Inc.
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