COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 1521

Single-Family Housing Construction

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

16companies1922–1985founding years16still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedStarrett CorporationFoundedStarrett Corporation
1922
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedDominion Homes, Inc.FoundedDominion Homes, Inc.
1952
FoundedU.S. Home CorporationFoundedU.S. Home Corporation
1954
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedDel Webb CorporationFoundedDel Webb Corporation
1960
FoundedAMREP CorporationFoundedAMREP Corporation
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedLennar CorporationFoundedLennar Corporation
1969
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedHillsdown Holdings plcFoundedHillsdown Holdings plc
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.
FoundedMeritage CorporationFoundedMeritage Corporation
1985
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

Starrett Corporation →
Active · founded 1922
Starrett Corporation is a construction manager or general contractor of buildings, mainly in the metropolitan New York…
Starrett Corporation →
Active · founded 1922
Starrett Corporation is a construction manager or general contractor of buildings, mainly in the metropolitan New York…
Dominion Homes, Inc. →
Active · founded 1952
Headquartered in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio, Dominion Homes, Inc.
Dominion Homes, Inc. →
Active · founded 1952
Headquartered in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio, Dominion Homes, Inc.
U.S. Home Corporation →
Active · founded 1954
U.S.
U.S. Home Corporation →
Active · founded 1954
U.S.
Del Webb Corporation →
Active · founded 1960
Once known for its hotels and casinos, Del Webb Corporation is one of the largest residential developers in the United…
Del Webb Corporation →
Active · founded 1960
Once known for its hotels and casinos, Del Webb Corporation is one of the largest residential developers in the United…
AMREP Corporation →
Active · founded 1961
AMREP Corporation is the largest builder of housing in the state of New Mexico, and the 80th largest builder in the…
AMREP Corporation →
Active · founded 1961
AMREP Corporation is the largest builder of housing in the state of New Mexico, and the 80th largest builder in the…
Lennar Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
Florida's largest home builder and one of the largest residential builders in the country, Lennar Corporation began as…
Lennar Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
Florida's largest home builder and one of the largest residential builders in the country, Lennar Corporation began as…
Hillsdown Holdings plc →
Active · founded 1975 · United Kingdom
Hillsdown Holdings plc is a somewhat obscure holding company for a wide range of food, homebuilding, furniture, and…
Hillsdown Holdings plc →
Active · founded 1975 · United Kingdom
Hillsdown Holdings plc is a somewhat obscure holding company for a wide range of food, homebuilding, furniture, and…
Meritage Corporation →
Active · founded 1985
Meritage Corporation, formerly Monterey Homes Corporation, is a leading homebuilder in the United States, designing,…
Meritage Corporation →
Active · founded 1985
Meritage Corporation, formerly Monterey Homes Corporation, is a leading homebuilder in the United States, designing,…
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