Reply #11: Before WWII.

[PJPhreak]

Most consumer goods were made locally,in the general area that they were consumed.
We (And most other countrys) did not have the infrastructure to move goods on a scale like we have today.yes there were trains,but if you lived a good distance from a rail line,then a lot of things were to big (Furniture for example) to ship.So stuff was manufactured locally.

That has changed over the last 60 or so years mainly due to major improvements in Roads (The interstaste anD US Highway system) and Trucking,Bigger more powerful,able to carry more especally after WWII with the corresponding technical improvements.

I hope that made sense...I have'nt had my coffee yet.