COMPANYHISTORIES
SIC 1521

Residential Building Construction

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

12companies1922–1994founding years12still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedStarrett Corporation
1922
1931
EconomyThe Empire State Building rises in just over a year.
1937
EconomyThe Golden Gate Bridge opens as the world's longest suspension span.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedDominion Homes, Inc.
1952
FoundedU.S. Home Corporation
1954
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedDel Webb Corporation
1960
FoundedAMREP Corporation
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedLennar Corporation
1969
FoundedHillsdown Holdings plc
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedHutchison Whampoa Limited
1977
FoundedNVR Inc.
1980
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedMeritage Corporation
1985
FoundedToll Brothers Inc.
1986
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedBeazer Homes USA, Inc.
1994
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
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…
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.
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…
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…
Hutchison Whampoa Limited →
Active · founded 1977 · Hong Kong
Mid-1970s:Hongkong & Shanghai Bank steps in to rescue the faltering Hutchison, taking a stake in excess of 20 percent.
NVR Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
NVR Inc., is one of the largest homebuilders in the United States, with operations in 11 states, primarily in the East,…
Meritage Corporation →
Active · founded 1985
Meritage Corporation, formerly Monterey Homes Corporation, is a leading homebuilder in the United States, designing,…
Toll Brothers Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Toll Brothers Inc.
Beazer Homes USA, Inc. →
Active · founded 1994
Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
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