In 1793 Settlers from Allegheny County migrated to the area now known as New Castle, Lawrence County. They came to work in limestone quarries, and to mine iron ore and coal. Blast furnaces built in 1838 for making iron were located in both Beaver and Mercer counties; Lawrence County was created in 1849 from parts of these counties to eliminate the confusion and bring the furnaces under one statutory roof. New Castle became the county seat. The growth of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the introduction of canals brought more industry and vast numbers of European immigrants to the county. By 1890. Lawrence County had become a tin plating center of the world. By the 1920’s, wealth had transformed New Castle, and historic structures such as the Scottish Rite Cathedral and the Castleton Hotel still stand. Today the city of New Castle is known as both the hot dog and the fireworks capital of the world, owing to its famous chili dogs and two local fireworks companies of international stature.