In 1985, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a non-profit organization, was established to convert abandoned railroad corridors into open spaces for public use. During the nineteenth century, the railroad industry in the United States boomed as rail companies rushed to acquire land and assemble the largest rail system in the world. By 1916, over 250,000 mi (402,000) of track had been laid across the country, connecting even the most remote towns to the rest of the nation. However, during the next few decades, the automobile drastically changed the way Americans live and travel.

With Henry Ford's introduction of mass production techniques, the automobile became affordable for nearly everyone, and industry shifted to trucking for much of its overland transportation. The invention and widespread use of airplanes had a significant impact on the railroad industry as well, and people began abandoning railroad transportation.

As a result of these developments, thousands of miles of...