During World War II, 9,135 American Car & Foundry workers from the surrounding region produced 15,224 tanks for American and Allied forces. The Stuart, the first US tank fabricated on an assembly line, was favored for its speed and mobility and saw action in theaters of war on all continents. American Car & Foundry became the nation’s largest producer of armor plate and was unique in having its own ballistics testing range. The plant was located here.