During the early pioneer years of Randolph County, transportation by foot, horseback, or by raft on the Mississinewa River and White River were the only sources of mobility. Beginning in the early 1850s, planning for five railroads took place that made Union City a Midwest epicenter of railroad travel, connecting train lines that transported passengers and freight from destinations including Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Chicago, Louisville, St. Louis, and Indianapolis. From 1904 to 1930, the interurban, an electric traction railroad, provided passenger rail service throughout Randolph County, the Midwest, and eastern parts of the nation, and Union City became known as the Hub City. In the late 1880s, natural gas was found beneath 16 counties in east central Indiana, including Randolph County, and this expansive field was then the largest contiguous location of natural gas known in the nation. The railroad and natural gas boom transformed the county from a primarily agrarian community into one where commerce, trade, and business also prospered. Early and later Randolph County industries and businesses included glass companies, banks, a telephone company, manufacturing firms, lumber, food production, gas, health care, bottling, auto parts, construction, chocolate, ethanol, and renewable energy companies, and collectively these companies and others have employed or still employ thousands of workers. The wealth created by former and existing companies spurred construction of commercial buildings and residential homes in cities and towns throughout Randolph County. Among successful business families were Ridgeville's five Kitselman brothers, active from the 1860s to the 1950s, who began manufacturing steel ball bearing roller skates in the late 1800s and later established the Indiana Steel and Wire Company in Muncie, Indiana, and Winchester's five Goodrich brothers, active from the 1860s to the 1950s, who created a financial dynasty in agriculture, public utilities, coal, newspapers, banking, and securities.