What led to the urbanization of towns like Albuquerque and Raton in the late 1800s?

Railroads helped towns grow by connecting them to distant markets and making it easier to move people and goods. Albuquerque and Raton were located along major rail lines, so they developed into trade hubs and attracted businesses and residents. Their growth was therefore driven by railroad access, not primarily by tourism, government encouragement, or farmers fleeing extreme weather.

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