Founded in 1899, the American Rolling Mill Company, more commonly known as Armco, was founded by industrialist George M. Verity. Construction of the first steel mill broke ground on July 12, 1900. The steel mill, located along the Miami and Erie Canal, Curtis Street and Yankee Road, became the origins of what was known as Central Works. In 1910, construction of a much larger steel mill began; it was located in southeastern Middletown, at the end of South Crawford Street, and was dubbed East Works. In 1948, the company changed its name to the Armco Steel Corporation. In 1978, the Company became Armco, Inc., to represent its move beyond just steel. In 1985, Armco relocated its headquarters to New Jersey. In 1989, Armco merged with Kawasaki Steel Corporation of Japan, to become Armco Steel Company, L. P. In 1993, the company relocated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and became AK Steel. In 2007, the company relocated to West Chester Township, Ohio. In August of 2020, the Cleveland based Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. purchased AK Steel Holding Corp. Beginning in March of 2021 the AK Steel name and brand was phased out, replaced with the Cleveland-Cliffs name. Armco is recognized as the first steel company to organize a department devoted exclusively to research, and for the development of the continuous rolling mill (invented by John B. Tytus).