This post is part of our Big Company, Small Town series, featuring large companies and the small towns in which they are headquartered.

How long does it take to manufacture 100 billion crayons? Well, if you're the developer and foremost manufacturer of the colorful little cylindrical beauties, it takes exactly 93 years, as evidenced by the successful history of Crayola Crayons.

Easton Pennsylvania, sitting at the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh rivers, has served as the backdrop for the entire glorious history of Crayola Crayons. A small town, covering just under five square miles, and home to fewer than 30,000 inhabitants, what Easton might lack in girth, it certainly makes up for with history. The partnership of cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith, creators of the Crayola Crayon, probably were located in Easton to take advantage of the town's former status as a railroad hub, its access to raw materials, and its proximity to both Philadelphia and New York City.

While the partnership of Binney & Smith has grown and flourished, the city of Easton Pennsylvania has had its difficulties. While the Crayola empire has continually sought to enhance its offering and involvement in the creative arts by expanding, experimenting and inviting innovation, Easton has sought to remain true to, and thoughtful of its heritage. However, renewed stimulation of Easton's economy over the past decade has been focused on making the city an attractive getaway destination for visitors. This effort involves a deeply thoughtful utilization of the city's cultural, historical, and natural resources, which are being blended and deployed with strategic local focus.

Continue reading Big company, small town: Crayola, Easton, Pennsylvania

Big company, small town: Crayola, Easton, Pennsylvania originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.