During the 20th century, textiles because the number one industry in the Carolinas, with most of the mills being established along river banks for cheap power and close to the raw product supplies--cotton. To get workers, the mills built company owned housing. Cliffside is typical of hundreds of such communities. Reno Baily's passion for his home town comes through as he chronicles the life of Cliffside.Cotton is no longer king. The textile industry has mostly moved to other countries. Cliffside held on much longer than many company towns. It is an important document for new generations who rarely will see an existing 'mill town'. Although the names mean little except to relatives and neighbors, it is important that this era in a community's life be kept alive. Reno has done that for Cliffside.