The Singer Sewing Machine Company was the first major industry in Elizabeth. They had up to 2,000 workers. In 1895, one of the first car companies opened. This was the Electric Carriage and Wagon Company. They were soon joined by another electric car builder, Andrew L. Riker. The Electric Boat Company got its start building submarines for the United States Navy in Elizabeth. The first boat to launch was the USS "Holland" (SS-1) in 1897. Elizabeth grew in parallel to the larger city of Newark for many years. But Elizabeth has been more successful in retaining a middle class presence and was spared riots in the 1960s.