Rocky Mount, North Carolina
In the second half of the 19th century, the tobacco industry became very important in the state. Rocky Mount could take advantage of the very quickly rising demand for brightleaf tobacco that grew best in sandy soil because it was next to the coastal plain. Tobacco also affected the city's social life. Warehouses where tobacco was stored and sold began hosting balls for the community in the 1880s. These became known as "june germans" for the time of year and style of dance. June Germans eventually became all-night dance parties and attracted musicians and socialites from miles around well into the 1900s. By the end of the 19th century, tobacco had replaced King Cotton as the town's main cash crop.