COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 233110

Land Subdivision and Land Development

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

24companies1866–1999founding years24still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedSwire Pacific LimitedFoundedSwire Pacific Limited
1866
FoundedHongkong Land Holdings Limited
1889
FoundedAlexander & Baldwin, Inc.FoundedAlexander & Baldwin, Inc.
1900
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedSlough Estates PLC
1920
FoundedTaylor Woodrow plcFoundedTaylor Woodrow plc
1921
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedSime Darby Berhad
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedLincoln Property CompanyFoundedLincoln Property Company
1965
FoundedNew World Development Company Limited
1970
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedHutchison Whampoa LimitedFoundedHutchison Whampoa Limited
1977
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedFlorida East Coast Industries, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedReckson Associates Realty Corp.FoundedReckson Associates Realty Corp.
1994
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedWilliam Lyon Homes
1999
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Swire Pacific Limited →
Active · founded 1866 · Hong Kong
Swire Pacific Limited, which came to prominence as one of the 19th-century British-owned trading houses based in Hong…
Swire Pacific Limited →
Active · founded 1866 · Hong Kong
Swire Pacific Limited, which came to prominence as one of the 19th-century British-owned trading houses based in Hong…
Hongkong Land Holdings Limited →
Active · founded 1889 · Hong Kong
Hongkong Land Holdings Limited is one of Hong Kong's foremost property investment, development, and management…
Hongkong Land Holdings Limited →
Active · founded 1889 · Hong Kong
Hongkong Land Holdings Limited is one of Hong Kong's foremost property investment, development, and management…
Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. →
Active · founded 1900
Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., one of the original 'Big Five' Hawaiian companies, is a diversified corporation with…
Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. →
Active · founded 1900
Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., one of the original 'Big Five' Hawaiian companies, is a diversified corporation with…
Slough Estates PLC →
Active · founded 1920 · United Kingdom
Slough Estates PLC is Britain's largest industrial property investment company, with a property portfolio valued at…
Slough Estates PLC →
Active · founded 1920 · United Kingdom
Slough Estates PLC is Britain's largest industrial property investment company, with a property portfolio valued at…
Taylor Woodrow plc →
Active · founded 1921 · United Kingdom
Taylor Woodrow plc is a major U.K.-based home builder and property developer and lessor.
Taylor Woodrow plc →
Active · founded 1921 · United Kingdom
Taylor Woodrow plc is a major U.K.-based home builder and property developer and lessor.
Sime Darby Berhad →
Active · founded 1958 · Malaysia
Sime Darby Berhad is the largest conglomerate in Malaysia and one of the largest in southeast Asia.
Sime Darby Berhad →
Active · founded 1958 · Malaysia
Sime Darby Berhad is the largest conglomerate in Malaysia and one of the largest in southeast Asia.
Lincoln Property Company →
Active · founded 1965
Lincoln Property Company is one of the top developers of both office buildings and residential apartment complexes,…
Lincoln Property Company →
Active · founded 1965
Lincoln Property Company is one of the top developers of both office buildings and residential apartment complexes,…
New World Development Company Limited →
Active · founded 1970 · Hong Kong
Since its founding in 1970, New World Development Company Limited has been a leader in Hong Kong's bustling commercial…
New World Development Company Limited →
Active · founded 1970 · Hong Kong
Since its founding in 1970, New World Development Company Limited has been a leader in Hong Kong's bustling commercial…
Hutchison Whampoa Limited →
Active · founded 1977 · Hong Kong
1960s:Hutchison gains controlling interests in A.S.
Hutchison Whampoa Limited →
Active · founded 1977 · Hong Kong
1960s:Hutchison gains controlling interests in A.S.
Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
In 2000, Amtrak reached an agreement to use FECR's coastal tracks to begin a passenger service.
Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
In 2000, Amtrak reached an agreement to use FECR's coastal tracks to begin a passenger service.
Reckson Associates Realty Corp. →
Active · founded 1994
Reckson Associates Realty Corp.
Reckson Associates Realty Corp. →
Active · founded 1994
Reckson Associates Realty Corp.
William Lyon Homes →
Active · founded 1999
The merged companies, operating under the name William Lyon Homes, rebounded in 1999 and entered the 21st century…
William Lyon Homes →
Active · founded 1999
The merged companies, operating under the name William Lyon Homes, rebounded in 1999 and entered the 21st century…
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