U.S. Steel facts for kids

The United States Steel Corporation is an American company that makes steel. It is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. U.S. Steel is now owned by Nippon Steel, a company from Japan. It has factories in the U.S. and parts of Europe.

U.S. Steel makes different kinds of steel products. These include flat sheets of steel and steel pipes. Their products are used in many industries like cars, construction, and energy. The company also produces iron ore and coke, which are important materials for making steel.

In 2008, U.S. Steel was the eighth largest steel producer in the world. By 2022, it was 24th globally, but still the second largest in the U.S. In 1986, the company changed its name to USX Corporation. But in 2001, it went back to being U.S. Steel after selling off its energy businesses, like Marathon Oil.

In December 2023, Nippon Steel announced it wanted to buy U.S. Steel for $14.9 billion. This deal was completed on June 18, 2025. Now, U.S. Steel is a part of Nippon Steel North America. The federal government of the United States also has a special role in overseeing the company through something called a golden share.

Quick facts for kids
United States Steel Corporation

Logo used since 1958
U.S. Steel Tower in Pittsburgh
Formerly	USX Corporation (1986–2001)
Type	Subsidiary
Traded as	NYSE: X
Industry	Steel Industrial manufacturing
Founded	March 2, 1901; 125 years ago (1901-03-02) by merger of Carnegie Steel with Federal Steel Company and the National Steel Company
Founders	Henry Clay Frick Elbert H. Gary William H. Moore J. P. Morgan Charles M. Schwab (et al.)
Headquarters	U.S. Steel Tower, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	David S. Sutherland (Chairman) David Burritt (President and CEO)
Products	Flat-rolled steel Tubular steel Iron ore
Revenue	US$15.6 billion (2024)
Operating income	US$240 million (2024)
Net income	US$384 million (2024)
Total assets	US$20.2 billion (2024)
Total equity	US$11.3 billion (2024)
Number of employees	22,053 (2024)
Parent	Nippon Steel Federal government of the United States (Golden share)

History of U.S. Steel

Early Years: 20th Century Beginnings

A share of U.S. Steel from 1924

U.S. Steel was created in 1901 by J. P. Morgan. He combined several large steel companies, including Carnegie Steel. This merger cost $492 million, which would be about $18 billion today.

In its early days, U.S. Steel was known for being huge. In 1901, it made about two-thirds of all the steel in the United States. It also had the biggest shipping fleet on the Great Lakes. Because of its large size and some financial concerns, the company was very careful in its operations.

In 1902, U.S. Steel produced 67 percent of all U.S. steel. However, by 2001, this had dropped to only eight percent. For much of the 20th century, U.S. Steel was the world's largest steel producer. It was also the first company ever to be valued at over $1 billion.

The company's main office was in the Empire Building in New York City for 75 years. Charles M. Schwab, who first suggested the merger, became the company's first President.

In 1907, U.S. Steel bought a major competitor, the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company. The next year, in 1908, U.S. Steel started the "Safety First" movement. This was to make workplaces safer and reduce accidents.

Challenges and Changes

U.S. Steel's main competitor, Bethlehem Steel, was faster at trying new ideas. By 1911, U.S. Steel's share of the market dropped to 50 percent. That same year, the U.S. government tried to break up U.S. Steel using antitrust laws, but they were not successful.

During World War II, U.S. Steel was a major producer for the United States. Its production reached over 35 million tons in 1953. The company had the most employees in 1943, with over 340,000 people working for it.

The U.S. government sometimes tried to influence U.S. Steel. In 1952, President Harry S. Truman tried to take control of the steel mills during a union dispute. However, the Supreme Court said he didn't have the power to do this. Later, in 1962, President John F. Kennedy successfully pressured the steel industry to cancel price increases.

After World War II, the steel industry changed a lot. Many jobs moved overseas, and U.S. Steel needed fewer workers. By 2000, the company had 52,500 employees.

The U.S. Steel Tower in Downtown Pittsburgh

In the 1980s, steel companies received tax breaks to help them compete with imported goods. However, U.S. Steel used some of this money to buy Marathon Oil in 1982, instead of only updating its steel mills.

In 1986, U.S. Steel changed its name to USX Corporation. Its steel business was then called USS, Inc.. About 22,000 USX employees stopped working in 1986 due to a disagreement over contracts. This lasted until February 1987. After the work stoppage ended, USX announced that four plants would close permanently, leading to about 3,500 job losses.

21st Century Developments

U.S. Steel Tower, now One Liberty Plaza, in New York City

In 2001, U.S. Steel sold off Marathon Oil and other non-steel businesses. It also grew internationally by buying plants in Slovakia and Serbia.

In 2012, U.S. Steel sold its Serbian mills to the Serbian government. In 2014, U.S. Steel's value dropped, and it was removed from a major stock market index called the S&P 500.

However, U.S. Steel made a big move in 2019 by investing $700 million in Big River Steel. This was a modern, environmentally friendly steel facility. In 2020, U.S. Steel bought the rest of Big River Steel.

In February 2022, U.S. Steel started building a new mill in Osceola, Arkansas. This new mill began operating in 2024.

U.S. Steel Joins Nippon Steel

On December 18, 2023, Nippon Steel offered to buy U.S. Steel for $14.9 billion. U.S. Steel shareholders approved this offer in April 2024. Nippon Steel promised to keep U.S. Steel's headquarters in Pittsburgh and honor existing union contracts.

The deal caused many different reactions. On March 14, 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden said that U.S. Steel should remain American-owned. He stated that the deal could be a risk to national security. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) also reviewed the deal for national security concerns.

In July 2024, Nippon Steel hired Mike Pompeo to help with the acquisition. By September, the Biden Administration planned to block the deal. On January 3, 2025, President Biden officially blocked the proposed buyout. Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel then sued the Biden administration over this decision.

On January 27, 2025, an investor group called Ancora Holdings tried to change U.S. Steel's leadership. They suggested selling the Big River Steel operations to modernize older unionized plants.

The Deal is Finalized

On May 23, 2025, President Donald Trump announced a new plan for U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel. He reversed his earlier opposition to the acquisition. Under the new agreement, U.S. Steel would keep its headquarters in Pittsburgh. It would also be led by an American CEO, and most of its board members would be U.S. citizens.

The U.S. government also received a golden share. This special share allows the U.S. president to appoint one of three board members. It also gives the president veto power over important company decisions. These decisions include moving the headquarters, changing the company's name, or reducing investments in U.S. operations.

Nippon Steel promised to invest $14 billion into U.S. operations. The acquisition officially closed on June 18, 2025. U.S. Steel was then removed from the New York Stock Exchange.

Stocks and Dividends

U.S. Steel was once a part of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, a famous stock market index, from 1901 to 1991. It was also an original member of the S&P 500 index in 1957 but was removed in 2014.

The company's Board of Directors decides on dividends four times a year. Dividends are payments made to shareholders. In 2008, the dividend was $0.30 per share, which was the highest ever. By 2009, it was reduced to $0.05 per share.

Legacy of U.S. Steel

U.S. Steel Tower

The U.S. Steel Tower in Pittsburgh is named after the company. Since 1970, it has been the company's main office. It is the tallest skyscraper in downtown Pittsburgh. It was built using the company's special Corten Steel. Another building, One Liberty Plaza in New York City, was also built by U.S. Steel in 1973.

Steelmark Logo

The "Steelmark" logo, created by U.S. Steel

U.S. Steel created the Steelmark logo. It was part of a big marketing campaign to show people how important steel is in everyday life. The logo was used on many steel products.

In the 1960s, U.S. Steel gave the Steelmark program to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). It then became a symbol for the entire steel industry. The Pittsburgh Steelers football team even used parts of the Steelmark logo for their team logo.

U.S. Steel also helped build the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, New York. This huge globe was made for the 1964 World's Fair. It is one of the world's largest free-standing sculptures.

Other Contributions

The Chicago Picasso sculpture was made by U.S. Steel in Gary, Indiana. U.S. Steel also donated steel for St. Michael's Catholic Church in Chicago.

United States Steel Hour and Disney World

U.S. Steel sponsored a television show called The United States Steel Hour from 1945 to 1963. The company also built the Disney's Contemporary Resort and the Disney's Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World in 1971. They did this to show off their steel building products.

Real Estate Development

U.S. Steel was also involved in building beachfront homes in Florida during the 1970s. These included places like Sand Key near Daytona Beach, Florida.

Facilities of U.S. Steel

A steelmaking facility at the Edgar Thomson Steel Works

U.S. Steel has many factories and mines both in the U.S. and other countries.

In the United States, important facilities include Clairton Coke Works, Edgar Thomson Works, and Irvin Plant. These are all part of the Mon Valley Works near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Clairton Works is the largest coke-making facility in North America. Edgar Thomson Works is one of the oldest steel mills in the world.

The Gary Works in Gary, Indiana, is the largest integrated mill in North America.

U.S. Steel's largest facility in the U.S. is Gary Works in Gary, Indiana. It is on the shore of Lake Michigan. For many years, Gary Works was the world's largest steel mill. It is still the largest integrated mill in North America. It started operating in 1908.

U.S. Steel also has a tin mill in East Chicago, Indiana, called East Chicago Tin. It operates a sheet and tin finishing plant in Portage, Indiana, known as Midwest Plant. Other important U.S. facilities include Great Lakes Works in Ecorse, Michigan, and Granite City Steel in Granite City, Illinois.

The company operates Fairfield Works in Fairfield, Alabama. It also has a steel galvanizing operation at the Fairless Works facility in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania.

U.S. Steel runs three pipe mills: Fairfield Tubular Operations in Fairfield, Alabama, McKeesport Tubular Operations in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, and Texas Operations in Lone Star, Texas.

U.S. Steel also has two major taconite mining operations in Minnesota. These are the Minntac mine near Mountain Iron, Minnesota, and the Keetac mine near Keewatin, Minnesota.

Over the years, U.S. Steel has closed several of its large mills. These include the Duluth Works in Minnesota (closed 1973) and the South Chicago's South Works (closed 1992).

Internationally, U.S. Steel has facilities in Slovakia. It also used to have facilities in Serbia. In 2007, U.S. Steel bought Lone Star Steel Company, adding facilities in Texas. It also bought Stelco in Canada in 2007, but these facilities were later sold in 2016.

In January 2021, U.S. Steel fully bought Big River Steel in Arkansas. In February 2022, U.S. Steel started building a new mill next to Big River Steel. These two facilities together are now known as Big River Steel Works.

Railroad Ownership

U.S. Steel used to own several railroads that helped transport materials to its mines and mills. These included the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway in Minnesota and the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern in Indiana.

The company also owned a large fleet of commercial ships on the Great Lakes. These ships transported raw materials from Minnesota to various U.S. Steel locations.

Corporate Social Responsibility

In January 2025, U.S. Steel received the Equality 100 Award. This was for getting a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index for five years in a row.

Corporate Affairs

Business Trends

Here are some key business trends for U.S. Steel:

Company Leadership

Here are some of the people who have led U.S. Steel:

Presidents

• Charles M. Schwab (1901–1903)
• William E. Corey (1903–1911)
• James Augustine Farrell, Sr. (1911–1932)
• William A. Irvin (1932–1938)
• Benjamin Franklin Fairless (1938–1952)
• Clifford Hood (1952–1959)
• Walter F. Munford (1959)
• Leslie B. Worthington (1959–1967)
• Edwin H. Gott (1967–1969)
• Edgar B. Speer (1969–1973)
• David M. Roderick (1973–1979)
• William R. Roesch (1979–1983)
• Charles A. Corry (1988–1989)
• Thomas J. Usher (1994–1995, 2001–2003)
• Paul J. Wilhelm (1994–2001)
• John P. Surma (2003–2013)
• Mario Longhi (2013–2017)
• David Burritt (2017–present)

Chairmen of the Board of Directors

• Elbert Henry Gary (1901–1927)
• J. P. Morgan Jr. (1927–1932)
• Myron Charles Taylor (1932–1938)
• Edward Stettinius Jr. (1938–1940)
• Irving Sands Olds (1940–1952)
• Benjamin Franklin Fairless (1952–1955)
• Roger Blough (1955–1969)
• Edwin H. Gott (1969–1973)
• Edgar B. Speer (1973–1979)
• David M. Roderick (1979–1989)
• Charles A. Corry (1989–1995)
• Thomas Usher (1995–2004)
• John P. Surma (2004–2013)
• David S. Sutherland (2014—present)

See also

In Spanish: U.S. Steel para niños

• History of the steel industry (1850–1970)
• Iron and steel industry in the United States
• Weathering steel