Historically, Box Elder County had an agricultural economy. In the late 1950’s Thiokol Corporation located a plant 30 miles west of Brigham City, near the site of the driving of the Golden Spike to complete the transcontinental railroad in 1869. Acquired by ATK Space Systems, the company produces solid fuel rocket motors for space and defense applications including the space shuttle booster, and is the county’s largest employer. Other major employers include Autoliv ASP, Nucor Steel, La-Z-Boy, GEM Buildings and a number of other manufacturers. In fact manufacturing is now the backbone of the Box Elder County economy.