Es odda de comer The largest populated cities in 1850 were in the north, but by 1870, the plantation system created heavily populated cities in the south. Between 1850 and 1870, many cities in the north lost population due to the destruction caused by the Civil War. The largest populated cities in 1850 were centers for cottage industries, but the largest populated cities in 1870 were centers for textile production. D Between 1850 and 1870, the population of the northern cities grew even larger due to industrialization.