Past Fall River's first cotton mills were built in 1813. Over 100 cotton mills were built total making Fall River the largest US producer of cotton in the 1890s. When manufacturing operations started heading down South in the early-mid 1900s, Fall River suffered a severe economic downturn, as the city heavily relied on manufacturing as a livelihood. Although a handful of mills remained, it took time and ingenuity before Fall River regained its commercial footing. Present Today, Fall River dabbles in everything from tourism to manufacturing to high technology to education. Businesses are housed in many of the old mills, one of the industrial parks or the city's downtown area. The former municipal airport site today is the Fall River Industrial Park, a 500-acre, manufacturing-rich business center.

Future Fall River is a business friendly environment which has an opportunity for growth. Commited to excellence with a new outlook with the workers to make a company located here strive. Some of Fall River's areas of opportunity include: Software/Telecom, Back Office, Distribution Centers, Financial Services, Healthcare, Hotels, Restaurants, Nightlife, Luxury Housing, and Student Housing. Companies in Fall River Quaker Fabric Corporation Genzyme Surgical Products Lightolier CyREL LLC Main Street Textiles, L.P. The TJX Companies, Inc.