Self-storage was used in 46,000 locations across the United States in 2009. While this might seem unsurprising in today’s world of temporary storage, where you can order a decaffeinated hazelnut coffee and store your belongings, it wasn’t always the case. These facilities, which were almost nonexistent 50 years ago are now commonplace. The practical application of this once-unheard concept may be more important than its intrinsic meaning that site.

The opening of the first self storage facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida took place in 1958. Texas saw the development of mini-storage companies by the end 1960s. California created the first of the world’s largest chain stores in 1972. These three states are where self-storage was born. As of today, the U.S. has the highest concentration of rental spaces.

This industry didn’t experience rapid, nationwide growth until the 1990s when the demand for rental space outpaced the supply. Nearly a decade after the initial boom, more than 30,000 companies in the United States were renting storage space of at least 2,000,000 square feet. This sudden shift may reflect a number of factors. In the late 1970s Steven Tyler can be heard on radio singing Aerosmith’s “Toys In The Attic”. The advent of trusses has made attics obsolete. This could mean that this nostalgic idea is losing traction. These trusses can be cheaper than traditional rafter-based roofs. They take up most of what used to be an attic. Many people are now looking for alternatives to their attic space.