The area that was the center of economic activity was known as the economic hotbed.
Explanation:
Until the 1870s and 80s when the slowdown and the downturn of the booming American economy started, most of the production and economic activity was based around the bustling states that were known as the hotbeds .
These hotbeds were states like California that had a warmer, more pleasant climate all around the year and were the most strategically important parts of the country for their economic activity as companies worked from there.