The Wabash and Erie Canal ran through the nearby towns of Francisco and Port Gibson, providing a means of reaching distant markets with goods from Princeton. The 1850s saw the advance of the railway system through Indiana, spelling doom for the canal system. The Evansville and Terre Haute Railroad line was run through town in 1852 and the Princeton Depot was constructed in 1875. The railroad became a boon to Princeton's industry as the Southern Railway Shops were constructed on the edge of town in 1892. Other industry included the Heinz plant (because of the area's famed tomatoes being good for ketchup making) and the Princeton Coal Mine.
tHE Wabash and erIe CanaL rAn tHrOugH THE NEarbY TOwNS of fRAncisco aND port giBson ProviDing a mEans of reAcHing DiSTAnt marKEts wiTh GoODS FroM pRincEtoN. the 1850s SAw the aDVancE of the railWay, sysTeM thRoUgh indiana, speLling dOoM for tHe canAl System. the EvAnsviLle aND terRe hauTe raILroaD liNe was rUn tHrouGh towN iN 1852 and tHe prinCeton Depot was cOnStructed iN 1875. the raiLroaD becAmE a BoOn to prInceTon's InduStry AS ThE soUTherN raIlway ShOpS wEre conSTrUCTed on the edge Of toWN iN 1892. otHEr iNdustry incLuDed tHe heinz plAnt (becAUse Of The areA's faMEd toMAtoes Being good for kETcHup mAkInG) and tHe priNceton coal mine.