Time is Relative-check out these facts on time zones

CONTRIBUTED BY ALFRED E. NEUMAN | August 16th, 2025

Trying to catch a train in the mid-19th century was no easy feat: At the time, more than 144 local time zones were spread across North America. Before the invention of railway travel and train schedules, these slight time discrepancies weren’t a big deal, but by the end of the 19th century, they were causing logistical chaos.

To solve the schedule issues, four standard time zones were established across the continental U.S.: Eastern Time, Central Time, Mountain Time, and Pacific Time. The railway industry initiated the change, which was enacted on November 18, 1883. Due to the importance of the railroads, the federal government eventually followed suit.

In 1918, the Standard Time Act made these time zones official, and also established daylight saving time.