After the unification, Plovdiv remained the second most populous city in Bulgaria after the capital Sofia.
The first railway in the city was built in 1874 connecting it with the Ottoman capital, and in 1888, it was linked with Sofia.
In 1892 Plovdiv became the host of the First Bulgarian Fair with international participation which was succeeded by the International Fair Plovdiv.
After the liberation, the first brewery was inaugurated in the city.

In the beginning of the 20th century, Plovdiv grew as a significant industrial and commercial center with well-developed light and food industry.
In 1927 the electrification of Plovdiv has started.
German, French, and Belgian capital was invested in the city in the development of modern trade, banking, and industry.
In 1939 there were 16,000 craftsmen and 17,000 workers in manufacturing factories, mainly for food and tobacco processing.
During the Second World War, the tobacco industry expanded as well as the export of fruit and vegetables.
In 1943, 1,500 Jews were saved from deportation in concentration camps by the archbishop of Plovdiv, Cyril, who later became the Bulgarian Patriarch.
In 1944 the city was bombed by the British-American coalition.

Tobacco Depot workers went on strike on 4 May 1953.

On 6 April 1956 the first trolleybus line was opened and in the 1950s the Trimontsium Hotel was constructed.
In the 1960s and 1970s, there was a construction boom and many of the modern neighborhoods took shape.
In the 1970s and 1980s, antique remains were excavated and the Old Town was fully restored.
In 1990 the sports complex "Plovdiv" was finished.
It included the largest stadium and rowing canal in the country.
In that period, Plovdiv became the birthplace of Bulgaria's movement for democratic reform, which by 1989 had garnered enough support to enter government.

Plovdiv has hosted specialized exhibitions of the World's Fair in 1981, 1985, and 1991.
After the unification, Plovdiv remained the second most populous city in Bulgaria after the capital Sofia. The first railway in the city was built in 1874 connecting it with the Ottoman capital, and in 1888, it was linked with Sofia. In 1892 Plovdiv became the host of the First Bulgarian Fair with international participation which was succeeded by the International Fair Plovdiv. After the liberation, the first brewery was inaugurated in the city.
In the beginning of the 20th century, Plovdiv grew as a significant industrial and commercial center with well-developed light and food industry. In 1927 the electrification of Plovdiv has started. German, French, and Belgian capital was invested in the city in the development of modern trade, banking, and industry. In 1939 there were 16,000 craftsmen and 17,000 workers in manufacturing factories, mainly for food and tobacco processing. During the Second World War, the tobacco industry expanded as well as the export of fruit and vegetables. In 1943, 1,500 Jews were saved from deportation in concentration camps by the archbishop of Plovdiv, Cyril, who later became the Bulgarian Patriarch. In 1944 the city was bombed by the British-American coalition.
Tobacco Depot workers went on strike on 4 May 1953.
On 6 April 1956 the first trolleybus line was opened and in the 1950s the Trimontsium Hotel was constructed. In the 1960s and 1970s, there was a construction boom and many of the modern neighborhoods took shape. In the 1970s and 1980s, antique remains were excavated and the Old Town was fully restored. In 1990 the sports complex "Plovdiv" was finished. It included the largest stadium and rowing canal in the country. In that period, Plovdiv became the birthplace of Bulgaria's movement for democratic reform, which by 1989 had garnered enough support to enter government.
Plovdiv has hosted specialized exhibitions of the World's Fair in 1981, 1985, and 1991.
Plovdiv