Final answer:
Cities offered business owners resources, services, and a large customer and labor pool, which allowed for economies of scale and efficient production. These factors, together with the opportunities for leisure and culture, were the main reasons for moving mills to cities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Business owners moved their mills to cities primarily because cities provided substantial resources and services that were conducive to industrial growth. Initially, mills needed to be near rivers and seaports for the transport of goods and water power. However, with the advent of the steam engine, mills could be placed in urban centers, leveraging the benefits of large pools of customers and workers, and improving the efficiency of their operations. This shift also meant that factories could enjoy economies of scale, being able to produce goods en masse and manage labor more effectively with supervisors overseeing the production process. Industrialization led to rapid urbanization, as people moved to cities in search of employment, and cities began to offer more opportunities for leisure, recreation, and culture, appealing to a diverse population base.