Bombay began as a major port and outlet for cotton textiles from Gujarat. In the 19th century, it became an important administrative and industrial center in western India. The first cotton mill was established in 1854, and by 1921 there were 85 cotton mills employing over 146,000 workers. Large scale land reclamation projects in the 19th century expanded the city's area from 7 islands to 22 square miles. The opening of the Suez Canal transformed Bombay into a major Arabian Sea port and the city experienced rapid economic growth, though it also suffered a major plague outbreak in 1896.