ABSTRACT
This chapter examines patterns of change in American communities. Particular attention is placed on the metamorphosis of many small and rural towns. A common thread among the majority of the places is the central role played by natural resources and the resultant extractive way of life. Americans have revealed a decided preference for residence in small communities for the past twenty years and, in fact, have moved in that direction. Dependency has been found to be associated with many of the objectionable community problems, especially those which social science has had the most difficulty addressing. Poverty and malintegration, resource degradation and exploitation are all synonymous with the decay of rural and small town economies. Tourist and service centers have occupied central roles in the development of many state economies. Beginning in colonial times, numerous communities emerged along waterways and roadways to service those in transit between the larger central cities of the region.
