ABSTRACT
Underlying the evolution of city government in the United States is a devotion to local self-rule. During the nineteenth century, state legislatures deferred to local wishes and sanctioned the creation of a myriad of municipalities. The largest nineteenth-century cities expanded their functions, embarking on unprecedented public works programs and creating large municipal work forces. In the early twentieth century, reformers sought to enhance the honesty and efficiency of the nation's largest cities. During the late twentieth century, regionalism emerged as a major theme in local governance, sometimes clashing with the long-established prejudice in favor of municipal autonomy.
