Company Towns

Elizabeth Mitchell Elder's 'Company Towns' investigates how coal companies shaped the political development of the Midwest and Appalachia, hindering local government capacity and fostering corruption.

Drawing on historical and administrative data, Elder shows companies often privatized public functions, captured or suppressed local institutions, and influenced electoral outcomes.

These practices left lasting legacies after deindustrialization: under-resourced local governments and durable citizen cynicism toward public institutions.

The book connects these historical institutional dynamics to contemporary patterns of political mistrust and party realignment.

It highlights how local political history and corporate power can produce long-term effects on democratic accountability and public service provision.