“Company town.” The words evoke images of rough-and-tumble loggers and gritty miners, of dreary shacks in isolated villages, of wages paid in scrip good only at price-gouging company stores of paternalistic employers. But these stereotypes are outdated, especially for those company towns that flourished well into the twentieth century. This new edition updates the status of the surviving towns and how they have changed in the fifteen years since the original edition, and what new life has been created on the sites of the ones that were razed. In the preface, Linda Carlson reflects on how wonderful it has been to meet people who lived in these towns, or had parents who did, and to hear about their memorable experiences. "The result of Carlson’s considerable research is a valuable study of life in company towns in all its basic variations. . . . This book is a fascinating and highly useful study of community building in the American West."― The Western Historical Quarterly , reviewing a previous edition or volume "A fascinating human account of small town ingenuity and community spirit. Erudite in its analysis, yet easy to read, it’s just what you’d want to find in a history book of any kind."― Washington State Magazine , reviewing a previous edition or volume "A well-written, informative, and thoughtful study. Carlson’s book ensures that these places and their residents are not forgotten."― Journal of the West , reviewing a previous edition or volume "This amply illustrated local history is entertaining and readable."― Harvard Business Review , reviewing a previous edition or volume "The result of Carlson?s considerable research is a valuable study of life in company towns in all its basic variations. . . . This book is a fascinating and highly useful study of community building in the American West." ― The Western Historical Quarterly "A fascinating human account of small town ingenuity and community spirit. Erudite in its analysis, yet easy to read, it?s just what you?d want to find in a history book of any kind." ― Washington State Magazine "A well-written, informative, and thoughtful study. Carlson?s book ensures that these places and their residents are not forgotten." ― Journal of the West "This amply illustrated local history is entertaining and readable." ― Harvard Business Review Linda Carlson has written or contributed to several books on business, including Services Marketing , The Publicity and Promotion Handbook: A Complete Guide for Small Business , and nine job-search guides. A graduate of Harvard Business School and a former member of the Humanities Washington speakers bureau, she has a special interest in company towns and social histories.