The term “community” has diverse meanings. In this book it is taken to mean a group of people whose composition changed over time, occupying a particular territorial area smaller than a state – like a region, a county, a township, or a city, or perhaps a distinct part of a large city – and regarded, however vaguely, as an identifiable entity. The history of urban and rural communities so defined could quite justifiably be labeled “local history.” The term “community history” has, however, been preferred because of the popular connection “local history” has had in recent times in the United States with antiquarianism and boosterism, with genealogy and associated family history, and with amateurism, rather than with the main stream of historical scholarship.

Traditionally American county and other local histories have been compilations of factual (often miscellaneous and unselected) data, narrowly based on readily available local sources, tradition, and hearsay, inadequately referenced and heavily laced with genealogical information on early settlers and prominent citizens. Usually they are essentially narrative in style and often of a self-congratulatory kind. If they answer questions, these are the obvious ones of what? and when? They often fall short of being serious historical works by failing to provide analysis of the facts collected, to tackle the nature of change, or to follow up answers to the basic questions by seeking to answer more serious ones, like how? and why?