The Tennessee-Virginia tri-cities
Subtitle: urbanization in Appalachia, 1900-1950
By: Tom Lee.
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: University of Tennessee Press; Univ Tennessee Press
Published: 2005
Place of publication: Knoxville
Language: eng
Number of pages: 480
Subjects: Urbanization -- Appalachian Region, Southern -- History -- 20th century.; Cities and towns -- Appalachian Region, Southern -- Growth -- History -- 20th century.; Johnson City (Tenn.) -- Economic conditions -- 20th century.; Kingsport (Tenn.) -- Economic conditions -- 20th century.; Bristol (Tenn.) -- Economic conditions -- 20th century.; Bristol (Va.) -- Economic conditions -- 20th century.
Description: "In this carefully documented book, Tom Lee uses archival material, newspapers, memoirs, and current scholarship in Appalachian studies to examine the economic changes that took place in the Tri-Cities region from 1900 to 1950. With modernization and urbanization, an urban-industrial strategy of economic development evolved. The entry of extractive industry into the mountains established the power of the urban elite to shape rural life. Local businessmen saw the route to financial strength in the recruitment of low-wage industry. Workers left struggling farms for factory jobs. This urban-rural relationship supported the Tri-Cities' manufacturing economy and gave power to the area's elite." "Readers will gain a better understanding of the complexity of modernization in Appalachia and the rural South from this engaging book."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Between two worlds; title: An abundance of labor at a reasonable cost; title: Humanics : the business of the people; title: A pink tea party; title: An unsightly back yard; title: Essentially practical and nonpolitical; title: We've had enough streamlining.