THE RELATION OF CITIES AND LARGER VILLAGES - TO CHANGES IN RURAL TRADE AND SOCIAL AREAS IN WAYNE COUNTY, NEW YORK

Sep 21, 2026

Study examines how improved transportation and shifting activity weaken small village activity while strengthening larger centers, reshaping social and economic organization across city, village, and rural open country in Wayne County, New York. Findings rely on interviews with 3,636 farmers, first-hand village and hamlet studies, interviews with church representatives, and information from business rating agencies and local newspapers, emphasizing social and economic service areas. Appendix includes case studies of villages over 250 inhabitants, detailing city–village effects since 1900.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

The Relation of Cities and Larger Villages to Changes in Rural Trade and Social Areas in Wayne County, New York

Study purpose and basis of conclusions

Economic effects of cities on villages

Social effects of cities on villages

Economic effects of larger villages on smaller villages and hamlets

Social effects of larger villages on smaller villages and hamlets

Overall conclusion about small villages

97-84081-24Hoffsommer,Harold Charles The relation of cities andlarger villages... Ithaca,N.Y. [193-?] # COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIESPRESERVATION DIVISION BIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED·EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD 308 Z iloffsommer,larold Charlos Box 332 The relation of cities and larger villapes tochanges in rural trade and aocinl areas in "WayneCounty,New York ..by larold c.doffsommer.Ithaca,lI.Y.133-?,C33 p.23cm Abstract of thesis(Pd.D.)Cornell. 0JLy E Reproductions may not be made without permission from Columbia UniversityLibraries. ## RESTRICTIONS ON USE: # TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE: mmREDUCTION BATIO: //:/ IMAGE PLACEMENT:IA A IIB IB I DATE FILMED: 59197INITIALS: TLM TRACKING\#: H2431 FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. # The Relation of Cities and Larger Villagesto Changes in Rural Trade andSocial Areas in Wayne County,New York # An Abstract of a Thesis PRESENTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOLOF CORNELL UNIVERSITY FOR THE DEGREB OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY BY HAROLD C.HOFFSOMMER ITHACA,N.Y. 915 36 Z 332 # THE RELATION OF CITIES AND LARGER VILLAGESTO CHANGES IN RURAL TRADE AND SOCIALAREAS IN WAYNE COUNTY,NEW YORK HAROLD C.HoFFSOMMER It is a matter of common observation that there has been aweakening in recent years of small village activity and thatimproved transportation has resulted in a strengthening of thelarger centers.The resulting readjustment affects the social andeconomic organization of the city,village and open country.Thepresent study attempts to show the nature and to measure theextent of this change particularly as it concerns the smaller vil-lages.The conclusions are based on:(a)personal interviewswith 3,636 Wayne County farmers(76per cent of the total numberof farmers in Wayne County);(b)first hand studies of all vil-lages and hamlets in the county;(c)personal interviews withpastors or other responsible people of all Wayne County churches;(d)miscellaneous information from business rating agencies,localnewspapers,etc. The chief emphasis of the study has to do with a graphicpresentation of various social and economic service areas and acomparison of these areas with increases and decreases in numberof business establishments and social agencies in the illages ofvarious sizes since 1900.In addition to the general conclusionsbased on the Wayne County observations,case studies of all vil-lages over 250 inhabitants are included in the appendix. Relative to the general economic effects of the cities on thevillages the study shows the following:(1)Cities are not seri-ously affecting the larger villages except in a few specialized lines. (2)Cities offer keenest competition in the more expensive lines ofgoods.(3)The villages lose trade to the cities mainly throughtheir inability to handle elaborate lines of merchandise rather thanfrom their inability to handle a variety of lines. Socially the cities affect the villages in the following ways:(1)Wayne County farmers partake only passively in the social life of the city.(2)The most important phases of the social life of thevillages and open country are not at all directly affected by the city. (3)The direct influence of the city is much greater economicallythan socially. The general economic effect of the larger villages on thesmaller villages and hamlets in Wayne County is as follows:(1)Villages of 250 population and under have suffered severely fromthe competition of the larger villages,especially from those above1000 in population.(2)Location on a through improved highwayappears to be detrimental to the business of villages of from 50 to250 in population.(3)Hamlets of under 50 in population arenow usually included in the economic service areas of the largervillages.(4)The larger

FAQs

What does the study aim to measure in Wayne County?

It aims to show the nature and measure the extent of change affecting smaller villages, particularly regarding social and economic service areas and how they change with business and agency numbers since 1900.

How does the study describe the economic impact of cities on larger villages?

It concludes that cities do not seriously affect larger villages except in a few specialized lines, and that villages lose trade mainly because they cannot handle elaborate lines of merchandise.

What overall conclusion does the study reach about small villages as business centers?

It concludes that the small village is doomed as a business center, though it may maintain itself for a considerable time as a social center.

Sep 21, 2026

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