The Formation of American Local Governments : Private Values in Public Institutions

This book examines how and why local governments are formed in the United States, and the interests that are served by their creation. Instead of lobbying for their interests within the boundaries of existing cities, Americans have increasingly created new `special districts' in the last 50 years. Due to the autonomy which local governments enjoy in the United States, the formation of these governments has an impact on the quality of life for many Americans, creating boundaries, mostly along race and class lines which have affected access to education, housing, and basic services.