Twentieth-Century Communes

Abstract

The nineteenth century witnessed an upsurge of utopian activity, which continued well into the next century. The dream did not die. In many regions of North America, the formation of intentional communities proceeded with the same degree of speed and enthusiasm as it had before. From 1850 to 1950, for example, the state of California witnessed the formation of a larger number of utopian experiments than any other state in the union. During this period at least 17 new utopian groups emerged, 6 of which were religiously based and 11 of which were secular. Contributing factors to this phenomenon included vigorous bursts of population growth caused by the Gold Rush of the 1880s, as well as the economic boom of the 1920s. California’s attractive climate also brought in large numbers of elderly and retired people who were frequently lured into retirement schemes advertised as panaceas. The railroads, real estate promoters, and chambers of commerce likely contributed to population growth with their lavish descriptions of the oceanside climate, fertile soil, and luxurious living conditions (Hine, 1983:10). While California continued to beckon utopians into the latter half of the twentieth century, other parts of the country were also playing host to groups wanting to develop what might be termed unorthodox but promising social structures.