CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Chapter 15
Citizenship in the Community
Section 1: Kinds of Communities
Section 2: Purposes of Communities
Section 3: Citizens Serve Communities
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Section 1: Kinds of Communities
The Main Idea
There are many kinds of communities. Some are
located in transportation centers or farming regions.
Others grow where there are jobs in factories or
offices. Communities may be small or large, but all
of them take advantage of their surroundings.
Reading Focus
 What factors affect the location of communities?
 What types of communities exist in rural areas?
 What types of communities exist in urban areas?
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Section 1: Kinds of Communities
Transportation, resources, and climate
affect a community’s location:
 Early settlers chose locations with natural advantages
for their livelihood: fertile river valleys, harbors,
hydroelectric power, and good climates.
 Businesses and trade developed at crossroads and led
to new communities.
 Waterways offer ports, water, and transportation.
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Section 1: Kinds of Communities
Transportation, resources, and climate
affect a community’s location: (continued)
 1840s—Railroads connected regions, and new inland
communities developed.
 Auto travel has led to communities along highways.
 Communities grow where natural resources can be
developed.
 Good climates promote recreation and enable
farming in certain regions.
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Section 1: Kinds of Communities
Rural Communities
 Rural farm communities—America’s smallest
communities; approximately 2 million farms in
the United States stretch across the country
 Small country towns—population of less than
2,500; where farmers buy supplies and market
crops; have movies, shops, and post offices
 Recently, some businesses have established
themselves in rural areas.
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Section 1: Kinds of Communities
Urban Areas
 Have 2,500 or more people
 1990s—three quarters of Americans lived in
urban areas
 Today suburbs are growing faster, and some
cities have grown smaller
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Section 1: Kinds of Communities
Metropolitan area
 A large city and its surrounding towns and
suburbs
 261 metropolitan areas in the United States
 Some metropolitan areas have turned into a
megalopolis—an area so large it forms a
continuous urban chain. Example: New York,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
SECTION 1
HOLT
Question: What are examples and
characteristics of urban and metropolitan
areas?
Urban Area
 village
 town
 borough
 city
 population of
2,500 or more
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Metropolitan Area
 large city
 unclear where
city ends and the
surrounding
towns and
suburbs begin
HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Section 2: Purposes of Communities
The Main Idea
People live together in communities for many reasons.
Communities provide people with ways to
communicate with one another and relax in their free
time. Communities also provide services and local
governments that help residents make the most of
their resources and labor.
Reading Focus
 What kinds of values do communities teach?
 What types of services do communities provide?
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Section 2: Purposes of Communities
Methods of communication in
communities:
 Conversation with other members
 Telephones, e-mail, Internet, radios, and
television
 Writing letters and notes
 Newspapers
 Books and magazines
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Section 2: Purposes of Communities
Communities help people enjoy their lives:
 Provide recreational facilities to encourage
health, diversion, cultural learning, and
relaxation.
 Promote natural assets like climate and location.
 Pooling resources and labor improves the quality
of life.
 Public safety and education are provided by
communities.
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Section 2: Purposes of Communities
Local communities need laws and
regulations to
 help citizens avoid conflict.
 maintain peace and order.
 provide forums for addressing problems and
concerns.
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
SECTION 2
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Question: Why do local communities need laws
and regulations?
Why Communities Need Laws and Regulations
to maintain
peace
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to maintain
order
HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Section 3: Citizens Serve Communities
The Main Idea
Communities provide many benefits and services to
their residents. But citizens also need to contribute
their energy and efforts if they want their
communities to remain welcoming and healthy.
Communities depend on cooperation among people.
Reading Focus
 How can citizens help their communities face
challenges?
 Why is volunteering important to help improve the
communities in which we live?
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Section 3: Citizens Serve Communities
Challenges facing America’s
communities:
 Limited opportunities for young people
 Drug use, crime, and family management
problems
 Pollution, traffic jams, and downtown decay
 Faltering schools
 Museum and park maintenance
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Section 3: Citizens Serve Communities
Volunteer groups improve our communities:
 Aid sick people, those in poverty, the elderly, and the
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disabled
Raise money for charity
Clean up neighborhoods and address community needs
Permanent groups include firefighters and hospital
volunteers.
Large national groups: League of Women Voters,
American Cancer Society, and Volunteers of America
HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Section 3: Citizens Serve Communities
Good citizenship is related to
developing good communities:
 Enjoy a community’s benefits and contribute
to the community in return.
 Take pride in your community and make it the
best it can be.
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
SECTION 3
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Question: How does good citizenship relate
to developing good communities?
How Good Citizenship Relates to
Developing Good Communities
When citizens
fulfill their
duties and
responsibilities
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the quality of life
in communities
improves.
HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Chapter 15 Wrap-Up
1. How do natural factors and transportation influence
the development of communities?
2. What are the “two rural Americas,” and how do
they differ?
3. How do people communicate in communities?
4. What roles do laws and regulations play in
communities?
5. In what ways are volunteer organizations essential to
a community’s success?
6. What problems do communities in the United States
face?
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON